Issue 1 Volume 1

2

African American Student

Union’s mission is uniting

our community through di-

versity to achieve greatness.

While creating support,

friendships, and bonds that

will last a lifetime.

AASU was formed in 1987, it was created to bring

unity among the African American community. AASU

wants to promote cooperation among African Ameri-

cans and all students. Any person can be a part of

AASU regardless of race or ethnic background. As

long as there is a sense of respect towards the

heritage and cultures of African American people.

Heritage of Latino Ameri-

cans (HOLA) promotes a

sense of community and

pride among Latino Ameri-

can students at Otterbein.

The organization promotes

friendship and cooperation

among all students and fosters encouraging, aca-

demic excellence and cultural appreciation of Latino

American students.

The group sponsors a variety of events throughout

the year. Notable past events include the Latin Fies-

ta Mixer and growing the salsa garden during the

summer. Group outings have also been popular in

the past.

Men of Vision (MOV) is an

organization of Otterbein

male student leaders. Men

of Vision promotes male

leadership within the Otter-

bein community and recog-

nizing the importance of

developing and exchanging views and ideas among

college men on campus. The goals are to encourage

Otterbein males to become active in leadership

roles and service on and off campus, in addition to

enhancing and further developing the skills and

talents of male student leaders. Men of Vision

works collaboratively with other student organiza-

tions.

Tribute To The Past

Why Harambee? Why Now?.................................3-4

Young Alumni Update: Karen Castro……………….4-5

Habari Gani

Progress? ……………………………………………………...6

International Students’ Break/Ms. LaJoyce……...7

Past To Present…………………………………... ………..8

Opinion

Slaves Once More ………………………………………....9

Featured Poet: Matthew Quinn……………………….10

I am NOT my Hair…………………………………………..11

Mark Your Calendar………………………………………………………………....12

Art and Entertainment

Featured Artist: Benjamin Willis……………………..13

Helpful Hints………………………………………………………………………………..14

Otterbrown……………………………………………………………..15-16

Behind The Words…………………………………………………….17

Want To Be Featured in Harambee…………………………….18

Contents

Editor N Chief: Natasha Shorts

Natasha.shorts@otterbein.edu

Staff Advisors: James Prysock

jprysock@otterbein.edu

Dr. Phyllis Burns

pburns@otterbein.edu

Contributing Writers

Nana Agyepong

Abi Agyepong

Abdinajib Liban

Cameron Change

Lydie Dorelien

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just to have success. This is why we

need this magazine!

This magazine is here to highlight the

achievements of the African American

community as well as to embrace who

we are as people. While in every other

part of our media we may be highlight-

ed as ghetto, loud, criminals, or just

overly sensitive, we will show our true

colors. We will discuss issues that apply

to our community openly and honestly.

This magazine sheds the harsh truth

about the problems that our communi-

ties have to face on a daily basis and

also give ideas for solutions on how we

as a community on this campus can

actively make changes for the better-

ment of ourselves and our society. This

magazine also hopes to highlight many

of the people who are defying the odds

and making changes in their communi-

ty, their families, and just living up to

the “Dream” Martin Luther King Jr. once

talked about.

Who is Harambee For?

Harambee is the Swahili word that

means pulling together and that is ex-

actly what we hope to do with this mag-

azine. We hope to bring together the

different ethnic communities on cam-

pus through informing them on what is

happening on campus, giving them a

place to print their opinion, and encour-

aging them to freely live out their cul-

ture with a sense of pride and dignity.

While at the same time having a place

to discuss issues that target our com-

munities from a political, social, and

When I began to let others know about the

idea of Harambee coming back into publi-

cation I received many questions about the

purpose of a magazine dedicated to show-

casing the African American culture and

other minority cultures on campus. It is the

same question that comes up when people

wonder why there are such orginzations as

African American Student Union, H.O.LA,

and the like. Why Harambee? Why now?

There was a time in our history that by law,

African Americans were considered less

than animals. We were stolen from our

homeland of Africa, bought and sold like

pieces of objects, raped and beaten into

working for those that we were trained to

believe we were inferior to. As a nation,

have we grown from our times of slavery

and even segregation? Of course we have,

but just because we have grown in some

ways, it does not mean we have completely

solved the problem of race relations in our

country.

The repercussions of that time period have

left impending damage on not only the way

the African American views themselves but

it has also taken a major toll on the way

society views us. Our culture has become a

joke and a stereotype instead of a natural

way of life. Our music and our media glorify

the thug lifestyle so much that not only do

those outside our community automatically

believe we act, talk, and think this way but

we have come to see this lifestyle as being

truly “black”. No matter how far we go in

life, in this country, we will always have

something to prove.

The idea of a place for a student to pick up

a magazine and feel like those who write it

are writing it while they go through

same struggles and hopes as them, is

something that is rarely found on any

campus. It is easy for those who have

never been classified as a minority to

not understand the purpose of a mag-

azine such as this. When you are the

majority, what the minority does can

not only be looked at as different and

weird but the hardships that they go

through can be overlooked and seen

as a nation of sensitive people. There-

fore, we need this magazine to show

our struggles. But we also need this

magazine to show our triumphs!

