Viewfinder Volume 4 | Issue 5

AMPLIFYING

BLACK VOICES

VIEWFINDER VOLUME 4 ISSUE 5

Megan Marshall Editor-in-Chief Photo Editor

Camden Blowers

Viewfinder Staff

Assistant Editor People Editor

Cole Berndsen

Department Editor

Nerma Turan

Department Editor

Caleb Grizzle Photo Editor

Letter from the Editor Megan Marshall Editor-in-Chief Hello! I am glad that you’re back for another issue. Our optimism for new beginnings this year gave rise to compelling content that has never been done before on Viewfinder.

Our team of editors, writers and photographers has been working hard to put together a special section. This section is called “Amplifying Black Voices.” In this section, we are excited to be featuring Black voices and perspectives around the Des Moines area. The topics and experiences detailed in this section are powerful. This section is in the middle of the magazine, starting on page 7.

Outside of the special section, you will not want to miss out on a feature story written by reporter Nerma Turan that provides an update on all things COVID. Where are we now, and what can we expect next?

You can also find stories about faculty members here on campus.

Professor KC McGinnis, Dr. A’ndrea Wilson and counselor Kenlyn Gordon all have unique and interesting stories to share.

As always, thank you for reading. I hope this issue is a nice refreshment to your day.

Dayne Logan Advisor

Cover Story Find more stories from the Viewfinder staff at viewfindergv.com.

February is Black History Month. To honor this, the Viewfinder staff is deciding to Amplify Black Voices, more specifically highlighting elements of the Black community, including Black-owned businesses, Black media and a Black professor on campus.

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Kenlyn Gordon: Viking for Life | By: Wayne Burch Life in a Day 2020 | By: Gunner Cash The Life of KC | By: April Czarnecki Black Lives of DSM | By: Erick Villar Cordero Capturing History | By: Danielle Castillo Black Power | By: Taylor Thomas Black-Owned Businesses | By: Megan Marshall Being Black in America | By: Dallas Bryson Review: A film about who we were and still are | By: Taylor Carey

COVID-19 Update | By: Nerma Turan

Kenlyn Gordon: Viking for Life

Written By: Wayne Burch Jr. |‌Photos By: Erick Villar Cordero |‌Designed By: Cole Berndsen Just before spring break 2021, Grand View University will say goodbye to Kenlyn Gordon, the assistant director of leadership and counseling. She is leaving her position as a student counselor after six years to focus on running her own private practice, True Nature Therapy and Wellness. The name was derived from Gordon’s passion for nature and her belief that finding one’s true self in nature can be therapeutic. She has already been running True Nature for a couple of years in addition to her role at GV, and now she will run the private practice full-time.

Although her primary role at GV is to be a counselor for students, she is also an advisor to student leadership.

She specifically advises Peer Counseling and the Student Leadership Team.

Helen Carey, a psychology and human services major, is a senior who works with Gordon on the peer counselors team. Carey echoed what must others do when discussing Gordon, that she seemed to really care about the small things. Gordon would make sure everything was going well with Carey in aspects of her life outside of their studentadvisor relationship.

“She would always check in with me, and she truly felt engaged with me personally, and I know she does that with everybody,” Carey said. “She is just a very great soul.”

Carey also described how Gordon went out of her way to develop personal relationships with everyone she dealt with.

“She just understands and gets people, no matter who it is.

She adapts to them, and she makes people come out stronger and better,” Carey said.

Kent Schornack, GV’s director of leadership and counseling, is Gordon’s boss. He described her as one of the most authentic and sincere people that he has ever known.

“I remember the first thing that stood out most about Kenlyn when I hired her — her heart,” Schornack said. “She just had a genuine heart that wanted to work with people and help them. You could tell she just really enjoyed others growing and becoming better.”

The importance of those relationships is not lost on Gordon either.

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“I feel a really deep connection with Grand View and the people here,” she said. “Helping people grow in this time period in their life has been really meaningful to me. The times that made me feel the most proud of my work (were) when I (got) to watch students that I’ve been with for years heal and grow and get to a place where they feel healthy and happy. Those moments when you get to see someone progress, and I got to be along with them on that, I just feel so much joy and warmth inside.”

GV will certainly miss Gordon when she leaves, but the feeling is mutual. Gordon reminisced that some of the things she will miss about GV is the feeling of being supported and included in the school’s community. She also acknowledged that while her job has been to help students with therapy or advising them on their student leadership team, they have helped her grow just as much.

Gordon also expressed that aside from helping students with counseling and advising student leadership, there is one relationship she will miss from GV that stands out.

“My colleague Kent has been a huge mentor to me and really helped me develop as a therapist, and also personally too in my own life,” she said.

