MARCH '16: Melanin Rising

creative • campus • progress •opinion • politics • feat • tech • education • culture • art

volume 8 | issue 3 march 2015

We’re looking for new staff! Email us personally or at thenewace@ gmail.com if you’re interested in writing, reporting, photography, design, publication, or simply in helping out the premier publication of the multicultural community at GW!

table of contents editor-in-chiefNana [email protected]

assistant editorAbeke [email protected]

copy editorLeslie [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

layoutAngel Veliz [email protected] | www.sdotfly.com

photographyDevan [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

promotional teamErika [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

business managerShynelle [email protected]_______________________

faculty advisorProfessor Robin Marcus_______________________

social mediaemail | [email protected] | theacemagazinetwitter | theacemaginstagram | theacestagram

The Ace Magazine is funded in part by a generous grant from Generation Progress, a national organization that works with and for young people to promote progressive solutions to key political and social challenges.|

03 editors’ note

04 creativeTHE BLACKER THE BERRY

05 on campusBLACK MALES: HOW THEY SEE US VS. HOW WE ARE

I AIN’T GOT NO (STEREO) TYPE

07 progressTIMELINE OF PROGRESS OF BLACK STUDENTS ON CAMPUS

10 opinionDO YOU SPEAK AFRICAN?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BLACK?

12 politicsSTUDENT ACTIVISM THROUGH THE YEARS: FROM CIVIL RIGHTS TO BLACK LIVES MATTER

14 featureA CONVERSATION WITH DR. MARC LAMONT HILL - THE GENERATION SINGING THEIR OWN FREEDOM SONGS

16 techSOCIAL MEDIA IN THE WORLD OF ACTIVISM

17 educationOBSERVATIONS ABOUT RACE FROM HIGH RANKING FACULTY MEMBERS

18 cultureAN OPEN LETTER TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY

19 artBLACKTIVISM AND AN ARTIST’S REVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE

cover credit: Maxine Helfman + Lanie Edwards

The Ace Magazine Mission:The Ace Magazine connects the multicultural community to the university at-large with contributions from student writers and faculty members. Since 2008, The Ace has sparked discussion between campus groups furthering our belief that “we all have similar issues no matter our color.”

editors’ notes

last issue

Hi readers,

I’m sure you noticed the bold letters on the bottom of our cover, and the historical correction of George Washington’s face being pulled off to reveal our new generation of leadership; President Barack Obama. The ACE Magazine agreed that this message was appropriate for this time. We are currently in a middle of a battle, a battle for our race, equality, and humanity. Even on our own campus, it is a constant struggle. Everyday, we are battling to be seen as equals to our Caucasian peers. “Melanin Uprising”, not only means that we want more people of color at GW, but also more people of color everywhere. We want people, who resemble us, in leadership roles. Maxine Helfman, the original creator behind this cover, said that this is her “revision of history.” Her revision produces bodies of work that look at history, and issues of inequality. Let’s keep creating change as we move forward. This is the key to success, and the key to change the racial inequalities at The George Washington University.

Editor-in-Chief

Nana Agyemang

4

I say they treat us like slaves and call us black,“Seven to eight unidentified” blank men, fill in the blank,They put us in invisible chains and call us black,But the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice,

And while drinking that Arizona that Trayvon never got to drink, I remembered that society has never made for African-Americans,This is not just my opinion, but we all have taken a History class and realized how America has finessed its way into becoming the land of the free when it first started as the land of the blood, sweat and tears of our people,

And so why is it that an authority’s very first action over these 10 years has been to shoot, even when we put our hands up and tell you not to, maybe it’s so we won’t make it to another 10 years, Maybe it’s that society only advances when we stop advancing,

Black lives matter. We’ve all heard it. I know. I am one. But who can tell me which ones really have a chance of surviving because from my understanding, there are more murders, graves, and brothers in prison than brothers in slavery in 1850. Society was never made for us. Thus, we try to make ourselves like society. But let me tell you why that will never work:

1. It does not matter if you are a baby, mentally disabled, 350 pounds, about to start college, or walking into your own home because today, you can get killed in America for being yourself.

2. It does not matter that you allegedly stole a pack of cigarettes or had some Skittles and an Arizona in your hand because for either for $5.99 or 99 cents, you can get killed in America for free.

3. It does not matter that Eric Garner was 43, that Rekia Boyd was 22, that Tamir Rice was 12, that Aiyana Stanley Jones was 7, or Kathryn Johnston was 92, because today in America there is no age that black people are safe.

Safe?! There is no such thing as safe, but only safer.

The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice,The juicer too sweet,No justice, no peace-The slaughter must ceaseNo justice, no peace-Police brutality needs to decreaseNo justice, no peace,No justice, no peace-How can there be justice if it’s JUST US,How can there be peace when there’s less people to be peaceful,How can society advance when boys and girls are being killed in advance,And the indictment of only 41 cops out of 6,700 cases gives a new definition to “How to Get Away with Murder”

So let’s not forget ladies and gentlemen the ladies and gentlemenThat fought though racial discrimination, violence and segregation,MLK, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Mary Bethune,They call them black,

Because this is not about black history, but also black present and the black future,This is not about black history, but black herstory too,

This is about not being everyone’s eye candy, but everyone’s soul food,This is about being as proud of our culture as we were mad when “Selma” was not nominated for anything,This is about black history month beginning on January 1st and ending December 31st,

The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice,The blacker the berry, the bigger I shoot.

THE BLACKER THE BERRYBy Chioma Aneke

creative • campus • progress • opinion • politics • feat • tech • education • culture • art


BLACK MALES: HOW THEY SEE US VS. HOW WE ARE

By Leslie Ogu

LazySavages

Boy

PropertyGood for nothing

Lower class

UneducatedNegrosNiggers

IgnorantCoon

Animals

GangstersThugs

Illiterate

PoorViolent

Because of these stereotypes, these innocent lives had to pay:

Trayvon Martin,Dontre Hamilton, Eric Garner, Michael Brown Jr., Tamir Rice, Walter Scott, Freddie Gray and many more ...