We Have Not Reached The Promise

Land Just Yet

Though we were freed by the 13th

amendment in 1865 from slavery and

freed from segregation laws, we have

now imprisoned ourselves. We have

bought into the lie that we are truly

nothing more than second class citi-

zens. We hold ourselves back and try

to hide our culture because it is not

accepted in the professional realm.

We have refused to claim the lighter

skin brother because his features and

skin tone are too “white” to be black.

We have demeaned the darker

skinned kinky haired sister as holding

less beauty, making her feel like she is

a God given mistake. To make matters

worse, not only have we held ourselves

back but we did it while the world was

watching. The repercussions of slavery

have left the African American commu-

nity wanting to leave their entire cul-

ture behind and embrace what the

society around them says is the norm,

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Why Harambee? Why Now?

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Why Harambee? CONT. economic view.

Showing how these different views can

play a role on our campus as college

minority students. We will provide a

home for minorities to freely express

their frustrations and openly share their

victories.

This is a place where those who have

never had the opportunity to learn much

about minorities, can learn about the

issues and causes that we deal with,

can send in questions and get honest

answers, as well as learn of different

events that will help them get more

plugged into ethnic life here on campus.

This is an open platform for all those

who are searching for a place to express

their needs and desires as a student of

color on a predominantly white campus.

Harambee is here to act as a safe haven

for students of color who are looking for

a place that encourages their culture.

Harambee is not here as a place to com-

pete with any other magazine nor to

demean other ethnicities or promote

black supremacy. That is not our goal.

We are here to enlighten, uplift, edu-

cate, and encourage.

As you begin to dive into Harambee, our

hope is that in the midst of these pages

you find a place to be yourself!

Natasha Shorts

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Young Alumni Update: Karen Castro

Karen Castro is

an Otterbein

alumnus of the

class of 2012.

Finishing school

early in December

of 2011, Karen

walked as well as

spoke at the class

of 2012 com-

mencement cere-

mony. When asked what made her want to

attend Otterbein, Castro explained she was

the first in her family to obtain a bachelor’s

degree so she had no idea where to begin

when looking at colleges. Fortunately, she

had supportive high school mentors who

encouraged her to look at smaller private

colleges where she could grow and develop

as a person. One of Castro’s guidance coun-

selors attended Otterbein and urged her to

visit the campus; so that’s exactly what she

did!

Castro states, “When I drove to Westerville,

I immediately fell in love with the small

town atmosphere. When I arrived on cam-

pus I loved the brick roads and the academ-

ic buildings. Aside from the superficial as-

pects, I enjoyed talking to everyone on my

campus visit, the fact that people waved

“hello” to each other walking to class was

pretty cool. It made me enjoy the warm and

caring environment Otterbein has”. Castro

found that the staff and faculty of the Uni-

versity truly cared about her well-being.

Student Involvement

Castro speaks of her time at Otterbein in a

very positive light. She was actively involved

in campus life as founder of HOLA, and in

Shades Of Success, Tau Epsilon Mu Sorority

and many other activities. Not only was she

impacted by the campus, but she also left

her own mark on Otterbein University.

Castro explains that being involved at Otter-

bein allowed her to gain valuable leader-

ship and time management skills. In her

free time she also held a position at the

Office of Diversity as a Student Assistant to

Dr. Lisa Phillips where she was instrumental

in helping out with projects that needed to

be completed.

Academic Triumphs and Challenges

Karen Castro started at Otterbein University

as a Business Administration major with a

focus in International Business and a minor

in Spanish. She had the exciting opportunity

of studying abroad in Cordoba, Argentina,

where she took a business class, which

demonstrated another side of international

business that she rarely heard about. One

of the most valua-

ble lessons she

learned was that

some of the most

successful U.S.

companies will go

into foreign coun-

tries to use their

resources, exploit

their employees,

and pay corrupt

politicians to relax

labor laws. She

was determined that she would not willingly

participate in such malpractice. However,

when Castro returned to Otterbein, she was

thoroughly confused because she didn’t

want to major in International Business any

longer. After consulting with her mentors

and her Otterbein support system, she real-

ized that she wanted to do something that

would allow her to help people but still had

Karen with Congresswoman Joyce

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Young Alumni Update: Karen Castro

international focus. Half-way through

Castro’s junior year she switched her ma-

jor to International Studies. It seemed like

the perfect choice for her because she

learned about politics, business, sociolo-

gy, and international relations; all of the

things that interested her.

Experiences After Graduation

Since graduating, Castro has been mak-

ing her mark on the community. She was

selected out of hundreds of applicants to

be an intern in Senator Sherrod Brown’s

office. She describes applying as the best

decision of her life, though she was very

doubtful of herself as she didn’t believe

she knew enough about the government.

There, she learned a great deal of life

lessons and was instrumental in improv-

ing communication between the Hispanic

community and Senator Sherrod Brown’s

office.

Through the internship Castro began to

learn more about government, how it

works, and the key factors for legislation

to become law. She also served as a

constituent response intern, which re-

quired her to keep track of the calls of

constituents to ensure they received a

proper response.