The way those closest to her speak of Gordon is reminiscent of a tale called The Starfish Story. There are many variations of the story, but it typically goes something like this: One day a man was walking along a beach after a flood that had left thousands of starfish stranded on the shore. As he walked he came upon a young boy who was gently throwing the starfish back into the water. He asked they boy what he was doing.

“I’m throwing the starfish back into the water before they die,” the boy said.

Bemused, the man began to mock the boy, “Can’t you see there are thousands of starfish? Do you really think saving a few of them will make a difference in the world?”

The boy picked up another starfish and as he threw it back into the water he said, “It may not make a difference in the world, but it will make a world of difference to that fish.”

Making small differences matters. It is clear from those who know her best that Gordon has helped a lot of starfish at GV.

Review: Life in a Day 2020 Written By: Gunner Cash |‌Designed By: Cole Berndsen “Life in a Day 2020” is a YouTube documentary composed of videos that were filmed by people around the world that shows how they spent their day on July 25, 2020. This documentary directed by Kevin Macdonald and produced

by Ridley Scott is a sequel from the “Life in a Day 2010” documentary. In 2010 the production team had received 80,000 submissions worldwide, and the number of videos jumped in 2020 to around 325,000 submissions. This shows that as technology and social media have been advancing over the years, many more people wanted to be involved.

While both documentaries have a similar flow and structure, it is clear to see that technology has advanced tremendously, highlighted by the use of drones and highquality cameras in the recent entry. Viewers don’t need to watch the 2010 version to understand the 2020 version, but a few people appear in both versions that you can follow along with. It was interesting to watch the two and see how much the world has changed in just a decade.

One thing I liked about the documentary was how I was able to view the world from so many different perspectives. The film jumps through all walks of life on one single day. In one part of the world, people are celebrating major life events such as a wedding showing us his pet spiders. It shows childbirth in many different places, whether it be a hospital or inside a tent.

I think it was interesting how the film provided equal screen time for almost everyone. I thought it would have been compelling if the documentary had dug deeper into some of the emotional stories. An example is a woman who lost two of her brothers in police custody. Or the mother who showed footage of her joking around with her sleeping son from the “Life in a Day 2010” documentary and then revealed that he had recently passed away due to coronavirus complications and showed a vase of his ashes. While emotional moments were sprinkled in along the way, the documentary’s focus was to highlight everyday people struck by tragedy and the different lifestyles around the world.

I thought the documentary was easy to follow along with. There were montages of videos separated

into groups such as childbirth, COVID-19, weddings, quarantine and much more. It also revisited a few stories throughout the documentary, such as the kid who wanted to spend his day filming the seven trains that pass during a day, or a father and his young son planning a surprise party for his daughter. The high-quality video provides a more engaging experience for the viewer, compared to the 2010 version.

The film also showed the harsh times people have dealt with in the world, such as the pandemic, natural disasters and the riots and protests. It successfully displayed the vast differences in people’s outlooks and beliefs. One thing I didn’t like was that the documentary didn’t always share where the people were. I think it would have been helpful to the viewer if there was a subtitle that included the individual or family’s location.

One story that stood out to me was of a veteran who showed the viewers The Purple Heart honor that he received. This man clearly had gratitude and respect for his country as to showed his collection of memories, including a picture of him and two other soldiers escorting a fallen comrade. The man revealed that his comrade had taken his life due to PTSD from the war. Another photo shows the veteran at attention with a quote at the bottom that said, “This is who you’ll always be.” This caught my eye because the emotions are present, allowing viewers to feel the appreciation of his awards, the sadness of a fallen soldier due to tragic circumstances and the respect for his sacrifice for Americans.

“Life in a Day 2020” is a documentary that is worth a watch. I think it does a great job putting things in perspective and providing a view of the world from someone else’s eyes.

I also would recommend watching the 2010 version to get a good look at how much the world has changed in such a short amount of time. I would have to give this documentary a rating of 9/10 because it was and interesting and engaging for the viewer. It also had good quality, was made well and flowed from one story to the other. Everyone can find a story that resonates with them. And it shows the ways of life that are different from our own.

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The Life of KC Written By: April Czarnecki |‌Photos Provided By: KC McGinnis | Designed By: Nerma Turan

KC McGinnis, professor of practice in the Communication Department has only been working at Grand View University for a little over a year and a half. McGinnis has freelanced for well-known companies like National Geographic, New York Times, Washington Post, Politico and many more. After graduating with a journalism degree, he found an entry-level job for a nonprofit organization, although he knew it did not quite fit in with his recent diploma. McGinnis still enjoyed photojournalism, and once he felt comfortable and steady enough at his new job, he started his freelancing career.

His first freelancing gig was for the local newspaper in Iowa City, where he lived at the time, starting with a few weekends photographing the local football games and community events.

