Griot Mar/Apr issue
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THEBLACK/AFRICANAMERICANCULTURALCENTERPRESENTS<br />
MARCH/<br />
A P R IL<br />
2 0 1 7<br />
Editor:YasmineAmon<br />
Designer:TinaNguyen<br />
BHMKickofwith<br />
Meredith&Vivian<br />
BLACK<br />
ExpressionofLoveby<br />
RudyFrancisco<br />
HISTORY<br />
MONTH<br />
DrippingMelaninhair<br />
showbroughttheheat<br />
?<br />
-BlackHistorymonth2017kicksof<br />
-MeetingIbramX.KendiandRudyFrancisco<br />
-Studentmodelsstrutingtheirnewoutfitandhair<br />
-Studyingabroadexperiencesrevealed<br />
Who’stakingFaculty<br />
-Introducingourfirstfacultystafspotlight SpotlightthisMonth?
lackhistorymonth<br />
openingceremony<br />
writtenby:allyjohnson<br />
OnFebruary1st2017,theBlack/AfricanAmerican<br />
CulturalCenterhosteditsannualBlackHistory<br />
MonthOpeningCeremony.Duringthisevent,we<br />
showcasedmultipletalentsfromarangeof<br />
studentssuchassinging,dancing,spokenword,<br />
andvisualart.Thesedeterminedstudentshave<br />
beensuccessfulshowcasingtheirtalentswhile<br />
alsopursuingacolegeeducationandtheofice<br />
wantedtoacknowledgethose<br />
accomplishments.
TheB/AACCoficehasbeeninexistencefor40<br />
yearsandonthatdayweacknowledgedthatwe<br />
arestandingontheshouldersofgiants.Meredith<br />
Levert,thefounderofProjectGoandVivianKerr,<br />
thefirstdirectorofB/AACC,previouslyknownas<br />
BlackStudentServices,attendedandspokeabout<br />
theirexperienceduringtheirtimeatColorado<br />
Stateandwhatinspiredthemtostartthese<br />
programs.
DaveionOliverandAlexisVonGwin,whowere<br />
crownedMr.andMs.CSUintheFalof2016,<br />
hostedtheOpeningCeremony.Students,stafand<br />
facultymembersattendedanditwas<br />
heartwarmingtoseeeveryonecometogetherasa<br />
community.Thiseventwasveryeyeopeningfor<br />
measayoung,AfricanAmericanwoman,who<br />
wishestomakeapositivechangewithintheblack<br />
community.I’mgratefulthatwecouldrecognizea<br />
historicalmonthinsuchwayanupliftingway.
BeingBlack&religious<br />
Writenby:ArisonStanfield<br />
TheAdhanisafamiliarsoundtomanymilionsofpious<br />
Muslimsandyetonethatiscompletelyforeigntotheearsof<br />
manyAmericans.Yet,itwasthismelodiouscalthat<br />
welcomedaltotheBlack&ReligioussesionhostedbyDr.<br />
RayBlack.Formany,thiseventwasaspowerfulasitwas<br />
uncompromising.Dr.Blackelegantlydrewinthecrowdto<br />
participateandtowonderwhatitmeanstobeBlackand<br />
ReligiousandwhyweunconsciouslyasociateBlack<br />
rereligiousafiliationssolelywithChristianity.Fromtherehe<br />
brokedownfactswithfiguresandanecdotesaboutthetrue<br />
levelofreligiousdiversitywithintheBlackCommunity.<br />
Thosewhoatendedthiseventwouldbehardpresedto<br />
leavewithoutknowingthatChristianity,Judaism,Islam,<br />
andHinduismalikearealequalyauthenticwaysto<br />
practiceBlackfaith.Thehistoryofhowthesefaithsarived<br />
intheblackcolectiveconsciousnesisawindingand<br />
rangingone.Whilemanyofthesereligionsexistedinand<br />
throughoutAfricasincetheirinceptions,itwasoftenthecase<br />
thatthesereligionswereimposedbyoutsideforces.