Connecting With The Community

Since Castro was interning in the Colum-

bus office, one of her jobs was to do out-

reach to constituency groups. At the time,

the Columbus office was lacking outreach

to the Hispanic community so Castro took

the initiative to work alongside one of the

Constituent Liaisons to contact and con-

nect with Hispanic leaders in Central

Ohio. She had the opportunity to make a

significant contribution through her in-

ternship, which paved the way for future

communication between the Hispanic

community and Senator Sherrod Brown’s

office.

Though Castro was busy learning about

government, her passion to directly im-

pact her community never went away. To

that end, she volunteered with the Center

for Latin Hope, a non-profit organization

that provides services such as free Eng-

lish classes to the Hispanic community.

Castro states, “Volunteering at the center

helped me understand further the prob-

lems of underprivileged families. I learned

that there is a lack of opportunity and a

lack of quality education in poor commu-

nities. This is something I want to change.

These experiences validated that chang-

ing my major was crucial”.

Words of Advice

Castro is continuing to make her mark in

the community and the workplace. She is

currently working with Congresswoman

Joyce Beatty as a District Aide. She be-

lieves that this position will create a

strong foundation for her future, where

one day she will be one of the few women

supporting and representing her commu-

nity.

Castro’s tip for minorities is to get in-

volved, find a mentor, educate others

about your culture, and don’t be afraid to

speak up when someone is politically

incorrect in the classroom. Karen Castro

leaves us with this thought to ponder,

“We may be minorities but our voices and

actions are very powerful.”

Abi Agyepong

“We may be

minorities but

our voices and

actions are

very

powerful.”

Karen Castron speaking at the 2012

Commencement Ceremony

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Valentino Dixon, Attica Maximum Security

Prison inmate, sits in his cell and

masterfully concocts detailed pictures of

golf courses. According to a documentary

on the Golf Channel in July 2012, Dixon

has always had an artistic eye and

started creating his portraits early in

elementary school. He did not begin

drawing golf courses, however, until his

Time in Attica Penitentiary. It came about

when the Warden took notice of Dixon’s

ability and asked him to create an image

of the 12th hole of the famous Augusta

National Golf Course. Impressed with

Dixon’s portrayal of the course, the

warden decided to give Dixon the

materials and inspirational images to

continue drawing his masterpieces.

The Fight That Started It All

The year is 1991 and Valentino Dixon is a

young man out passing the time with a

few other friends on the streets of

Buffalo, New York. After some time

passes, a few other characters approach

Valentino and his crew. Unfortunately,

some unfriendly words are exchanged

between the two groups. Tensions flare

and before long an altercation occurs;

escalating into fists and guns. A shot

rings out and a young man by the name

of Toriano Jackson loses his life and all

fingers point to Valentino Dixon; who is

arrested and convicted (Golf Channel

2012).

Evidence

Some might consider this a pretty open

and shut case; a fight breaks out and a

young man ends up dead. Dixon was

opposite Jackson during the fight,

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it’s very possible that Dixon could have

slain Jackson. But let’s check the facts:

According to the case’s details, Dixon’s

fingerprints were not on the gun

determined to be the weapon used to

kill Jackson and there was no gun

powder residue on Dixon to indicate that

he was holder of the gun when it was

fired (Televised documentary on Dixon’s

trial). Of the three witnesses introduced

by the prosecution in Dixon’s trial, none

of them could conclusively identify Dixon

as the shooter. Not long after the trial

had concluded, the man responsible for

Jackson’s death publicly confesses to a

local news station. Even with all of this

evidence indicating Dixon’s innocence,

he is not released from prison where is

just finished serving year 21 of a 39

year to life sentence.

Clearing His Name

Several years and three appeals later,

Valentino Dixon is still incarcerated

despite the appearance of several more

witnesses willing to give a testament to

his innocence. In spite of his bleak

situation, there are still those willing to

fight for Dixon’s freedom. Dixon’s family

has fought for 21 years to clear his

name. Especially his daughter,

Valentina Dixon, a Senior Early-

childhood Education right here at

Otterbein. Even with all of this in his

favor, there are still many obstacles

that stand in the way of Dixon and his

freedom. Obstacles like the apathetic

New York legal system and the

financial disparities that keep him from

affording adequate legal

representation. So for now Valentino

sits in his cell and continues to create

portraits of beautiful golf courses,

hoping only for absolution and to one

day be free to continue his life with his

friends and loved ones.

Cam Change

PROGRESS?

“Not long

after the trial

had

concluded, the

man

responsible for

Jackson’s

death publicly

confesses...”

Some of the many portraits Dixon completed while

in prison

7

Guangzhou, China is in many ways different

than Westerville but Yongjun Zhi does not

mind. Yongjun Zhi who goes by “Jackson” is

an international student at Otterbein

University. Born in China, Jackson studied in

the University of Shanghai for Science and

Technology (USST), before attending

Otterbein as part of his junior year study

abroad experience.

Since most international students stay in the

United States all year long some students

use Winter and Spring break as an

opportunity to explore the United States.