After a few starter jobs for his freelancing hobby, McGinnis decided to take his freelancing a little farther.

He started pitching to regional and national publications, anywhere that wrote stories McGinnis found himself interested in. For example, McGinnis had a story idea for the New York Times and reached out through a friend of his who works there. After NYT worked with him on this pitch, he ended up getting more work from the newspaper.

One after another, McGinnis kept pitching his ideas and his work to big-name companies. He was considered a fulltime freelancer.

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McGinnis had a successful career in freelancing, but that was not his dream job. He always had a huge heart for students, so when a teaching position at GV was offered to him, it was almost too perfect. McGinnis immediately said yes to the offer. His reasons were that GV is local, the school has a good reputation and he has family nearby. His teaching skills were easy to apply, and he tended to connect to the students more than most professors. McGinnis said he believes that his recent background in freelancing helps him relate to his students more.

“One of the things that stood out about KC during his hiring stage was his teaching skills because he was really good at bringing what he does professionally into the classroom, and he was able to teach visual storytelling and consistently produce in the field,” said Dayne Logan, Communication Department chair at GV. Since his students know about McGinnis’ success in photo and video production, they relate and trust his teaching process.

“I like how he goes step by step when he’s teaching new material to his students,” said Donminic Goosby, a communications student at GV. “What makes him a good professor in my eyes is he always asks if anyone needs help or if anyone is struggling. KC backtracks and helps his students no matter what; not a lot of professors do that for students especially if it affects class time.”

One of the classes McGinnis teaches is Basic Digital Photography. In this class, he teaches all the small steps it takes to create a phenomenal photo. One of his recent freelancing jobs showed how important photography is. McGinnis was offered a job for the Washington Post to cover the derecho that Iowans experienced last year. This story was important to McGinnis because it had to do with helping people, much like his teaching job. McGinnis used his photography skills and helped spread the emotions the storm brought to thousands of Midwesterners. Serving the community is what McGinnis enjoys most. Being able to help his community through spreading viral news stories, sharing wonderful photos and writing inspirational and information pieces was what he savored.

“I believe that every one of my students has the ability to work for well-known companies much like I have,” McGinnis said. “I believe that students are more than capable of making a career out of photography, journalism and video production.”

For Goosby, McGinnis definitely reaches Grand View students’ teaching expectations and makes the university worth the time and money.

“I would recommend taking Professor KC classes to any student, especially if the students are media communications majors,” Goosby said.

At left: Joe Biden and Jill Biden waved to crowds during a campaign event at Hiatt Middle School in Des Moines, Iowa on February 2, 2020. Photographed by McGinnis for Politico.

At right: Cindy Spellberg casts her vote on election day in Granger, Iowa on November 3, 2020. Photographed by McGinnis for the Guardian.

At right: Francisco Gonzalez Vasquez poses for portrait after the Storm Lake-St. Mary’s high school baseball team practiced on June 12, 2020. Photographed by McGinnis for ESPN.

At left: Keaton Cornish, Jan and Dave Pope, and Jamie Cornish eat the popular crab rangoon pizza at Fong’s Pizza in Des Moines, Iowa on January 18, 2020. Photographed by McGinnis for Buzzfeed News.

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Black Lives of DSM Local artists highlight Black voices of Des Moines Written By: Erick Villar Cordero |‌Photos By: Taylor Thomas and Megan Marshall |‌Designed By: Caleb Grizzle

February is Black History Month; in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, a group from Black Lives of DSM led by Janae Gray decided to organize an art installation displayed by the Grand View University. The display was housed outside of the cafeteria and was dedicated to the people of the local BLM movement.

Gray, a former Grand View student and creator of Black Lives of DSM, is drawn to capture moments that she considers to be part of Black history. During the past year’s protests, Gray has heard many stories and voices. All are centered around the same goal of social justice and racial equality, but each person has a different point of view and a unique story to tell. For Gray, the goal is to listen and understand. She said it is important to understand current historical events to make sure they do not repeat themselves.

“By taking in these experiences, understanding them, taking time to read up with an open heart,” Gray said. “We can all be part of the change for the future and be able to live in a world where everyone is equal.”

She wanted to find a way to amplify those voices.

She thought the best storytelling allows others to have a platform to share, to have a voice; ultimately, that is how Black Lives of DSM was formed.

GV was selected to house the installation because it’s a private university and many people who visit the school might not know about the community they live in. It is a great starting point for them to be able to share these voices.

“By taking in these experiences, understanding them, taking time to read up with an open heart, we can all be part of the change for the future and be able to live in a world where everyone is equal,” Gray said.

Artist Spotlight: Chris Hiserote

“I didn’t choose to be Black, but I would — over and over again.”