Dr.Blackefortleslyelucidatedthislongandcomplex<br />
historyforalinatendancewhilealsobeingcarefultoshow<br />
thatregardlesofhowthesereligionscameintotheblack<br />
community,thatmany,ifnotalofthem,playedan<br />
importantroleincreatingtheenduringblackspirit.Further<br />
Dr.Blackshowedhowthefinancialstabilityandgrowthof<br />
thesefaithsbecamethebedrocksformanyofthecivilrights<br />
heroesweknowandpraisetoday,namely<strong>Mar</strong>tinLuther<br />
KingJr.andMalcolmX.Furthermore,Dr.Blackshowedthat<br />
thisfiscalsupportfromthehalowedhalsofreligiousfaith<br />
couldbecomeabedrockonwhichtobuildindependentblack<br />
runeducationalsystemsthatarenottieddownand<br />
determinedbyfederalmandates.Alinal,thisdiscusion<br />
wasofintenseyetenjoyableeducationandintheendwe<br />
foundawaytounderstandBlackReligiosityinawaythat<br />
gaveitanintersectionalandhistorictreatment.
andpoliciesandthattheseideasdonot<br />
comefrom hateandignorancebutrather<br />
from peoplewhoseethepolitical,social<br />
andeconomicbenefitsofdiscrimination.<br />
SomeofthetopicsKendisharedresonated<br />
withme,personally.One<strong>issue</strong>addressed<br />
thattherearereallyonlytwoexplanations<br />
fortheracialinequitiesthatweseetoday<br />
andhaveseenthroughouthistory.Thefirst<br />
beingthereissomethinginherentlywrong<br />
withblackpeople,whichiswhytheyare<br />
morecriminalandlazyandarearrested<br />
andunemployedathigherrates.Thesecond<br />
ideaisthatthereisracialdiscrimination<br />
withinhow jobsaredistributedandhow<br />
thecriminaljusticesystem treatsblack<br />
people.Ifapersonbuysintothefirst
BEING BLACK& BI-RACIAL<br />
WRITTEBBY:SELAM TEWHADE<br />
BEINGBLACKANDBI/MULTI-RACIALWASADISCUSSIONLEDBYDR.<br />
VINCENTBASILE.THEGROUPWASMADEOFAMIXOFPEOPLE,SOMEWHO<br />
IDENTIFIEDASBI/MULTI-RACIALANDSOMEWHODIDNOT.THETALK<br />
BEGANWITHEXPLORINGTHECHALENGESTHATCOMEALONGWITHNOT<br />
ASSOCIATINGWITHONLYONERACE.FROMFAMILY,WORK,FRIENDS,AND<br />
EVERYDAYSTRANGERSTHATQUESTION“WHATAREYOU?”CANBEA<br />
CONSTANTANDCOMPLEXCHALENGEFORSOMEONEWHOIS<br />
BI/MULTI-RACIAL.THISIDENTITYCANPOSEAPROBLEMFORSOCIETYASA<br />
WHOLEBECAUSEOFTHECHECKINGOFABOXPROBLEM.SOCIETYIS<br />
CONSTANTLYTRYINGTOCATEGORIZEPEOPLEANDBI/MULTI-RACIAL<br />
PEOPLECANPOSEAPROBLEMTOTHISSYSTEM.WHENCALCULATINGTHE<br />
DIVERSITYOFACERTAINGROUPWHETHERITBEANEWCLASSOF<br />
COLEGESTUDENTSORWHOWASACCEPTEDFORALOANFROMABANKIN<br />
APARTICULARYEAR,PEOPLEWHOHAVEMULTIPLERACIALIDENTITIESCAN<br />
EITHERBECOUNTEDMULTIPLETIMESFORTHEDIFERENTRACIAL<br />
IDENTITIESTHEYHOLD,ORBETOSSEDOUTOFTHECALCULATIONSAL<br />
TOGETHER.WEDISCUSSEDHOW,INSUCHATUMULTUOUSANDDIVIDED<br />
TIME,ITCANBEHARDTOHAVEFAMILYONBOTHSIDESOFTHEDIVIDEAND<br />
FELINGSTUCKBETWENTWOWORLDS.HOWEVER,DURINGTHE
DISCUSSIONSWEWEREABLETOCELEBRATEANDDISCUSSTHEBEAUTIFUL<br />
PARTOFLIFETHATCOMEWITHHOLDINGMULTIPLERACIALIDENTITIES.<br />
BEINGABLETOEXPERIENCEMULTIPLEDIFERENTCULTURESISARARE<br />
ANDSPECIALEXPERIENCETOHAVEINTHISLIFE.ASANETHIOPIANAND<br />
WHITEWOMAN,IFOUNDITNICETOBESURROUNDEDBYPEOPLEWHO<br />
SHAREDTHESAMEEXPERIENCESASMYSELFANDTAKEAMOMENTTO<br />
CELEBRATEALTHATMAKESUSGREAT.BI/MULTI-RACIALINDIVIDUALS<br />
HAVEEVERYTHINGTOBEPROUDOFANDCELEBRATE.