Jackson spent the Spring break of the 2012-

2013 school year in San Francisco. After his

American Airlines flight landed, like most

tourists, he was impressed by the city’s

iconic landmarks such as the Golden Gate

Bridge. Besides sightseeing, Jackson also

reunited with friends that are currently

studying in different campuses including San

Francisco State University and UC Berkeley.

Fellow Juniors Luyi “Gloria” Gao and Yifan

“Kiki” Wu, both international students from

the University of Shanghai for Science and

Technology (USST), also enhanced their

study abroad experience by travelling during

spring break.

Like Jackson, Yifan Wu also spent time on

the West Coast. His journey included stops in

San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas in

addition to the Grand Canyon and Yosemite

National Park. Gloria, however, spent her

spring break on the East Coast. After

previously visiting Chicago in the Fall of

2012, she was eager to now see New York

City and Washington, DC. Gloria described

New York as a modern city with a plethora of

museums. Nevertheless she states, “I prefer

Washington, DC”. She noted that the

District of Columbia appeared less

crowded and cleaner. At the U.S. Capitol

she was elated to see the White House

and the U.S. Capitol Building on Capitol

Hill.

According to the Institute of International

Education (IIE), a non-profit organization

which tracks study abroad statistics,

there were over 764,000 international

students that enrolled in U.S. colleges

and universities last year. On the other

hand, only a little over 270,000

American students studied abroad. IIE

President Allan Goodman argues that

American students should study abroad

because it will better prepare them for

the global workforce. Since the majority

of U.S. students do not pursue a study

abroad, he argues that the increasing

amount of international students on U.S.

campuses is a positive trend because it

gives American students a chance to

interact with someone from another

country.

Studying abroad can have its own set of

Pros and Cons. For Gloria, one of the

challenges of studying abroad has been

that it can lead to homesickness.

Gloria's favorite aspect of her study

abroad has been that she has

encountered and learned from a diverse

array of people and cultures. Jackson

enjoys his coursework and the ample

opportunity he has to practice speaking

English.

Abdinajib Liban

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Mrs. LaJoyce Daniel-

Cain has been the

choir director of

Otterbein Gospel

Choir for 23 years.

She has played the

piano since she was

a child. Mrs. LaJoyce

is also a music

teacher at A-Plus

Art Academy, as well as the director for all the

theater productions. She is also a vocal and

piano instructor where she works with people

of all diversity from children who have

disabilities to adults who want to fulfill a

childhood dream.

Otterbein University Gospel Choir is a non

denominational Christian based choir on

campus. The Gospel Choir performs for many

Otterbein occasions such as Homecoming

weekend, the Martin Luther King Convocation,

Ash Wednesday, and also Advent

services. The choir has been filled with

students from all backgrounds.

The song selections are pieces from Mrs.

LaJoyce's childhood and also songs suggested

by students. “The biggest difference I’ve

noticed are the ratio of students but, the faith-

based and enlightenment of the student has

remained consistent.” Mrs. LaJoyce said.

Lydie Dorelien

International Perspective: What to do

when stuck in the US?

Who is Mrs. LaJoyce?

8

Standing with their ears glued to each word

every speaker began to say, eyes fogged by

imagining the images that the speakers

discussed, they watched captivated. Some

only coming to the event for a class

assignment, others just to support their

theater peer as he spoke, they began to see

the true reason of why they had to be at

that

program.

It was the

50th

Anniversary

of The

March On

Washington and the nation took notice.

Thousands of people leaving their homes

and going to the steps of the Washington

Court House to hear various speakers

discuss the progress and the continued

battle since Martin Luther King Jr. gave his

infamous “I Have A Dream” Speech.

Dr. Lisa Phillips, Director of the Office of

Diversity, and James Prysock, Programming

Coordinator in the Office of Diversity wanted

to make sure that the Otterbein community

had the same chance to reflect right here

on campus as the rest of the nation.

So right on the steps of the Campus Center

it happen. Students and staff, in the

program, and spontaneously began to take

the stage and speak about what the “I Have

A Dream Speech” and the March On

Washington meant to them personally.

Jordan Donica, a sophomore Musical

Theater major, had the privilege to do a

rendition of the I Have a Dream Speech.

Used to the bright lights and large audience,

Donica enjoyed a different way to preform.

“This was actually a little more casual for

me than being on stage in front of people.

The atmosphere was different, because

people were there to celebrate a great man

and a moment in history that changed the

nation. The experience was very similar to

theater for me in the aspect that I was not

giving the speech for my benefit, but in

honor and celebration. We were all there for

a common cause, both audience and

speakers, so it made for a very unique,

almost rally-like, atmosphere. ” Donica

remarked.

Wanting to make sure that he delivered the

speech with respect and dignity, Donica

took the time to find his own way to present

it. “I knew that there was no way to try to

copy his dialect or how he sounded, so I

instead examined his speech pattern and

the tambour of his voice, and tried to create

my own interpretation through the many

antithesis in the speech.”