These are black men who have defied the stereotypes (or what black men can achieve when not stereotyped):

President Barack Obama, Russell Simmons, Muhammad Ali, Langston Hughes, Spike Lee, Colin Powell, Booker T. Washington

and countless others!

EducatedSuccessful

Loving

FatherRole modelsGraduates

MentorsClassy

Educated / Business owners

ProvidersLeaders

IntellectualInnovatorsGroomed

Professional

ActivistsPeaceful

SupportiveMEN

How Society Sees Black Men How WE See Black Men


6

I have had many memories of Black History Month, beautiful memories I must add. However, one thing will always resonate with me above all else. From watching Eyes on The Prize documentaries as a child, I’ll never forget Emmett Till’s two

faces. The one face in the photograph of a precious boy with eyes that beamed like gateways into a vivid future, and the other face mangled and so destroyed that it almost seems impossible that a human could even commit such an act of brutality to a living, breathing child. That day, Emmett Till was robbed of his life. He was robbed of his potential to achieve countless wonders. He was robbed not just by his murderers, but by the pervasive violence of racism.

“As a black man, I do everything I can to keep my friends motivated for the future, even if society won’t do so,” says Ryan Owusu, a senior at GW.

Society attempts tirelessly to reduce the Black male to merely an entertainer, ball player, or violent criminal, all the while insisting that he too adheres to the notion of colorblindness. Sadly, notable

Black men who fall outside of these categories are viewed as extraordinary or exceptional, proving that our potential is lost on the minds of others. There is a danger here though. Too often we define our own success as Black men by our ability to defy stereotypes placed upon us. In that sense, we are still governed by white societal standards.

“I know that there are hundreds of black men who are smarter, and better suited to do the things that I have been able to do. The only difference between us is the barriers that have been put up by a system stacked against us, and not having people there who push

them to their full potential, “ stated Paul Lisbon, another senior at GW.

While it may be convenient for society for us to overcome their stereotypes of Black men, it does little for our own ideas of self worth. The reality is every Black man is extraordinary and exceptional with innate value, and our existence in the face of continued destruction serves as testament to that fact. To reduce or confine Black men to any narrow scope is to deny our exceptionality in an attempt to rob us of our potential. However, when we confine our own success to white societal norms, we limit our potential as well. While we should celebrate our athletes and entertainers, we should not merely be reduced to those few. At the same time, we should seek unlimited greatness and not feel afraid or limited by stereotypes unjustly placed on us.

Jevin Hodge, a senior at GW, stated, “I’m looking at you, you’re looking at me. We share a common space. We’re going to unite over that common space that we share, over us being the only black men here, over us being the only black men walking down this street. And what that means is I’m here with you in the struggle.”

Everyday, we see engineers, doctors, musicians, writers, politicians, designers, artists, and athletes. At GW, there are not only Black men with eyes beaming like those of Emmett or Tamir, but with souls radiating with potential as they search for a cap on their infinite power. All of this at a university whose namesake helped lay a foundation that would continue to rob Black men of their potential. It’s important that we unite on whatever level we can and make every effort to maximize our potential and encourage other brothers to maximize their potential as they see fit, especially in the face of a world that seeks to limit it or take it away from us.

I AIN’T GOT NO (STEREO) TYPEBy Malcolm Thompson

We’re going to unite over that common

space that we share, over us being the

only black men here, over us being the only

black men walking down this street.

As Black males, we are forever conscious of America’s ubiquitous effort to rob us of our potential; a tradition as embedded in American culture as the U.S. Constitution itself. This tradition has taken many

forms throughout the years. However, in this new century, main-stream America tries to take on a new approach -- trying to confine

us to our blackness, encouraging us to rob ourselves of our potential.



1884-1885: Samuel Laing Williams (1857-1921) was the first African-American to graduate from The George Washington University’s Law School (then Columbian University), earning an LL.B. in 1884 and LL.M. in 1885.

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1909: National Association for the advancement of colored people (NAACP)Founded on Feb. 12. 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest, largest and most widely recognized grassroots-based civil rights organization. It has more than half-million members and supporters throughout the United States and the world

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1954: Leah Brock McCartney (1911-84) is believed to be the first African-American female graduate of the GW Law School.

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1964: Frederick D. Gregory received his Masters degree in Information Systems from GW. Colonel Gregory was the first African American to pilot the Space Shuttle.

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1968: Established in 1968, the purpose of the Black Student Union (BSU) of The George Washington University (GW) is to foster a sense of community among all students of the African Diaspora at GW. Our mission is to stimulate the intellectual, political, cultural, and social growth of

all GW students. Through enriching programs, mentorship and service, we seek to educate ourselves and the larger GW community. In doing this, we hope that awareness will spark action and ignite change in our communities so that men and women of ordinary ability become Pillars of Strength. It is our belief that “black issues are everyone’s issues,” thus it should be celebrated not only during black history month but throughout the year.

1970s: American Studies Department professors Bernard Mergen, Howard Gillette, Letitia Woods Brown, and Frederick Gutheim brought with them interests in African-American studies, urban and social history, as well as popular and material culture and added courses which helped grow the program.

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1970: The First African American Male Commencement Speaker was Mayor Walter Edward Washington.