Dripping<br />
Melanin<br />
Everyyear,UnitedWomenof<br />
ColorhostananualHair<br />
ShowforBlackHistoryMonth<br />
toshowcaseblackhairand<br />
beauty.AfricanAmericanmen<br />
andwomenhaveprided<br />
themselvesontheirhairandthediversestylesthey<br />
havecreatedwhethernatural,permed,braidedordreaded.<br />
UWC’sgoalistocelebratethisjourneyandteltheuntoldstories<br />
thathavecoincidedwithit.Thisyear<br />
thethemefortheshowwas“Driping<br />
Melanin”whichmeansbeingunapologeticalyblack.<br />
Withalofthenegativitythatisbeingthrowntoward<br />
peopleofcolor,particularly<br />
blackpeople,UWCisgratefulto<br />
haveanyoportunityto<br />
showcaseandcelebratethe<br />
beautyinwhatitrulymeansto<br />
beblack.ThisyeartheshowwashostedbyShanon
<strong>Mar</strong>tin,theVicePresident,andmyself,<br />
JhasmyneCoper-More,asthepresidentofUWC.<br />
TheeventwasheldintheLoryStudentCenter<br />
Theater,whichhelpsussetuptheshow<br />
yearafteryear.IhavebenapartofUWC<br />
sincemyfreshmanyearandtheHairShow<br />
hasgotenincreasinglybeterineveryaspect.Ouratendance<br />
numberhasgrown,thecompetitiveskilsetofthe<br />
stylistshasincreased,andthe<br />
overalenjoymentoftheeventhas<br />
skyrocketedtogreatlevels.<br />
Thisyearwehadthrestylistsparticipatinginthe<br />
HairShow,andthoseladieswereTianaPorter,TaylorScot,<br />
andCSUAlumCorineFenster.Theycompetedin4rounds<br />
displayingnaturalhair,shorthair,up-dos,andclasicblackhair<br />
andwerejudgedacordingtoprecision,artistry,poise,<br />
creativity,crowdparticipation,andpresentation.Therewere6judgeswho<br />
decidedthewiner.TianaPortertokthecakeandwenthomewiththe<br />
grandprizeof$30!
Thisyearalsoarosetheideatogivea<br />
platformtolocalaparelbrandsfromtheDenver<br />
MetroandNorthernColoradoarea.Thisyearwasthe<br />
firstimethatfivelocalbrandspresented<br />
theirlinesduringtheshow.Brandsalsohad<br />
theoportunitytoseltheirmerchandiseand<br />
networkwithfelowbrands,colegestudents,andcommunity<br />
members.WehadManimal,Y1FOriginals,Crafty<br />
Colective,ConesColective,and<br />
BlackShepMob.Althebrandsare<br />
curentlybeingrunbyyoung<br />
peopleundertheageof25.Thiswasanamazing<br />
oportunitytoshowaltheamazingworkthatyoung<br />
peopleofcolorareinvestedin.Again,withthecontinuedhelp<br />
andsuportofsuchphenomenalanddedicatedmembersof<br />
UnitedWomenofColor,theBlackHistoryMonthHairShow<br />
wasasucesandwilbebacknextyear,bigerandbeter.