—­Chris Hiserote

MM Chris Hiserote, an artist highlighted within Black Lives of DSM display, tells the story of how, due to his skin color, people look at him differently. He is a person who likes to travel to different destinations, but the same thing happens everywhere.

“I dare someone to find a Black person who doesn’t feel the same way,’’ Hiserote said. “I didn’t choose to be Black, but I would — over and over again.”

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“This is America, this is supposed to be the melting pot of the world, and it does not always feel that way because of things you cannot control.

Do not be afraid to be proud of who you are regardless of where you come from, regardless of what you have been through because accepting who you are as the first step to being able to accept anybody else for who they are.”

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CAPTURING HISTORY Written By: Danielle Castillo |‌Photos Provided By: Drew Clements | Designed By: Camden Blowers One day in June of 2020, nearly half a million people showed up in 550-plus locations across the United States for a movement they all believed in, a movement that captured the world’s attention. This was the Black Lives Matter movement.

Drew Clements was there.

Clements found himself standing at the forefront of a historical moment as he captured powerful photos of the Black Lives Matter marches in Des Moines. A graduate of Grand View University, Clements found a love for photography his junior year when his parents gifted him a camera.

Photography, he decided, was more than a hobby; it became his passion. Clements went on to double-major in photography and graphic design.

Clements has positive memories of his time at GV. He was raised in Newton, Iowa, where he always felt different from his peers. When Clements attended college, he felt right at home with his classmates and teammates.

Clements will never forget his first day at GV. “When I stepped onto campus at GV, there were other people just like me, and for the first time it felt like home,” Clements said.

Clements ran track and played football while attending GV. He met both men and women of color and when the Black Lives Matter marches began, Clements knew he wanted to get involved.

“What got me involved and what really made me want to do something was wanting to stand up for my brothers, for the ones that might not speak up, or don’t know what to say, but need that equality,” Clements said.

Clements decided to bring his camera along one day to the Black Lives Matter marches in Des Moines. ”When I took my camera, I didn’t know what I was going to do with it, but as I started taking pictures and I started seeing the chants ... I saw how much love was in the marches” Clements said. “I wanted to use photography for not just me, but for the people there and the generations after us. June 7th, I was standing at the capitol building watching all these people come up and I started to tear up because it was one of the most powerful, beautiful things, how Des Moines showed up.”

Clements captured some powerful photos during the Black Lives Matter marches. One particularly powerful image was of a demonstrator who had started to cry. The image, to Clements, was a photo worth a thousand words.

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“It really showed the emotion behind everything going on,”Clements said.

Clements edits most of his photos in black and white for emotional reasons as well.

“Black and white seemed to fit the mood or feeling I was trying to show and get across,” Clements said. “I felt like it made the photo, events, people and marches more impactful and stronger.”

A moment that stands out to Clements was when one of his photos from the Black Lives Matter marches was featured on the National Geographic “Your Shot” Instagram account, which has 5.3 million followers.

Clements’ GV roommate and good friend Tobias Tyler described what makes Clements a good photographer.

“He has a very good eye, and his compositions are really well done; like in the marches and the protest, he captures those moments really well,” Tyler said. “Me being a photographer as well, he does stuff that I wouldn’t do. I love the work that he does. I can sense his passion for everything through his photography; that’s what I like about his images.

As a photographer there isn’t much you can do for the Black Lives Matter movement besides kinda document everything and be there for it, be there with them, stand with them, capture that moment in time. The way he flows seamlessly through the marches, it was almost like he wasn’t even there as a photographer. He was there, he stood in solidarity, he went through everything.”

Clements was able to even make some connections during the marches that lead to the creation of a nonprofit called Price of a Hug. This nonprofit consists of a group of local photographers, videographers, painters and many other artists in Des Moines. Their mission is to help create media for anyone who might need it in exchange for a hug. With donations, the group was able to help the homeless population by cooking meals and providing clothing. As of now, Clements continues standing up for what he believes in and capturing images that he loves.

Clements had some words of advice for GV students who might be interested in photography.

“Don’t compare your photography to anyone else as long as you like the image,” Clements said. “That’s all that matters, don’t be scared to fail, be confident with yourself. If you see something that tells a story don’t be scared to photograph it.”

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BLACK POWER DR. A’NDREA WILSON MAKES HERSELF SEEN AND HEARD Written By: Taylor Thomas |‌Photos By: April Czarnecki | Designed By: Camden Blowers

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Dr. A’ndrea Wilson’s journey to teaching at Grand View University was not simple, but her “colorful background,” as she refers to it, has helped shape the way she does her job today. Wilson has done everything from fast food to interior design to jewelry making to substitute teaching. She also has several degrees, including two psychology degrees, a doctorate with a focus in global leadership and a masters in dramatic writing. On top of that, she has a collection of published written works.