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1970: George Washington University Black MBA association (GW Black MBA Association) was founded on the principles of education, empowerment, and support to business students of color at George Washington University School of Business (GWSH). The black MBA associations mission is to promote and sustain culturally responsible George Washington University business students of color who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community1971-1972: The Black Peoples Union was an organization of GW University students and alumni with the stated purpose “the ultimate and total liberation of Black people wherever we are. Specifically, we seek to promote unity and brotherhood among the Black population of GW, to provide for the independent pursuit of a knowledge of our history and culture, and to bridge the gap between education and the people in the community that it is to serve.” [1971-1972 Student Handbook]

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1975:Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc: As the first black greek lettered organization at The George Washington University, the courageous women of Mu Beta set out with the purpose of developing Sisterhood, promoting Scholarship, and providing Service to the GW community.

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1975: GWU National Society of Black engineers (GWU NSBE) the purpose of NSBE is to increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.

TIMELINE OF PROGRESS OF BLACK STUDENTS ON CAMPUS

By Sydney Lawson, Hazel Cortez

8

1978: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Alpha Kappa Alpha promotes the importance of the individual and the value of organizing women of ability and courage. Its membership is comprised of distinguished women who boast excellent academic records, proven leadership skills, and are involved in the global community through advocacy and service.

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1988: The Black Alumni Association began an orientation program specially designed for entering African American first year law students. The program was an intensive study skills training program.

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1993: African Student Association (ASA) Mission Statement: Fostering communication and cooperation at the George Washington University between students of different backgrounds utilizing education, African culture and experience to transmit a positive message for the improvement and constructive development of Africa and consequently, the

world.

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1993: The black Graduate student association(BGSA) serves as a center for black graduate student wellbeing. We take pride in creating a

supportive environment and understand that students are one of the worlds greatest assets. Our mission for this year is to promote our members wellbeing by providing workshops and programs to create a strong and healthy black graduate student body.

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2000 Black Public Health Student Network(BPHSN) exists to support and guide minority public health students in academic, professional, service and social endeavors, to encourage cooperation and closer ties between minority students of GWU’s Milken institute of Public Health, as well as to advocate for sound public health for the community at large.

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2003: The multicultural Business Student Association (MBSA) is an organization dedicated to helping all students regardless of their gender, race, or ethnicity make the most out

of their business experience. We aim to facilitate in the professional

development process of all GWSB students by hosting events to equip students with essential professional skills. Everyone will encounter challenges within the business world and MBSA strives to help in preparing students for when these difficulties come.

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2004: L. Trenton Marsh, was the First African American Male Student Commencement Speaker.

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2004: The George Washington Williams House (GWWH) was founded on the campus of The George Washington University as a space for African American Students on campus. It is named after George Washington Williams the Civil War veteran, minister, politician, and historian. The GWWH is a residential

building that is also a hub for the students of The George Washington University. The House houses 6 students who function as the leaders of the GWWH Student Organization. The GWWH is a space for students of all backgrounds to come and learn about African American culture, as well as a place that students of all backgrounds can feel welcome. The GWWH seeks to keep the link between the students of The George Washington University, and the large African American population in Washington, DC. We host events such as The Black Foggy Bottom tour, and have reached out to host events with students in the DC Area. Our mission is to to promote African American history, culture and unity through programming while providing a central hub for multicultural student activity.

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2004: The GW association of black journalists is a nonexclusive organization, open to journalism and communications students of all backgrounds and ethnicities, the mission of our group and the national association of black journalists is to promote diversity in the media and create a greater sense of community among student and professional journalists.

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2006-Xi Sigma Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated (Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.) The mission of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, incorporated is to foster the ideals of service, charity, scholarship,


civic and cultural endeavors, sisterhood and Finer Womanhood.

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2007: Black Men’s Initiative was founded. The Black Men’s Initiative seeks to proactively mentor, support, and most importantly uplift all under-represented male students to ensure that the men you entered GWU with are the same men you exit GW with, degree in hand and head held high. Through our programming and collaborative

efforts, we are here to advocate for you and lift you up as we all climb. Our core values are brotherhood, academic excellence and servant leadership. To support the academic, social, intellectual and spiritual growth of under-represented Undergraduate and Graduate students at The George Washington University by maintaining a community of men who will continuously foster brotherhood and function as a genuine support system for holistic growth and to ensure timely graduation.

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2007: The Black Women’s Forum (BWF) is a safe space that fosters sisterhood, support, friendship and communication for Black women at GW. Through BWF, black women on campus have the opportunity to grow and express themselves through their shared experiences. Black women need to be a support system for one another, both

personally and professionally, and BWF is intended to be a medium for the support that is needed for each of us to succeed both on and off campus.The three goals of BWF are Love, Unity, and Education. Black women must become a support system for each other to mend hearts instead of breaking them. Once we learn and practice love for each other as Black women, we will be able to transpose that love onto our Black men.

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2007: GW Black Feminists and Womanists is an undergrad/grad student organization founded to bring black feminists, womanists and activists of the George Washington University together in events on and off campus in addition to bringing awareness of black feminist and womanist issues to the DC community.

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2007: Ethiopian Students Association We are the Ethiopian Students Association at the George Washington University. Our goal is to represent Ethiopian culture at GWU and

in the greater DC area.

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2008: The ACE Magazine is a publication that connects the multicultural community to the university at large with contributions from student writers and faculty members. Since 2008, The ACE has sparked discussion between campus groups furthering our belief that “we all have the same issues no matter our color.”

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2011: The National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW) is a council of national African American women’s organizations and community-based sections with a mission to lead, develop, and advocate for women of African descent as they support their

families and communities. NCNW fulfills this purpose through research, advocacy, and national and community-based services and programs on issues of health, education, and economic empowerment in the United States and Africa. With its 39 national affiliates and more than 240 sections, NCNW is a 501(c)3 organization with an outreach to nearly four million women. The George Washington University Section’s purpose is to propel the mission of NCNW within the GW community.