But it was more than just an ordinary

speech that Donica had to give, or just a

another performance. Donica was able to

really relate to the entire theme of the

speech. “I can identify with speech,

especially in today's society. Growing up in a

single parent, white household, I was

always taught never to see other people as

"colors", but as people. I truly believe that is

the main emphasis in this speech.”

Many students and staff that attended were

more than moved by the performance of the

speech that Donica presented and also the

other students and staff that spoke.

Sophomore Amber Horton and Senior Will

Burley were so moved by the event that

they each accepted the opportunity

presented to the crowd allowing anyone to

speak about what they just heard and their

feelings, each one left lasting moments.

They each took what could have felt like a

very long walk up the Campus Center steps,

stood behind the podium and each spoke

what was on their hearts.

“I think the two students that came up on

their own and spoke were pretty powerful.”

Dr. Phillips said discussing

Though the ceremony only drew about 100

students, the thoughts expressed, the

history discussed, and the issues

addressed left a lasting impression on

those who came.

Looking back on the program, Donica felt

that it not only touched his heart but others

around him.

“Many of my peers came in full support and

ended up staying through the entire

program because they felt it was moving.”

Donica said, “It spoke true to the character

of those that I choose to surround myself

with. It meant the world to not just me but

to everyone that was involved with the

program.”

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Past To Present: 50th Anniversary of The

March On Washington

“We were all there for

a common cause, both

audience and speakers,

so it made for a very

unique, almost rally-

like, atmosphere.

Dr Lisa Phillips introducing sophomore

Jordan Donica before his speech.

9

Now these characters actually become

caricatures of what prejudice people

already think about us, while also influ-

encing individuals who are not to be-

come prejudice. In addition, these char-

acters feed the community with self-

consciousness, greed, hubris, material-

ism and false morality. For example,

Nicki Minaj did not always look like she

currently does. Thanks to plastic sur-

gery, she has

become the

“ideal” wom-

an with a pret-

ty face and an

almost impos-

sible to natu-

rally recreate

body. She also

did not always

rap the way

she does now. She started doing under-

ground real hip hop. However, when she

was discovered, she was influenced to

change her appearance and lyric con-

tent to appease the masses of main-

stream rap. Secondly, 2 Chainz pre-

sents himself as an ignorant, uneducat-

ed rapper who boasts on his ability to

be “different”. Ironically, his posses-

sions, appearance and music content

do not make him different. What makes

him different is that he has a college

degree from a HBCU. But education

doesn’t sell records so he chooses to

be another clone in the industry.

The Result

By building “successful” and commer-

cial characters, the impressionable

people in the community buy into the

A wise man once said “When you control a

man's thinking, you do not have to worry

about his actions” (Carter G. Woodson).

This holds painfully self-evident in the rap

industry. Let’s turn on our radios for a sec-

ond. What do we hear? First of all, tune out

the mesmerizing beat in the background.

That’s just inserted in the song so you

don’t fully pay attention to the words. Now

move on to the hook. The hook or chorus is

a catchy grouping of words that “hook” you

into the song. These hooks often become

anthems to those who hear it. How many

times have you heard someone say “I’m

different, I’m different”, “Started from the

bottom now we’re here” or “Gold all in my

chain, gold all in my ring. Gold all in my

watch, don't believe me, just watch”? You

may not remember other parts of the song,

but you remember the hook. However, if

it’s alluring enough, you will soon find your-

self memorizing other parts of the song

which are the details of their message.

Now at face value, these hooks don’t ap-

pear threatening or negative in any way.

But as one delves deeper into the lyrics,

you start to see more and more of what the

artist values.

The Truth Behind The Lyrics

On the outliers of a chorus lies a set of

beliefs. The chorus is just an anthem of

those beliefs. In Trinidad James’ song, All

Gold Everything we see how he values

money as his god as well as his lack of

respect for women. In 2 Chainz’s I’m Differ-

ent, we see the same values as he refer-

ences women in a derogatory manner, his

love for drugs and how he is better than his

competitors (his own people). This is just a

microcosm of the values within the

industry’s game.

How Slavery and Our Music Relate

In order to

understand

the present we

must compre-

hend the past.

Therefore,

here’s a little

history lesson.

In times of

slavery, slave masters would have

competitions with their strongest male

slaves. These competitions were called

Mandingo Fighting. They would travel

to different plantations and have their

slaves fight each other to death. The

slaves that succeeded were given spe-

cial privileges, fame and compliments.

For example, they may be given a spe-

cial nickname or invited to eat dinner

with the masters and gamesman.

Some fighters took pride in their new

identity and that they were the strong-

est and most skilled. Other slaves

envied the fighter’s position or desired

to be like him. Due to the perks, some

of them overlooked the fact that they

were being used as property and the

masters were making money off of

them. Does this sound familiar? Let’s

fast forward to the present. The majori-

ty of rap labels are owned by someone

other than an African American. The

owners build characters and allow

them to have nicknames like Trinidad

James, Nicki Minaj, 2 Chainz, Chief

Keef or Cash Out.