BEINGBLACKANDALGB
BeingBlack&aFeminist<br />
Wrienby:TriciaAlexander<br />
“Wedon’twantanyblackwomentoatend”arethewordsthatwere<br />
spokentoIdaB.Wels,ablackfeminist,byoneofthepionersofWhite<br />
Feminism.WhatisnowknownasFirstWaveFeminismwasfocusedonthe<br />
rightsofwhitewomen.Theyfearedhavingblackwomenralywiththem<br />
becausetheybelieveditwouldreframethefeministmovementtobeabout<br />
therightsofblackpeople,duetoracialtensionsinthetwenties.<br />
CuCurently,theFeministMovementisknowntobeThirdWaveFeminism,<br />
whichcalsfortheinclusionofalwomenofcolor.Itisimportantto<br />
notethatbeingBlackandFeministdoesnotautomaticalymakesomeonea<br />
BlackFeministandthattherearediferentphilosophiestoBlackFeminism.<br />
Thefacilitator,CoreyEvans,informedusshewouldbespeakingfromthe<br />
perspectiveofdecolonizingthemindbyusingphilosophiesbyPatriciaHil<br />
ColinsandKimberlyCrenshaw.Colinsbelievedinordertodecolonizethe<br />
mimind,theopresedandtheopresormustchecktheirprivilegeandse<br />
howtheiridentitiescentertheminthepowerstructure.Thisisparticularly<br />
afocusforblackwomen,asweoftencatchourselvesfedingintothe<br />
patriarchalsocietyinAmericaandsuportingblackmenmorethan<br />
ourselves.Crenshawcoinedthetermintersectionalityin1989todescribe<br />
howblackwomen’sisuesoftengounoticedinmovementssincetheydo<br />
notfitintotheframeworkofjustBlackisuesandjust
women’sisues.Theparadoxoftheblackwoman’sexperienceisthatsheis<br />
viewedashavingadualadvantage,particularlyinacademiaand<br />
employment,sinceshehastwomarginalizedidentities.Thisideaisknownas<br />
doublediscrimination.BlackFeminismalowsforblackwomentocreate<br />
theirownframeworkandcombatthewaysinwhichtheyarevictimized.<br />
Insteadofwaitingforthetrickle-downefectofsocialjusticetoreach<br />
them,theydecidedtocreateamovementthatalowsthemtobesenand<br />
heard.
BlackHistory MonthRealTalk
STUDYING<br />
ABROAD<br />
Writenby:YasmineAmon
DemiFlores:Spain<br />
4thYearstudyingHumanDevelopmentandFamilyStudieswithaSpanishMinor<br />
“Myadvicewouldbetorealyliveinthemoment,alowyourself<br />
tobepresentandevenifit’snotwhatyouexpected,tomake<br />
thebestofitandlearnalyoucanwhileyou’reinanew<br />
environment.Alsotobefamiliarwiththelanguage,ifnotyour<br />
experiencemaybelesenjoyableanditwilbedificulttonavigatethroughthecountry.”
DestiniHal:SemesteratSea<br />
3rdyearstudyingInterdisciplinaryLiberalArtandtraveledto13countriesduringSemester<br />
atSea(France,Germany,Grece,Italy,Spain,Moroco,Senegal,Brazil,Trinidad,Peru,<br />
Ecuador,andCostaRica)<br />
“Mymostmemorableexperiencewhilestudyingabroadwas<br />
ridingcamelsthroughtheSaharaDesertinMoroco.Whilein<br />
Fez,Moroco,somefriendsandIdrovesevenhourstothe<br />
SaharaDesert,thenrodeoncamels,travelingtoasmal<br />
Berbercampinthedesert.Wethenhadacelebrationwiththe<br />
Berberpeople,whichincludedsinging,dancing,fod,andmint<br />
tea(theBESTteaofmylife!)Westayedupalnightonthe<br />
sanddunes,lokingupatthestars,andtalkingabouttheories<br />
oflife,andmakingittothisbeautifulplace.Welaughedwith<br />
localsandembracedtheircultureandtheland.Itwasatruly<br />
humbling,andlifealteringexperience.”
JoelEshun:Prague,CzechRepublic<br />
4thyearstudyingComputerScienceandminoringinBusinesAdministration<br />
“Iwouldgobackbecauseofthefrespiritandfriendlinesofthe<br />
people.Ienjoyedthehistoricalaspectofthecities,andtheculture<br />
thatwaspresented.OneofthereasonsIwanttogobackishow<br />
costefectivePraguewasandIwoulddefinitelyrecommend<br />
travelingtheretoanybodywhoisinterested.”<br />
ShaylaMonteiro:Jamkhed,India<br />
5thyeardoublemajoringinInterdisciplinaryWomenStudiesandSocialWork<br />
Howtoreconectmyspiritwithmybodyandcontextiseverything!