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FUTURE REMODELING OF BLACK HOUSE

REMODELING OF MSSC

MORE DIVERSE STAFF

DIVERSITY TRAINING MANDATORY FOR EVERYONE

CHANGE OF MASCOT


10

Ten years ago, I would never have candidly told people I was from Ghana because Africa wasn’t “cool”; it was the “poor, dirty, helpless country.” Can you imagine? I’ve come across many adults in my lifetime who were so indifferent

to Africa that they didn’t take the time to learn it was a continent, not a country. But real talk, who wants to be associated with that jaded, one-sided, Western view? But now, it’s completely different – the varying African cultures are not only rich, beautiful, and deeply appreciated by Africans, but also now “fetishized” by the wider public. So what has changed? How is it that a place that was long considered “primitive” and “backward” is now arguably one of the most visited and appropriated continents?

I recognized Africa’s shift in social appearance in the summer of 2013 when I attended an international conference hosted in the US, after the release of Fuse ODG’s newest song ‘Antenna.’ Everyone who found out I was from Ghana begun raving over how much they loved Afrobeats, specifically Fuse’s new song. It was to the point where people were desperately trying to impress me with their best Azonto skills, a dance move which, by the way, started in Ghana, but incorporates multicultural African personalities. I had never been prouder of being African. We were finally being represented by the positive, hard-earned success of one of our own, rather than by the stereotypical, kwashiorkor - stricken child. You know exactly which child I’m talking about. The one with severe, protein-energy malnutrition, evidenced by his anorexic rib cage, enlarged liver, and sad face? Either way, Fuse ODG broke barriers with his song. He made it possible for Africans, like me, to be proud of where we came from by hosting a video competition such that the various submissions went viral, especially throughout the UK, aiding in the spread of awareness.

Amie Idriss, a first-generational student from Sierra Leone, believes this shift was bound to happen. According to her, our generation is the first big generation of first-generational Americans after the abolishment of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.

Between then and 2007, nearly 1 million Africans immigrated to the US, a majority of whose kids make up our generation. Unlike our immigrant parents, who clung to their African identity, we, first-gens, embrace both our African and African-American identities. As a result, we are creating a bridge for the African cultures into mainstream

African-American culture, which is unlocking the mystery surrounding Africa. As this is going on, there is a growing sense

of boredom in mainstream America with the “normal stuff,” like music and fashion. According to Briana Luster, an African-American student from Missouri, people are attracted to the concept of “different,” so once first-gens began displaying their exoticisms, especially Ankara prints, people were immediately drawn in.

This, coupled with what Randi Jones, a DC native, identifies as the increasing disgust towards blatant racism, opened up a world of conversations not only across races, but also within the Black community, affording Africans the chance to share with the world what their exquisite cultures had to offer. This eradicated the ignorance embodied in questions such as “Do people live in huts?” or “Do you speak African?” Society finally became hip to the idea that not all of Africa is a dry, desolate desert; that Africa contains 1500-2000 different languages; and that not all Africans are uneducated, impoverished beggars.

Shortly after, there was a burst of African presence. Beyoncé was wearing Dashikis, Rihanna was in African Print, and Chris Brown was touring Africa with Wizkid (a Nigerian artist) and “Azontoing” on stage. Even Michelle Obama was seen in African print more than once. With the kind of following these celebrities have, the media immediately began raving about their “bold” and “vibrant” prints, which continued to shed light on Africa’s long hidden treasures.

As we’ve seen throughout history, art is one of the fastest traveling artifacts, especially when it’s traveling from places bursting with character over to Western societies, bringing fame to previously unknown cultures. We saw this when Europe began trading with China for its porcelain, and with India for its textiles. With the rise in globalization and the quick spread of information, it is no surprise Africa’s true beauty is finally being recognized and exploited.

Of course, popular shops, as if uncontrollably compelled, saw this as a great opportunity to profit off of the positive reviews and began attempting to replicate the design. Unfortunately, with all cases of culture appropriation, credit wasn’t given where due. Thus, rather than referring to our beautiful prints by their formal title, Ankara, they were referred to as “Bold print.” I have yet to decide if this is a step up or step down from “tribal print,” as tribal print at least alludes to Africa, where “bold print” strips it of its origins altogether. In any case, Africans have made tremendous progress in changing the reputation Africa has such that generations to come will be just as proud to call themselves African as I am. My only hope is that our beautiful culture does not get lost in translation, or succumb to the pressures of the West to be more like them.

DO YOU SPEAK AFRICAN?By Shynelle Kissi

Beyoncé was wearing Dashikis, Rihanna

was in African Print, and Chris Brown

was touring Africa with Wizkid (a

Nigerian artist) and “Azontoing” on stage.



The Black Lives Matter movement has shined a light on not only the experiences of inequality in America, but also what it truly means to be black. This question is asked consistently as if there is a direct answer. A question

that diminishes the complexities of intersectionality, history and experience; as if the black experience has a teleological definition.

Authors, poets, social activists, and theorists have all tried to unpack this very loaded question. What does it mean to be black? Sometimes as a black person you want to say “it doesn’t matter, I’m just me” but more often than not, you are ridiculed for not seeing color; inserting your “all lives matter” innuendo into the conversation that clearly has no room for white-washing and conformity. So you’re pressured to be more than just yourself, forced to look at yourself in the mirror and not see you; but see black you.

It’s exhausting deciphering this dubious notion that being black is more than just being black. The double-standard that you must be yourself, but also represent an aspect of your race; and anything outside of the norm (like listening to U2 or hanging with your white friends more than your black friends) you are shunned.

So, you become a hyper version of yourself. There’s no in-between, there’s no being just you, because you’re not just you. You are black you. You can’t go to a PWI just because you enjoy the school and atmosphere, so you must say “I wanted something academically rigorous to help me grow.” You can’t just go to an HBCU because you like

the teachers and education. So you must say, “I wanted to be around more people that look like me,” as if the number of black people you associate is the only validation of your blackness. Nonetheless,

these reasons are perfectly normal reasons to attend a school; but without them you are not black you.