OP

INIO

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SLAVES ONCE MORE

Hip Hop Artist 2 Chainz

Female Hip Hop Artist Nicki Minaj

10

Slaves Once More CONT. char-

acters and follow suit. They are

also awarded outrageously with

money, cars, executive dinners

and fame. And who gets paid on

top of all of this? That’s right,

the label owners and executives.

Not only are they making money

but they are capitalizing on a

social dichotomy which causes

consumers to hate and compete

with each other. How better to

destroy people than by orches-

trating a system of division with-

in the underrepresented com-

munities. By doing so, people

who want to kill us won’t have to

because we are killing our-

selves. We see seeds of this

system in the simplest of situa-

tions. This mindset influences a

woman to clutch her purse fast-

er while at the same time dance

provocatively in the club. This

causes a man to carry a gun

while simultaneously calling a

woman out of her name.

The message of the mainstream

industry is to “tell everyone your

rags to riches story so they can

relate to your past. Once they

relate to you, they will look up to

you. But the catch is that you

have to keep your past rele-

vant”. If rappers keep their nega-

tive past relevant then people

will continue following, hence

some people in the African

American community think that

drugs, degrading women and

living a gangsta life is validated.

That’s why there is virtually no

progression in a rapper’s mes-

sage. An artist may come out

with one “non-commercial” al-

bum such as Theater of the

Mind by Ludacris or Paper Trail

by T.I. Unfortunately, their full

body of work speaks louder than

the one album where they actu-

ally put more of themselves into.

Especially since the albums that

followed reverted back to their

past commercial messages.

Shared Blame

However,

the in-

dustry

only de-

serves a

portion of

the

blame. Who deserves the rest?

Let’s look in the mirror for that

answer. We drive the industry.

We decide what is popular and

what is not. If we stop support-

ing, they will stop producing. We

have a choice of rather to follow

or to lead. Let’s lead. In times of

slavery, we were more forced to

act according to someone else’s

plan. So the biggest question is

how much have we truly pro-

gressed in society? The worst

part about this is that now our

people actually choose to build

our own self-destruction.

Anonymous

OP

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Featured Poet: Matthew Quinn

Dead Conscious

Dead conscious;

As blood drips from her thighs

to the floor

I ask God “Why”

Why does emptying her soul,

replenish mine?

She divides and I conquer

It’s a matter of time,

Or more like 5-12 minutes

But a week is all I need to for-

get who she is;

Time flies

God, who taught us this?

I wonder, who taught us these

lessons,

I know my Father didn’t

But could it be?

Nine months in the womb just

so she can push us away,

13 years of providing just so

she can push us away,

“You’re a man now,

take care of yourself.

I can’t do everything for you

anymore”

This rings around our thoughts,

as we cry “but I love you”

“Silence”

Then our resentment starts.

And as she moans “I love you”

Our response is silence

But for 5-12 minutes you feel

like she can,

You feel like she does,

You feel like the sun’s rays

decayed all the darkness in

your world

And you feel like Heaven,

But in a week, you’ll forget

who she is,

Time flies

I wonder, who taught us

these lessons,

I know my Father didn’t…

Matthew Quinn

11

OP

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I could not take it anymore!

I was tired of looking in the

mirror and only thinking

that I looked beautiful or in

style, or put together, if my

hair was straight. I was tired

of having unhealthy strands

surrounding my face and

receiving compliments for it

just because my hair

resembled every other race

of people but my own. I wanted to look in the

mirror and see the beauty that God saw in

me when He first created me. He did not

make my hair fall

to the floor in

curls or hang low

near my waist in

the straightest

most elegant

way.

He gave my hair rhythm, making it dance up

into the sky with the curly beats it dropped.

He provided tension between my tightly

wound curls to symbolize the struggle that I

would have to endure in my life. But just like

my life, I can patiently detangle the

frustrations and struggles out of my hair.

Combing away the self hate, moisturizing the

roots of my inner

soul, leaving a soft

puffy afro. Filled with

the love of my

culture, the love of

who I was created to

be, and the love of an

amazing God who

wanted to display His

creativity on my head

by using something as simple as my hair. In

fact, my hair was made to

praise Him! Lifting its curly

hands to the sky, it is in

constant worship of His glory.

He made my hair grow out

and up, purposely defying

gravity so that people would

know this was God given. Too

bad the rest of the world can’t

see my hair like this.

They pet it, they poke it, and most of all, they

stare at it.

It is a joke tossed around by the ignorant,

assuming that

since my hair is

proudly standing

out, I must be a

stereotyped hip

shaking-finger-

wagging-attitude

having black

girl. Giggling as I

walk into the room,

wondering why I

just will not straighten my hair. Clearly I

must be a hippie if I rock my afro and hoop

earrings. Or better yet I am “sassy”!! (Man

how I HATE that word! But that is an article

for another day.) I cannot even braid or

twist my hair straight back without their

eyes immediately filling with fear, thinking

that I must be a part of some gang. Truth is

I braid my hair to wear while I sleep

and sometimes I decide to rock it the next

day. Days like this one just make me want

to ask God “WHY ARE YOUR OTHER

CHILDREN SO IGNORANT!”

That is when I remember Titus 2:7 : “Show

yourself in all respects to be a model of

good works, and in your teaching show

integrity, dignity.”