In her current position at GV, she is the Braida Endowed Chair of Creative Writing, director of the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative, advisor to the Black Student Union (BSU) and the instructor for courses ranging from dramatic writing to race relations.

“I feel like nothing is lost,” Wilson said. “Everything I’ve done, in one way or another, comes back around, and I can utilize it in my current career.”

As one of a few Black professors on campus, Wilson holds a lot of responsibility on her shoulders. Because she makes herself visible, students and faculty seek her out for advice, opinions and guidance on situations regarding racial diversity and equity. Whether it’s a student going through something race-based or a policy change that may have potential inequities, Wilson is there to advocate for people of color.

“A lot of work does fall on me,” Wilson said. “No one’s forced me to, but I’ve taken the initiative myself to do it because I know it needs to be done, and I would hate for students to feel like there’s constantly new things happening and occurring, and their position, their culture, their situation hasn’t been taken into consideration.”

Although the job can be overwhelming at times, Wilson said she knows that having her voice at the table is important.

A silly person by nature, it’s not always fun having to be assertive, but that is something that students and faculty appreciate about her.

Former BSU President Alyssa Parker reflected on her relationship with Wilson not only as an advisor and a teacher but also like her “campus mom.” Parker said it was helpful to have an educated Black woman as a mentor, and that Wilson is one of the main reasons she was successful at GV. “There wasn’t always a lot of Black women professors,” Parker said, referring to other schools she attended. “Being able to work with Wilson, a Black woman who’s very educated…it was a good learning experience for me.”

Parker recalled a BSU networking event where successful Black community members talked with members of BSU and some students got internships or jobs because of it.

Alex Piedras, director of Multicultural and Community Outreach, has worked closely with Wilson since she started at GV in 2018. They co-advised BSU together in her first year and have since worked together putting on events with other cultural groups on campus. Piedras said Wilson provides leadership for BSU, and is always trying to uplift diversity on and off campus.

“She is always looking for ways to engage the communities into supporting and promoting diversity,” Piedras said.

Wilson said she is proud of her culture and proud to be able to represent the Black community on campus. Being Black is part of who she is, and it’s important to her that people not only see that, but respect it.

“Unless you’re Ray Charles, you saw me,” Wilson said jokingly.

Wilson also believes it’s also important to make herself known on campus because she wants students of color to see that there is someone that looks like them and talks like them that works for the school. She said it’s empowering to students to see that their culture is accepted, and that they don’t need to change things about who they are to get a job.

Wilson said she hasn’t run into any direct racism during her time at GV, but is unduly familiar in dealing with microaggressions, bias and sexism. Microaggressions are comments or actions that subtly express prejudice toward a marginalized group. They are often unintentional and come from one’s own implicit bias.

“We live in a society that isn’t always welcoming to voices of color and isn’t always welcoming to female voices,” Wilson said.

Something that Wilson is working on with the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative is training for students and faculty to promote diversity, equity and inclusivity around campus.

Currently, training is only offered to certain groups but will hopefully be accessible to all students soon.

In her time at GV, Wilson has made tremendous strides toward making GV a campus where students not only have a voice but feel seen. In the current racial climate, the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative and Wilson’s voice have never been more necessary. “ King’s dream has still not come to pass,” Wilson said.

There is a lot more work to be done, but Wilson and the GV community is continuously working toward equality every day.

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BLACK-OWNED Written and Designed By: Megan Marshall |‌Photos By: Danielle Castillo and Megan Marshall

On July 7, 2020, the Des Moines Black Lives Matter organization joined the nationwide movement to encourage spending at Black-owned businesses. The Black Lives Matter movement designated each Tuesday as Blackout day to help increase business at local shops owned by Black individuals. This movement was intended to increase awareness about Black-owned businesses in the area and encourage the community to support them. Below are two Black-owned businesses worth checking out.

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I wanted to serve something more healthy and give back to my community.

LIFESTYLE JUICES Lifestyle Juices is a Black-owned business located at 2418 University Ave., across from Drake University.

This business is owned by Nico Ncquist and his wife and is operated primarily

by Ncquist. His kids help out on the weekends and when they have breaks from school.

Lifestyle Juices started about four years ago.

“It started because I worked for restaurants most of my life and I wanted to serve something more healthy and give back to my community,” Ncquist said.

Lifestyle Juices is a smoothie and juice bar. All of the drinks are made 15

with natural, fresh ingredients from scratch when ordered. Lifestyle Juices also offers protein smoothies as well as ginger and wheat-grass shots to boost immunity. According to the Lifestyle Juices Facebook page, juicing infuses vitamins, minerals and enzymes into the body without having it broken down.