The daily life of being a black person is having to confront the question of your blackness. In a media class, my teacher asked if any of us watched the BET network. Of course beaming with nostalgic delight of Martin and Fresh Prince reruns, I raised my hand, only to be confronted that only I out of 100 students in a lecture hall has watched the BET network. In another class we watched Kanye’s music video “Monster,” in which I found myself bobbing my head whispering the lyrics under my breath. At this point in time, I was confronted with being the only student in the class that knew the Monster lyrics (not just Nicki’s part).

See, the problem with being black in America is that there’s no such thing as being black in America.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BLACK?By Imani Ross

There’s no in-between, there’s

no being just you, because you’re

not just you. You are black you.


12

It is no secret that GW is the most politically active campus in the country. But with that title, comes a history of grassroots activism engrained in the fabric of the university.

GW students have protested everything from the war in Vietnam to apartheid in South Africa. Civil rights and equality were active topics of conversation in America’s dialogue in the 1960s and the 1970s, and at the forefront of this discussion were young people across the nation.

In April 1968, 200 students marched to Rice Hall to stand in solidarity with the Black Student Union, and demanded the university address racial issues on campus. Among BSU’s demands were “increased enrollment of blacks” and “ending contracts with firms that did not abide by the Civil Rights Act.” In the end, the protesters were heard and many of their requests were met. It even resulted in an addition of a black history course.

Often times, many wonder how effective the power

of activism and protests are because the end goals are usually not reached immediately. As we hear time and time again, “change doesn’t happen overnight.”

Activists on campus, then and now, seemed to have realized that, which explains their way of approaching movements.

Currently, the issue of police brutality is on the minds of many student activists. GW students have rallied to protest major shootings of young black people by police, to police misconduct, like in the cases of Michael Brown and Freddie Gray.

Students showed their dissatisfaction over the status quo by attending marches at the White House and staging different forms of awareness events.

Most notably, in response to the death of Eric Garner, a man choked to death by police, and in conjunction with the death of Mike Brown, “die-ins” were staged by students in Kogan Plaza and at the

STUDENT ACTIVISM THROUGH THE YEARS: FROM CIVIL RIGHTS TO BLACK LIVES MATTER

By Genevieve Montinar


GW Medical School as reported by GW Today. Students laid on the ground to represent the amount of time Brown’s body remained outside after being shot and “chanted the movement’s slogan ‘we can’t breathe’.”

A common theme among protesters expressing discontent regardless of the time period has been to write letters to top university officials. In turn, those officials were expected to respond

to the demands, resulting in change.

For example, while a 1946 production of “Joan of Lorraine” was being performed at the then segregated Lisner Auditorium, a protest commenced after a group of African Americans, “including the dean of Howard University Medical School,” were

barred entry to the show they already had tickets to, according to information found at the GW Special Collections Research Center.

Officials had to explain why they could not desegregate the auditorium, which at the time was one of the biggest in the country, according to documents obtained through the GW archives.

Eventually the decision to keep Lisner segregated was taken up by the Board of Trustees and the president of the school, Cloyd Heck

Marvin. In the end, the trustees came to an agreement on allowing Blacks into Lisner.

Today, being an activist means that there are more ways to get out a message in comparison to 50 years ago. Activists have access to various social media outlets allowing them to reach mass groups of people from numerous walks of life. Juxtapose that to the 1960s, where the best chance of making voices heard would be to get into a newspaper, that probably would be selective in who they even interviewed.

GW students have rallied to protest major

shootings of young black people by police,

to police misconduct, like in the cases of

Michael Brown and Freddie Gray.


14

Nkechi Okoronkwo: So as an intellectual and a scholar, what are some of the challenges you faced in academia and in the media sphere, and how did you overcome them?

Marc Lamont Hill: I think that we still live in a world where black humanity is called into question in all sorts of ways. The idea that black people are full human beings is still relatively new to many people. And because of that, whatever space we operate in, we have to navigate that---that’s always in the backdrop, that’s always in the background, that’s always haunting us. So as a scholar, you’re fighting against--particularly as social scientists---pathologies that are assigned to black folks, before they even study them. What DuBois called the a priori approach to the Negro--we think we know the Negro before we study the Negro. And what we think we know about the Negro isn’t good, or just, or fair; humane, etc. So you’re not starting from zero, you’re starting from negative five. It becomes a challenge. People don’t take seriously the study of black people sometimes, outside the context of pathology. You know somebody who’s studying hip-hop culture. People didn’t take it seriously. First they said it was going to last, and when it lasted, they said it was without merit. So that became a challenge. And as a journalist, that’s how stories are framed. What we look for. What stories matter. We can cry over France, and be upset about a bombing of thirty people, or 3,000 people, all of which are important because all life matters in that way. But we ignore Lebanon, Palestine, Nigeria, and South Africa, and in doing so, we reinforce in the media that black lives simply are less valuable. And that for me is a challenge. It’s an uphill battle.

NO: You mentioned how certain stories are more publicized than others, in reference to the Black Lives Matter movement. Do you feel like it’s getting the right kind of publicity?

MLH: No, I think that the movement itself is doing extraordinary

work against the odds, but the media representation, again, is uninformed. It often attempts to not only generalize an experience but really to wrap everything that black people do into this one movement, so that if a black person says something crazy at a rally, they say “Oh, those black lives matter people,” you know? But they don’t look at the success that the movement has made. They don’t look at the way in which the BLM movement has modeled a sort of intersectional politics that builds on the gains of the 60’s, 70s, and anti slavery movements of a century before. I mean they really represent in many ways the best part of our tradition. This idea of struggle, this idea of organizing, this idea of mass action, but they’ve added to that a bunch of interesting dynamics. You know two queer women of color. That’s extraordinary. But the media doesn’t focus on that. They’re not focusing on the best parts of this. They’re trying to poke holes in it, and make it look dangerous like every other movement.