So that is what I do. While they may laugh or

look confused, just like how I detangle my

kinks, curls and knots, I patiently detangle

their ignorant minds with words sprayed with

the hope of educating just one person on

black hair.

Natasha Shorts

I AM NOT MY HAIR

1. How do you make it “frizzy” like

that?

2. What is a “weave”?

3. Are you wearing a “weave” now?

4. Do you wash your hair?/How often

do you wash your hair?/How do you

wash your hair?

5. If you are both black why is her

hair not like your hair?

6. How did you do that with your hair?

7. Can you straighten your hair?

8. Are those dreads?

9. Can I touch it?

10. Why do you pat your hair?

*Answers in the next issue

Top 10 Annoying

Questions About Black

Hair

Confessions of a Black Woman Gone Natural

Senior Makeda Schulark

Junior Michelle Baffi

Junior Lydie Dorelien

Junior Natasha Shorts

12

Mark Your Calendars!!!

September 4 @ 7pm: Mix & Meet (with CAB & CSA) - This program

provides students an opportunity to engage with other students

through a quick and personable process that resembles "speed da-

ting". Through guided conversation, students will be able to make

connections on areas that bring out their similarities and differences.

September 8 @ 1pm: Office of Diversity Cookout (Alum Creek Park) -

Come meet the staff of the Office of Diversity and learn about the

diversity-based student organizations on campus. There will be

games, food, and music.

September 21 @ 5:30pm: Harambee Magazine Launch Event

(Roush Hall: Fisher Gallery)

September 24 @ 7pm: Crossing Boarders: Latino Culture (Towers

112) As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize that

what we call the Hispanic Culture, is really a combination of many

intersecting cultures. Through an exploration of history, food, music,

and dance this program will explore the influences of Hispanic cul-

tures on our society.

October 7 @ 8pm: Allow Me to Introduce Myself (Roush 114) -

White or Caucasian, Black or African American, he, she or ey! There

are numerous ways that we identify ourselves. In this program Otter-

bein students will speak on how they choose to be identified and

explore the language that accompanies their identity.

October 23 @ 6:30pm: The “In” Crowd: Widening the Circle (Towers

112) - This interactive program is designed to engage first year stu-

dents in meaningful and genuine conversations about the elements

of identity, privilege and difference. Participants will have the oppor-

tunity to develop a better understanding of their own identity, hear

about the experiences of others and discuss the influence of media,

community and institutional perspectives on issues related to inclu-

sion.

Monday, October 28: The Dream Continued

During this program, students will have the opportunity to explore

the dream within. We each have our own goals and ambitions that

drive our daily journey. However, there are social and institutional

systems that we encounter which can prevent us from fulfilling our

dream. This program takes an in depth look at the relationship be-

tween our dreams and the systems that have been put into place.

November 7@ (4:00 -7:00 PM) – November 8 (1:00 – 4:00 PM) –

Tunnel of Oppression The Tunnel of Oppression is an interactive

event that highlights contemporary issues of oppression. It is de-

signed to introduce participants to the concepts of oppression, privi-

lege, and power. While the Tunnel of Oppression may be disturb-

ing, it is an effective tool used to teach people about how it really

feels to be in the various situations. Participants are guided through

a series of scenes that aim to educate and challenge them to think

more deeply about issues of oppression. At the end of the tour, par-

ticipants are provided with the opportunity to discuss their experi-

ences with each other. Facilitators help participants reflect on their

experiences and put their new found knowledge to use in their

everyday lives. Before leaving, participants will receive information

about opportunities for involvement in addressing some of the issues

presented at the Tunnel of Oppression.

November 13 @ 6:30pm- Native American Heritage Month Pro-

gram: Apache 8 (Towers 112)

APACHE 8 tells the story of an all-women wildland firefighter crew

from the White Mountain Apache Tribe, who have been fighting

fires in Arizona and throughout the U.S., for over 30 years. The film

delves into the challenging lives of these Native firefighters. Four

extraordinary women from different generations of the Apache 8

crew share their personal narratives with humor and tenderness.

They speak of hardship and loss, family and community, and pride in

being a firefighter from Fort Apache (Retrieved from)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1326191/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1). This docu-

mentary will be followed by a discussion.

Thursday, November 21: Activism & Social Justice

Activism has played a key role in the development of each country.

When we look at freedom and justice overall, we often see both

rapid and slow progression of human rights. This event highlights

some of the many activists who have strived for human equality and

both the successes and challenges of the rights they fought to im-

plement. In addition, we discuss our role in activism and the oppor-

tunities we have to further the progression.

December 5 @ 12pm- Winter Celebrations

Campus Center

There are many unique traditions, celebrations, and holidays that

occur during November, December and January. This educational

fair is Otterbein’s own celebration of winter holidays from around

the world! This fair will introduce you to different cultures, as well as

providing insight on the origins of the traditions we are most familiar

with!