The most popular item on the menu is a shake called Sweet Greens.

This drink is made with kiwi, apple, spinach and kale.

“People always try to get the green drink because they find it to be a little bit more healthier,” Ncquist said.

Ncquist put the menu together himself, mixing different fruits and

- Nico Ncquist

vegetables together and taste testing his creations with his family. Ncquist said that his experience from working in the kitchen gave him a good idea of what ingredients work well together.

“I think it is very important (for people to support local Black-owned businesses) especially here in Iowa because Black-owned businesses in Iowa are maybe 2% or less,” Ncquist said. “We need more Black-owned businesses in Iowa. They say Black people don’t support Black people, but that is not true because I would say maybe 60-75% of the young Blacks are the returning customers and help support this business.”

ZUMI May Black entrepreneurs start businesses inspired by Black culture. Zumi is a retail store located on 1141 42nd St. in Des Moines by Drake University. The owner, Lu Spaine, started out selling her products at the Downtown Farmers’ Market for seven years, before opening her store.

Zumi has a diverse collection of women’s ethnic wear, African art, home decór and jewelry.

“I sell things from developing countries,” Spaine said. “I focus on Africa, Asia, South America, and I also feature a pretty good amount of Certified Fair Trade items.”

Fair Trade is a worldwide movement to make sure that workers get paid fairly based on their economy and are working in safe conditions. Along with selling items from Fair Trade, Spaine has recently added her own wholesale clothing line that is manufactured in Thailand, where small groups of women produce the clothing rather than laborers in a sweatshop. She sells her clothing line in Zumi and to various boutiques around the country as well.

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Spaine said that jewelry and clothing are the top selling items. A lot of the jewelry that she sells in her store is handmade and created with sustainable products. She started her business because she enjoys the unique qualities that can be found in various cultures around the world.

These kinds of businesses uplift communities, promoting a sense of pride in Black culture around the world. Zumi brings products from around the world to Iowa that are valuable for the unique character they bring.

“I think that (the community) needs to support all local businesses but particularly Black-owned businesses,” Spaine said.

“We have been rated by national surveys as being near the bottom in the country as far as opportunities for African Americans, and I think that’s rather embarrassing, especially when they get rated in the top two or three as far as place to live so there is a huge disparity there that needs to be addressed. ... Everybody should be doing well and should be prospering.”

Shopping locally has many benefits to the economy, including the increase

of job opportunities. Since Black-owned businesses are typically smaller businesses, they are likely to hire from the local community.

According to Green Business Network in an article by Mary Meade and Sytonia Reid, in 2019 the median wealth for white families was about 12 times more than what Black families make. One in four Black households have zero or negative net worth compared to less than one in 10 white families. By supporting more Black-owned businesses, Black families and individuals will be more likely to have opportunities for property ownership and generational wealth.

A study conducted by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition in 2017 found that banks are twice as likely to supply business loans to white applicants than Black applicants. Supporting Blackowned businesses can increase the income of those businesses, which in turn attracts investors. Supporting Black-owned businesses even just once a week can help encourage the diversity Black-owned businesses bring to our community.

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REVIEW: BEING BLACK IN AMERICA Written By: Dallas Bryson |‌Photo By: Megan Marshall | Designed By: Megan Marshall

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The Stoop is a podcast on Apple music presented by two female hosts named Leila Day and Hana Baba.

This podcast is about how the Black community tends to get treated differently and offers perspectives and strategies for navigating the Black experience.

I listened to several episodes for this review.

Episode two intrigued me for many reasons. In this episode, Day and Baba talk about three words that are not commonly used within the Black community: I love you. I love you is not a phrase that is frequently said out loud, especially to a lot of Black men. In the podcast, Day and Baba interview some Black individuals and talk about how the phrase was not thrown around their households growing up, and for some, even to this day.

One man talked about how he had just got out of prison, and when he was locked up, he started to tell some of his close friends in there that he loved them.

One thing that struck me was when he said that his mother never said it to him until he served time. Every time he got off the phone with her while he was in prison, he would say I love you to his mom. She started to reciprocate it, and that is how the cycle started.

In my past experiences, my mother and father have showed me the utmost love that you can give to a child. Just because I have gotten so much love from my parents, does not mean that I do not know what goes on outside of my realm. I try to say it as much as possible to my friends and family because I know it can go a long way. I believe that in the Black community, there is a lot of pride. Some might think that showing love can be seen as weak or vulnerable, but love and vulnerability are what we need in this world.

The Black community has a hard time with the concept of love because of the stigmas that are portrayed about us. One thing that has been holding

down the Black community is the stigma that Black people might not be the smartest. In school, we tend to be looked at as dumb and uneducated among nonBlack peers, where in fact that is not the case at all.