NO: For sure. You mention how there is a specific focus and slant. In reference to college students who have been organizing across campuses, what do you make of this generation of student activists?

MLH: They encourage me, I’m excited by them, and I’m surprised by them. You know, they kind of came out of nowhere. There have always been student activists, but this generation, at some point, and I think it was August 9, 2014 when Mike Brown was killed in Camfield, said we had enough. And they used the tools of their generation. They sang their own freedom songs. They used social media. They used Kendrick Lamar, you know? They used all this stuff to strike a blow for freedom, and it was beautiful. And sustained! A lot of times people say that this generation doesn’t have the attention span, you know? They go and do this for a week, change their avatar, and then go back to talking about the Kardashians or whatever. And instead what, we’ve seen is the longest sustained action against state violence in American history. It’s been going on sixteen months straight! And they’re still on the ground in Ferguson, working and toiling and pushing for freedom. They encourage me. Are there critiques? Sure, there are critiques by everybody. We can obsess about critiques to the point where we don’t get anything done, and that we don’t appreciate the beauty of a moment, and I don’t want to do that.

NO: A lot of students have been presenting lists of demands and things like that, and I think that’s something they’ve borrowed from other generations, while adding a new twist to it. Do you think this is an effective way to bring about change? How do you suggest students tackle minority issues on their campus?

A CONVERSATION WITH DR. MARC LAMONT HILL - THE GENERATION SINGING THEIR OWN FREEDOM SONGS

By Nkechi Okoronkwo


MLH: I think you must always place pressure on people in power. You must always leverage whatever tools and resources you have to make things happen. And that’s what these kids are doing. And the lists are important because you have to articulate what you want. One of the critiques has been that they don’t have a clear policy: “What do these people want? They keep marching, but they’re not saying what they want.” That’s never been true. We’ve always had a clear agenda, from day one in Ferguson, to Eric Garner in New York, to Freddie Gray in Baltimore, to Mizzou, to Brown. We’ve always had a clear list of demands. Those demands are important because people need to know what you want, and you have to know what you want. If we want diversity of students and faculty that’s one thing, if we want funding to come in XYZ, our approach shifts. So I think that’s important and effective. What’s also been effective has been not just articulating one’s wants and needs, but also being willing to leverage one’s power, right? Mizzou is a victory because a football team was able to say, “Wait a minute, we ain’t gonna play, and while you might not care about some disgruntled black babies on campus, you do care about losing the millions every week from the football team, and having the world watch you.” Dr. King knew that Lyndon Johnson didn’t necessarily care about what was gonna happen on that Pettus bridge, and that the white people beating them weren’t gonna suddenly be ashamed of themselves, but that the spectacle of it would produce a different reaction from Northerners and the State itself. And not because they have feeling but because they have interests. Interests that would be converging with the interests of the people. So to answer your question, I think the list of demands have been helpful, and they’ve been incredibly important. But, I think leveraging power, and being able to put oneself on the line has been key. And that’s always been key. We stood on the ground in Ferguson, we got bombed and gassed and shot. We shut down the highways of New York, we’re shutting down campuses, and that’s what’s going to do it.

NO: So as students are kind of on the streets being activists and things like that, there’s a certain level of racial fatigue that comes along with advocating for these issues. How do you recommend, as college students, we take care of ourselves and combat that fatigue?

MLH: First off, by community - don’t do this thing alone. And it’s so easy to fall into the “Imma just do it by myself ”. Given everything about the current cultural moment, the economic moment is about marginalizing the public good in deference to

private interests. Both private in the sense of privatized, but also private in the sense of “my individual self ”. You follow what I’m saying? So we’re taught to think about just me. And if we’re all taught to think about just me, then it’s easy when you’re looking for refuge to find refuge in just you. “Well, I’ll just listen to music. I’ll just Google something. I’ll just go hang by myself. I’ll go find some mode of self care that’s divorced from a tradition and a community.” We gotta do the opposite. Something we gotta hold on to is us. So find friends. Find community. Struggle with people.Struggle is beautiful. Asada talked about struggle being beautiful because we are struggling together. The principles of Kwanza right, ujima and ujamaa, are both about community. Even Kuji-chagulia, that’s about self-determination. It’s the very conception of self, as community, not self like me personally. Find community, but also find time to care for yourself, whether that is therapy, meditation, prayer, or even dance! Sing! There is joy in struggle, but sometimes we just start to think. I mean, I think one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen are Palestinian people struggling whenever I go to Palestine, in the midst of occupation, marginalization, all that. I mean legit state violence on the most visceral, physical, immediate and urgent levels every single day. And there’s so much joy! From the names they give our children, to the food we eat, to the way we plant our trees, to the way we dance dubka. I mean they’ll tell you, all this stuff is resistance, right? There’s joy in resistance. We gotta remember that. Otherwise, we’ll get caught up in the mode of always being angry and always being frustrated, without realizing we’re not good to anybody if we’re not good to ourselves, and if we’re not whole. And we spend so much time trying to fix everybody else, including the world itself, that we don’t mend the self. Because we all broken. We all hurtin’. We just gotta figure out what are we gonna do with it.”


16

It was a surreal feeling sitting in the same room as someone who has a mugshot.

What’s even more surreal is he didn’t deserve one. That person was Martese Johnson, the University of Virginia student who had his face beaten by a police officer for supposedly carrying a fake ID. That photo was on every single nightly news show across America at one point, and now the same man was sitting in front of me discussing the value of social media in the world of activism.