13

AR

TS

A

ND

E

NT

ER

TA

INM

EN

T

Featured Artist: Benjamin Willis

Goddard. Using mixed oil and spray paint, Wilson is in the process of cre-

ating this 4' by 7' mural. It is a painting inspired by a poem that is by Anis

Mojgani called These orchards are heavy and these branches are fool

Study of God. Created with graphite and charcoal,

this a study of a homeless man depicted into a

Godly manner.

Contrast of Africa. Is an abstract ex-

pressionist piece depicting Africa.

Am I Something. A self portrait that

shows the confusion of finding oneself

and the questioning that goes along

with the search,

Portrait Of a Black Man. "Gomo" is an

american bastardization of the black

man insomuch, that is what the image

symbolizes.

14

Time Management

Procrastination and misuse of time is probably the biggest enemy to academic success. While it is good to be in-

volved in campus and extracurricular activities, remember that your studies come first! Know when to say no to

things and budget your time in a way that will maximize your study time. Create a study schedule, but don’t forget

to leave room for chill time and sleep!

Get To Know Your Instructors

Make it a point to go to office hours, especially if you are struggling in the course. It lets your instructor see that

you are making a sincere effort to understand the material. It is also a chance to build relationships, because you

never know what connections or insight your professor may have in a particular area. Recommendation Letters!!!

Take Advantage of your Resources!

Otterbein offers a wealth of resources to help you achieve success. The Academic Support Center is one of such

resources; they offer math tutoring, writing help, and tutoring in various other subjects. If you ever need help with

anything, just ask! Someone will always direct you to the appropriate office.

OhioLink is another resource that allows you to reserve books instead of buying them at the bookstore.

Don’t lose sight of your goals

Remember who you are and why you are doing what you’re doing. It’s so easy to get caught up in school activi-

ties, work and your personal life, that sometimes we can forget why we are here in the first place.

Use your goals to motivate yourself to succeed academically!

Balance your life

Don’t neglect one part of your life for another. It’s important to maintain all areas of your life (academic, social,

personal) to ensure that you can be the best you!

Never give up!

There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, so keep going!

You got this!

Nana Agyepong

Page 14

From Senior to Freshman:

Tips on How to Survive In College H

EL

PF

UL

H

INT

S

15

O T T E R B R O W N

Black History Trivia Game with Alliance Amber Horton at 50th Anniversary of the

March on Washington

Diversity Sponsored Mix and Meet Program

AASU Campus Carnival 2013 OSU Mime Team preforms at Gospel Fest

2013

Montana Jemmott and Khamali Bartlett at

Shades of Success 2013

Justin Jordan poses at Shades of Success

2013

Chris Butcher, Will Burley, and

Jarrod Howelton at Night of Entertainment

Aleth Pashi, Kayla Williams, and Sydney

Smith hangout at the HBC 2012

Guest Speakers at the Black Men Forum

2013

Leaders of Diversity programs at the

Alliance Dinner in 2012

Lydie Dorelien, Natasha Shorts, and Gloridely

Tavarez

16

O T T E R B R O W N

Humble Dance Ministry 2012-2013 AASU, ISA,and HOLA at the Global Dinner

Spring 2013

Cam Change at MLK Convocation Jan 2013

Gloridely Tavarez.,Kiersten Curtis, and Gloria

Ureña Sanchez with alum Sandra Urteaga

Kiersten Curtis at the Evening of

Entertainment 2012-2013

Diversity sponsored Game Night 2012-2013 AASU Board with Allan Williams Advisor 2012-

2013

Students from all Alliance Schools at the

Fall 2013 Alliance Dinner

Students enjoy bowling at with Shades of Suc-

cess in 2011-2012 Alumni Tanya Wilhite and Maurice Tilmon

singing at Gospel Fest 2013

John Kengla speaks to Shades of Sucess Stu-

dents Fall of 2013

Tahirah Murphy Lydie Dorelien, and Jarrod

Howelton winners of Evening of Entertainment

17

Name: Abena Agyepong

Major: BMB

Year: Junior

Hometown: Worthington,

Ohio

Fun Fact: I love to sing in

the shower!

Name: Nana Agyepong

Major: Biochemistry

Year: Senior

Hometown: Worthing-

ton, Ohio

Fun Fact: I was born and

raised in Germany.

Name: Cam Change

Major: General Biology

Year: Senior

Hometown: Dayton,

Ohio

Fun Fact: I have gone

bridge jumping during a

storm.

Name: Abdinajib Liban

Major: Economics and Political

Science

Year: Sophmore

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Fun Fact: My first name means

servant of God. My last name

means victory.

Name: Lydie Dorelien

Major:

Year: Junior

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Fun Fact: I never wear pants, I

always wear skirts or dresses.

Name: Natasha Shorts

Major: Journalism and

Media Communication

Hometown:

Cleveland, Ohio

Year: Junior

Fun Fact: Dancing is my

second love next to

Jesus!

Behind The Words

18

W A N T T O B E F E A T U R E D I N

H A R A M B E E ?

Be a part of the movement!

If you want to be featured in the next

issue, join Harambee staff, or submit a

topic idea

email Natasha.Shorts@otterbein.edu for

more information.

Let YOUR voice be HEARD!

19

20

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