I have experienced this throughout my education, being looked at as the person that might not get it, when in fact I do. I have always been a bright student, and I have always wanted that validation from somewhere or at least just one teacher. Nobody has ever come up to me or said anything wrong, but I can always tell when I am treated as the “odd man out”, and I do not like that all. The color of one’s skin should not be a reason to limit anyone’s abilities. Plenty of Black students have graduated from their high school and colleges at the top of their classes and that it just one small instance where you can see the Black excellence strive and really take off to another level.

Black individuals are often times stereotyped to be scary, mean or violent. This results in being treated unfairly by law enforcement, and by people in general.

I have experienced these types of quick judgments my whole life as a tall Black man. I can see the stares as I walk past, the whispers to their family or friends and I have seen people out right avoid looking my way at all. Like I have stated before, Black individuals are human beings and expect to be treated as such. It is especially hard when you have the law enforcement seemingly not on your side. I have not experienced any mistreatment from the law personally, but there are many Black individuals who have not been as lucky.

Altogether, this podcast, to me, addresses the issue of love within the Black community. It gives good insight on what goes on throughout the mind of Black individuals.

The problems that the Black community has to face on a daily basis are very much alive. We as a group need to come together to stop this growing issue immediately.

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Review: A film about who we were and still are today.

Written By: Taylor Carey |‌Designed By: Megan Marshall

“The Help” a fictional movie based on Kathryn Stockett’s novel, is set in the early 1960s and portrays the interactions between white Southerners and their Black housekeepers. There are three main characters who are all Mississippi women but who are very different from one another.

Skeeter, a young white woman and an inspiring journalist, decides to write a novel from the point of view of the Black maids, to expose the racism that they are faced with each day. The story focuses on her relationship with two Black maids, Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson, who share struggles against society as they work through loss of family members, abuse and mistreatment.

Throughout the movie, these characters build an unlikely bond around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. A sisterhood is formed that gives them the courage to go beyond the lines that once defined them. They soon realize that these lines were meant to be crossed, even if doing so is wildly unpopular at the time. This story dives into a vision of a divided America and highlights characters that demonstrate the segregationist South that were present at the time.

Despite the decades between today and the era of the Jim Crow laws, racism is still prevalent in today’s society. Strong themes in “The Help” such as racism and white perception of Blackness are still evident today.

The pivotal message of this movie is the ability to create change and the courage to stand up for that positive societal shift.

To start, Aibileen, a housemaid to Jolene French, demonstrates a bond between her and the white child that she helps raise, Mae Mobley. We see this same relationship throughout the movie when we look at the main character, Skeeter, and her maid, Constantine.

While these housemaids are treated like a burden, a resentment and property by the adults in the household, they step in as the caretakers and loving mother figures for the children they take care of. Aibileen again and again shows that love is not limited to blood relationships but is often unfairly complicated by the structures built up by society.

Opposite of this love, you see the relationship between childhood friends Skeeter, Hilly and Elizabeth crumble as the movie unfolds. Skeeter twists away from the friendship she once had with the women who disagree 19

with the stances she holds. As we look around at our own personal relationships, there are times when we need to decide if a “difference in opinions or beliefs” is worth the relationships we have. Skeeter had to look past her longlasting friendships and decide what was morally right, even if it meant losing people that are apart of her life.

It’s evident what kind of perception was held in this time. However, these perceptions still remain today.

Characters in the movie were automatic suspects in crimes and victims of violence. Today, police brutality towards POC is reoccurring around our country.

According to mappingpoliceviolence.org, Black individuals are three times more likely to be killed by police than white people.

Lastly, the theme of white perception of Blackness is shown in “The Help.” Skeeter goes against the mindset that she grew up to know and does what is right, despite the popular opinion in her community. She pushes aside the consequences and stays true to her mission to publish these stories and show the perspective and testimonies that resulted in her being alone in her friend and family circle. Even though a published book did not change hearts and minds in her community, it was a shift in the right direction toward equality.

Just like today, standing up for what is right, even in small moments may seem insignificant, but it is more powerful than it may seem. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Stephon Clark, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown. These are only a tiny fraction of names who deserve justice and needed people to display actions such as Skeeter’s. Action is needed by everyone to repair the broken society we see today.

Despite the decades that stand between 2021 and the era of “The Help” it is clear that we have not reached the equality and equity that is needed today. From the cruel murder of George Floyd and the rise of BLM protests to the unrighteous police brutality that is shown toward the Black community today, we cannot turn our eyes to the injustice being shown simply due to discomfort or denial.

How can we do this? Like Skeeter, we can help share the voices of the oppressed. We can speak out against inequality and injustice. We can educate our family members and friends. Most importantly, we can continue to educate ourselves. We can understand the privilege that we have. It is our part to play on the road toward racial equality.