Johnson, along with Wesley Rowley, the Washington Post journalist who was arrested at a Ferguson McDonald’s amidst the protests over the shooting of Michael Brown, Sam White, a social media activist for racial equality, and Zellie Imani, community activist and Black history blogger, came together to discuss the role that social media holds within the spread of social movements, and how they use their following for good.

The truth is social media’s role in news wasn’t always welcomed with open arms. Lowery pointed out that “who we give credence

and credibility to has changed,” and that it allows people who otherwise don’t have access to a national conversation to push back at mainstream media. Social platforms allow the public to share their personal stories and bypass certain institutions that were in the way of making a movement.

Imani reminded the audience that back in the 50’s, bus boycotts didn’t begin until the NAACP or powerful churches okay-ed them. Rosa Parks was not a mistake. She was chosen to begin the movement. Now social media allows us to congregate, physically or virtually, without achieving approval from a higher power. The power is in the people.

Unfortunately, Johnson grimly pointed out that these hashtags

have become “digital obituaries.” Johnson’s name is the first trending hashtag that didn’t die. Often these hashtags and stories come too late. The #BlackLivesMatter movement isn’t receiving the amount of coverage it deserves, according to Imani, and the coverage that does occur comes from predominantly white media outlets that think they know better than those who have experienced it.

Talking to the source is exactly what White

recommends. “Use your following to start a conversation, not finish it. Use it in a way that doesn’t cover up voices, but sources them in the discussion.” The panel all agreed that there is not one leader in movements like “BlackLivesMatter”, and it’s important that any individual can contribute in their own way. When the counter-argument of “All Lives Matter” arose, each panel member deemed it as complete bullshit. Imani raised the question of “Why do white individuals have the audacity to highjack a community effort? Why do they feel they own everything?”

It all comes back to respect for others.

“Toeing the line between telling people about lives and whitewashing it is one of the most difficult things,” White tells me.

Reevaluating your role in the space is vital, and asking for input is just as important. If we want to gain a larger following, Imani suggests locating the loudest voices within a social media community. Follow those people, and do your best to engage with them and their topics of conversation.

“The variety of backgrounds and experiences of the panelists was really impressive.” remarked junior Kwad Annor. “This particular topic of conversation is controversial, and the panelists’ first-hand accounts of social media activism was really interesting.”

SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE WORLD OF ACTIVISMBy Emma Ashworth

Use your following to start a conversation, not finish it. Use it in

a way that doesn’t cover up voices, but sources them in the

discussion.


As the topic of race enters the national dialogue, an examination of what it means to be a Black faculty member at a predominantly white institution is called into question.

According to the Institute of Education Sciences, only six percent of faculty members in academia are Black, compared with the amount of White faculty members who make up nearly 80 percent of people in academia.

Reuben Brigety, who is the Dean of the Elliott School of International Affairs and a former ambassador to the African Union has had his share of challenges which he says all people face, but some more than others.

Brigety stressed the importance of having diversity in all realms, especially in academia, where he says that diversity is “an incredible component to the success of our institution (GW).”

“I think the strength of our entire country is our diversity,” Brigety said.

As an individual with a long list of accomplishments, he has not forgotten the struggle those before him have faced. Brigety cites iconic trailblazers such as Nelson Mandela, Colin Powell, as well as his parents, as people whom he admires and has learned from when it comes to the topic of adversity.

“You try to have as much integrity as you can, hold onto your faith, and continue to persevere,” Brigety said.

In the face of adversity, there are attempts to make wrongs right by implementing programs like diversity training and group talks to discuss subjects on how to deal with and approach race in various settings.

While many may be well-intentioned, the method of going about addressing these issues can sometimes come across as insensitive, or make people seem unaware of the optics of the situation. Antwan Jones, an associate professor of Sociology, has experienced this first hand.

“As the only Black male in my department, I found

myself being asked to be on diversity committees, panels, and

general discussions of race simply because I am a racial minority,” Jones said.

Jones’ comment is reminiscent of the notion in our society that in order to solve a problem, particularly when it deals with race, people tend to turn towards one person that happens to be of that group and cites it as the solution to the issue.

“Somehow, I assumed that being in the liberal disciple of Sociology at a university in one of the most liberal cities in the US, would shield me from some of the race-based gripes that I had from living in the South and Midwest,” Jones said. “This was not the case.”

Jones’s observation is one that is often made. He acknowledged that maybe these situations would not happen if there were a more diverse group of people at the table.

“The lack of diversity in the administration and in the professoriate is definitely GW’s Achilles heel,” Jones said. “If the university cannot lift the transparent barriers that prevent us from recruiting and retaining faculty and leaders of color, the university simply will not be at its full potential.”

OBSERVATIONS ABOUT RACE FROM HIGH RANKING FACULTY MEMBERS

By Genevieve Montinar

As the only Black male in my department, I found myself being

asked to be on diversity committees,

panels, and general discussions of race

simply because I am a racial minority.


18


Dear Friends,

This month, we celebrate the accomplishments and progress that has been made throughout Black history. We remember Rosa Parks in Alabama and her defiance against the bus system, Jackie Robinson in Brooklyn, as he added a touch of color to the National Baseball League, and Dr. Huey P. Newton in Oakland, where he co-founded the Black Panther Party. But as we remember the accomplishments of others, we cannot forget the accomplishments that have been made at our very own university. There was a point in time where African-Americans wouldn’t dare step foot on this campus unless it was to drag the bricks used to build it. Now, we are able to walk freely and as equals all around campus … Or are we?

Don’t get me wrong; progress has been made in a number of ways. For example, the Black Powers Coalition was able to sit down with Dean of Students, Peter K, and present him with a list of improvements that included training staff members on communicating with students of color, as well as implementing a new hiring process to ensure that GW has more faculty of color. This initial meeting with Peter K has set in motion monthly meetings that are aimed at monitoring the progress of the suggested improvements. But is that it? Is that all we get; a bunch of meetings that amount to all talk and no action? The questions that we as the Black Community need to ask ourselves are “What still needs to be done?” and “How can we be expected to pay equal tuition, and not receive equal attention?”