NaStassjaBarker:Spain<br />
3rdyearstudyingCommunicationswithaSpanishminor<br />
“MytripimpactedmySpanishminorandfuturecarerchoices<br />
agreatdeal.WhilestudyingabroadIalowedmyselftobecome<br />
immersedintheculture.Thedailytutorialsandconversations<br />
helpedenhancemyconversationalstyleandpronunciationby<br />
speakingonlySpanishforawholemonth.BystudyingabroadI<br />
wasabletopracticemyspeakingwithindividualswhoarefluent<br />
inSpanishwhichhelpedmetobeterunderstandwhatIneded<br />
toworkon.Aftermystudyabroadprogram,Idecidedto<br />
retakeLSPA200whichhelpsstudentstounderstandSpanish<br />
aswegointoourhigherlevelclases.Mystudyabroadtriphas<br />
impactedmyfuturecarerbecauseIamnowmoremotivated<br />
tobebilingualandfluentinSpanishandbecomeaSpanish<br />
translator.”
BrianaDaniels:Ghana<br />
3rdyearmajoringinHealthandExerciseSciencewithaconcentrationinSportsMedicine<br />
“Ididalotoffirst-timerswhileinGhana.Itriedrealsugarcane<br />
andhadatothachefortherestoftheday.Itriedmanydiferenttypesoffods,includingthefreshestcoconutwater<br />
youwileverhave,banku,fufuandredred.Ibargainedmyway<br />
throughahugefodmarketandmanycraftmarkets.Iwalked<br />
on7ropebridgesintheKakumNationalForestthatwere160<br />
ft.intheairandwobledeverytimeyoutokastep.Ivisited<br />
twoofthethreslavecastlesthatwereusedintheSlave<br />
Trade,visitedtheslavemarket,fedamonkeyinmyarms,<br />
swamintheAtlanticOcean,andmetafamouspoetwhoonce<br />
hungoutwithMayaAngelou.GhanawasanincredibleexperienceandIwouldrecommendvisitingtoanyonewhoiswilingto<br />
learnthecultureandunderstandtheamazingcountry.”
Shannon<strong>Mar</strong>tin:WesternEurope<br />
4thyearstudyingAparelandMerchandisingwithaBusinesandTechnical<br />
CommunicationsMajor.TraveledtoFrance,UnitedKingdom,NetherlandsandBelgium<br />
“BeforeIstudiedabroadIfelikeIlokedatlifethroughtunel<br />
vision.IhadrarelybenoutofthestateandIhadbensoaccustomedtothecultureandthewaywedothingstothepoint<br />
Ithoughtthatwastheonlywaytolive.Duringmytimeoutside<br />
thecountry,Iexperiencedworldlyisuessuchastheatacksin<br />
Belgiumforcingustoleavewithin24hours,theflodsinParis,<br />
andtheatacksandstrikesthatweretakingplaceinthe<br />
CharlesDeGauleairport.It’snoteverystudentsidealvisionto<br />
goacrostheworldandwindupinsuchsensitiveandfrighteningsituations,yetformeitwassortofrefreshing,notinthe<br />
waythatitwaspositive,butinthewaythatitsparkedalightin<br />
me.Irarelypaidatentiontoworldnewspriortothistrip
Shannon<strong>Mar</strong>tin:WesternEurope<br />
4thyearstudyingAparelandMerchandisingwithaBusinesandTechnical<br />
CommunicationsMajor.TraveledtoFrance,UnitedKingdom,NetherlandsandBelgium<br />
becauseasselfishlyasitsounds,itwasn'tdirectlyafectingme.<br />
TheonlythingsthatIknewaboutwerethethingsthattheUS<br />
newschosetocover.Buttobeinthesecountrieswhilealthis<br />
wastakingplaceandtofelthefearandagonyofthecommunity,andtosealtheseunfortunateeventsunfoldbefore<br />
myeyeschangedmyviewsoflifeandmademerealizehow<br />
importantworldnewsis.”
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