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COVID-19 Update Written and Designed By: Nerma Turan Over the last year, Iowans (and the world) have been learning how to live with the coronavirus pandemic. Since early 2020, there have been roughly 337,000 cases and just over 5,400 deaths in the state, according to The New York Times database.With vaccines rolling out and much of Iowa starting to reopen, it can be difficult to keep track of what’s going on and how it affects you. Here’s a breakdown.

MASKS

On Sunday, February 7, 2021 Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds lifted the Iowa mask mandate and social distancing requirements, according to CNBC. This meant that statewide the public is no longer required to wear masks in indoor public places, and there are no limits on the number of people in gatherings. Although these restrictions were lifted, Reynolds recommended that Iowans and businesses continue to take measures that follow the guidelines of the Iowa Department of Public Health.

According to the IDPH, “A cloth face mask can help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Iowa. Protect yourself and your community by wearing a face covering when out in public and when social distancing is not possible.”

The lifting of restrictions was concerning to many Iowans because, at the time of Reynolds’ action, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was reporting that Iowa is ranked 47th per capita in the U.S. for vaccine distributions.

KCCI reported that many Iowans are wondering why Reynolds relaxed the restrictions so early because only a small percentage of the state’s population has received the vaccine.

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According to Reynolds, Iowa has been receiving vaccines at a lower rate for distributions in comparison to other states. She has asked federal officials to explain and provide more vaccines to the state.

VACCINES

Beginning on February 1, 2021, COVID-19 vaccines were made available to Iowans that are either 65 years or older, first responders, teachers (preschool to high school level), childcare workers, healthcare workers and care facilities staff. According to Our World in Data, there have been around 754,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine distributed to Iowans since December 2020. Of the 754,000 doses, there are 194,000 Iowans that are fully vaccinated. That leaves approximately 1.4 million unvaccinated Iowans that are 18 years or older. So when can you get one?

The priority that the Iowa Department of Public Health has set for vaccine distributions is currently in phase 1B, which has five tiers. The first tier is for first responders, childcare workers, and teachers and is currently ongoing. The second tier is for manufacturing workers who work in settings that do not allow for social distancing and individuals with disabilities and their care staff. This tier is not yet eligible. Tier three is for those who live in congregate settings and government officials.

Tier four covers health and safety inspectors. The last tier to receive the COVID-19 vaccine will be the correctional facilities staff and incarcerated individuals. According to the IDPH, information about the next phase, phase 1C, will be released in the spring.

VACCINE SIDE-EFFECTS

One of the Iowans who has received the COVID-19 vaccine is senior nursing student, Abel Kah. In February, Kah got his second dose of the Moderna vaccine through Polk County Health Services. He was eligible due to working in the healthcare field. It was an easy process where he needed to sign up on the website and make an appointment. Kah said that his experience getting the COVID-19 vaccine was like that of the flu shot.

“The only bad experience I had was my muscles were so sore the next morning; it went on for that entire day,” Kah said.

Even though this was his experience, Kah acknowledged that not everyone feels better the day after getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

“One of (my nursing friends) couldn’t come to clinical the next morning because they had their first shot and weren’t feeling good,” Kah said. “They were kind of under the weather.”

What Kah and his friends were feeling is not uncommon for someone who has received the COVID vaccine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are a few common side effects that your body needs to go through to build protection.

An immediate side effect of the vaccine is pain and swelling in the individual’s arm where the shot took place.

The CDC recommends applying a wet washcloth over the area and exercising the arm. Additional side effects that

are common include fever, chills, fatigue and headaches. To combat this, the CDC said to drink a lot of fluids and to wear lightweight clothing. If these side effects do not stop after a few days, it is recommended to contact your doctor.

MASKS AFTER VACCINATION

Although he is vaccinated, Kah said he will continue following the CDC guidelines of wearing masks, staying six feet apart, and taking necessary precautions.

“We also don’t yet know whether getting a COVID-19 vaccine will prevent you from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 to other people, even if you don’t get sick yourself,” a statement from the CDC reads.

Therefore, it’s recommended that even after being vaccinated, individuals should continue to follow the guidelines of mask wearing and social distancing. By doing so, the communities can work together to stop the spread of COVID-19. Kah said he recognizes that a lot of Iowans are not yet vaccinated, so he is also doing his part to ensure everyone around him is safe.

Kah recommended that the GV community and his fellow nursing peers should continue to follow healthcare guidelines.

He said to pay attention to new CDC guidelines and listen to healthcare experts so that the community can continue to do things in-person but in the safest way possible.

“From my own point of view and what I’m seeing right now, I think we are on the right path with the vaccine,” Kah said.

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