Shynelle Kissi, Treasurer of the Black Student Union, stated, “There is a lot more than can be done here at GW, which is why I’m happy and proud to be on the BPC. I understand that these changes may not directly affect me while I study here at GW, but I’m honored to be one of those pioneering the way for future generations of Black students.”

How do we make ourselves a united, visible force here on campus? There really is only one way to do that - MAKE OUR PRESENCE KNOWN. Yes, we’ve all been there. Being seen because we’re the only person with a “natural tan” in all of our classes. But instead of being seen as just a Black student, we need to be seen as active Black students.

“I feel as though GW does not do all that it can to help Black students feel comfortable here on campus,” says Breonna Glover, a sophomore at GW.

Black students make up 6.3% of the undergraduate population, which translates to approximately 700 students. That’s potentially 700 students who do not feel comfortable here on campus. After all, we are the most politically active school in the nation, so we should act like it. With all of this political capital being handed out, there is no reason we shouldn’t use it to our advantage. If the system is working against us, we should get in there and fix it. A perfect example of this is getting involved in SA elections that are coming up. We all see the posters displaying the faces of various candidates running for office. Would it be too difficult for us to come together and collectively endorse one candidate to both represent our interests and us as a people?

I write this letter to all of you to remind you of one thing - don’t be afraid to show who you are. Show off your ability to rap every lyric to March Madness, and in the same breath, discuss solutions to the global financial crisis. Who we are should not be hidden just because of where we are.

Sincerely,

Victoria Akosile

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE BLACK COMMUNITYBy Victoria Akosile

*DISCLAIMER: FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE A SIMILAR MINDSETTO THAT OF STACEY DASH, PLEASE EXIT NOW*


This year, The School of Media and Public Affairs collaborated with ACE Magazine to host the first annual Black History Month Art exhibition, showcasing more than 20 artists’ work. Blacktivism: A New Generation

reflected the important themes of ambition, justice, and self-love that are greatly embodied by the black population in America. The exhibition proved that by mixing art with the apparent struggles within the black community, there is a fine line between the abstract world and reality that perhaps possesses the ability to extinguish racial discord in America.

Yonathen Kefelgn says it’s, “necessary to have an artistic perspective about the movement, especially from young people.”

The exhibition saw over 200 visitors who were enthused by the various art mediums ranging from poetry and music to photography, painting, and video production. Many guests expressed that the exhibition made them feel empowered and others, grateful. Adam Middleton, former Editor-in-Chief of the ACE Magazine, was just as pleased by the curatorial artistry of the exhibition just as much as the content.

He stated, “Having Black Lives Matter in the front puts the event into context. With this struggle, it’s important to put something timely to grab the viewer’s attention…this is history. This is not new.”

Other visitors were also quite astonished by the turnout of people at the art exhibition.

Shaquille Williams of Howard University exclaimed, “There’s not a big representation of black people on GW’s campus so to see this many black faces and black art is amazing.”

Among the various artists whose works were in the exhibition was George Washington University’s very own Zinhle Essamuah, who presented her documentary, Hands Up, which explores the importance of the Black Lives Matter Movement. Junior, Lanie Edwards, conveyed her message of the power of black women, showing that they are not afraid to ignore American beauty

standards through mixed-media photography. A collective favorite among the guests was a blown up version of one of the most appreciated “emoji” additions to the mobile keyboard: the power fist. The minimal artwork behaved as a centerpiece throughout the entire exhibit, representing black power, black pride, and black perseverance in one single piece.

In addition to minimal art pieces, photography was widely shown and adored by many of the guests. Mother Sarawati of Mother’s Land, by Jasmine Holder, featuring Nana Agyemang, paints the natural aesthetic and divinity of the black female. Digital artist, Reese Bland, used a mixture of photography and mixed media in her photo series Black Lives Matter DMV, which places the conversation of police brutality in the local sphere of D.C. The somber and dark tone of the pictures helps relive the moments when a black unarmed boy was shot dead by yet another police officer.

Among paintings, Shawn Perkin showcased two great contrasting murals. The mural titled Biggiat pictures an eccentric, colorful, and immense Biggie Smalls as one of the Kings of rap. With his slightly tilted crown, Biggie exemplifies the nature of his “cool” tendencies as it permeates through a hidden mask that constantly faces adversity. SMPA Professor, Silvio Waisbord, found the painting eye-catching.

Waisbord stated, “It jumps at you. You’re trying to figure out what’s going on and you can interpret [the piece] so many different ways.”

Perkin’s other mural titled, The Champ is Here, portrays Muhammad Ali training underwater, using heavy contrast between light and dark. Both of Perkin’s subjects were champions in their fields that were dominated by Blacks: Athletics and rap music.

The Blacktivism art exhibition gave a beautiful mixture of soulful cries and sweet vibes, but most of all it gave people hope. While seeing a collective body of black people reflecting and sharing their mutual experiences over art was astounding, the hope that was felt was caused by a young generation of intellectuals expressing their knowledge of political and social injustice in America.

BLACKTIVISM AND AN ARTIST’S REVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE

By Lauryn Hill


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#BLACKTWITTER

#BLACKLIVESMATTER

#BLACKPEOPLE

#BLACKOUTDAY

#BEYONCEALWAYSONBEAT

#CNNBELIKE

#ASKRACHEL

#GROWINGUPBLACK

#WHITEPEOPLEINVITEDTOTHECOOKOUT

#THANKSGIVINGCLAPBACK

#CELEBRITIESONLYBLACKPEOPLEKNOW

MARCH '16: Melanin Rising

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