Nineteen Fifty-Six Vol. 1 No. 2 Voice

OCTOBER 2020
Voice
YOUR VOICE HAS VALUE

1

You do matter. The numerous achievements
and talents of Black students deserve
to be recognized. As of Fall 2019, 10.50%
of students on campus identified as Black
or African American. Black students are
disproportionately underrepresented in
various areas on campus. Nineteen Fifty-
Six is a Black student-led magazine that
amplifies the voices within the University
of Alabama’s Black community. It also seeks
to educate students from all backgrounds
on culturally-important issues and topics
in an effort to produce socially-conscious,
ethical and well-rounded citizens.
2

EDITORIAL STAFF
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
MANAGING EDITOR
VISUALS EDITOR
ASSISTANT VISUALS EDITOR
PHOTO EDITOR
ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR
ASSISTANT CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR
FEATURES AND EXPERIENCES EDITOR
ASSISTANT FEATURES AND EXPERIENCES EDITOR
ENGAGEMENT EDITOR
ASSISTANT ENGAGEMENT EDITOR
FACULTY ADVISOR
ASSISTANT ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER
TIONNA TAITE
BHAVANA RHAVALA
A’NESHIA TURNER
ASHTON JAH
ZAHREA SMALL
ALEXIS BLUE
FARRAH SANDERS
REENA MILLER
HALEY WILSON
SALA BANDELE-JACKSON
NICKELL GRANT
TAYLOR GARNER
MONIQUE FIELDS
JULIE SALTER
TERRY SIGGERS
CONTRIBUTORS
JAVON WILLIAMS, TA’KYLA BATES, RACHEL PARKER,
JEFFREY KELLY, DE’YONICA DANIELS, JASMINE HOLLIE,
JOSEPH KING, KENYA HARRIS, KIERRA THOMAS
WRITERS
MADISON CARMOUCHE, DONOVAN HARRIS, YOSMEN FOSTER,
TAZARI WOODMORE, CAMERON URQUHART,
AMBER EVANS, LEAH MCGRUDER
PHOTOGRAPHERS
ARMYLL SMITH, ASIA ANDERSON, BREONA WINN,
CASSIDY BURRELL, GABBY ADAMS, KARRIS HARMON,
KENDE’LYN THOMPSON, MADISON DAVIS,
MALLORY WESTRY, MA’KIA MOULTON, NIA ANDERSON, TYALA
BONNER, JOLENCIA JONES, KAELA ROBINSON
ENGAGEMENT
MARKETERS AND
STRATEGISTS
ADDITIONAL INFO
3
Nineteen Fifty-Six is published by
the Office of Student Media at The
University of Alabama. All content
and design are produced by students
in consultation with professional
staff advisers. All material contained
herein, except advertising or where
indicated otherwise, is copyrighted ©
2020 by Nineteen Fifty-Six magazine.
Material herein may not
be reprinted without
the expressed, written
permission of Nineteen
Fifty-Six magazine.
Editorial and Advertising
offices for Nineteen Fifty-
Six Magazine are located
at 414 Campus Drive East,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. The
mailing address is P.O.
Box 870170, Tuscaloosa,
AL 35487. Phone: (205)
348-7257.

Change is defined as something that produces a
different position, course, or direction. In the weeks
leading up to the presidential election, I felt it was
necessary that this magazine issue focuses not only
on Black voices but also the change that can result
from our voices.
Over the past few months, voting has been
emphasized more than ever. I agree that everyone
who can vote should. This ensures every group
regardless of race or background is represented and
their voice is heard in the election. I also want to
acknowledge the young activists who may not be of
voting age. Their voices still matter and they also
have a lot to say. My two younger brothers display
their desire to enact change by using their voice.
Neither one of them are of voting age. However, they
still do their part in using their voice for change
by learning about Black history and the current
racial injustices we still face today and sharing it
with their peers. In this way, they too can play a role
in advocating for a future where racial injustices
do not persist. I encourage you to also look at the
younger people in your life and help them use their
voice for change because regardless of age Black
voices matter.
Using your voice does not always come in the form
of vocalization. Writing is an effective way to be
heard without enunciating one word. In fact, I am
speaking to you all right now by only typing words
on a page. Using your voice does not mean forming
sentences. Art is another way of expressing yourself
while also giving a physical form to your voice.
Paintings, music, and so many more forms of art can
speak to people. I encourage you to find ways to use
your voice. Do not be silenced by any means because
your voice can be the very thing that produces
positive change.
“
Not everything that is
faced can be changed, but
nothing can be changed
until it is faced.
-James Baldwin
”
I am thrilled to present the second issue of Nineteen
Fifty-Six to you all. I hope this magazine issue
encourages you to never forget that your voice has
value. Truly, your voice can create lasting change in
your community, state, or even country.
X
TIONNA TAITE
4

5

CULTURE
CONTENTS
8 MASK ON, MASK OFF
11 THE ART OF KICKZ
13 BATTLE OF THE BALLOT
16 MIDTERMS IN THE MIDST
17 THE MELANIN MARKETPLACE
FEATURES
LIFESTYLE
EXPERIENCES
22 BIRMINGHAM BLACK TECHIES
24 YOUR VOTE MATTERS
26 RECREATING THE PATH
29 UNITED TIDE
31 UNIQUE STUDENTS ON CAMPUS
32 HALLOWED GROUNDS
6

7
CULTURE

R A C H E L P A R K E R
MASK ON
MASK OFF
From acting to dressing up for Halloween, individuals
have donned a mask or altered their appearance in some
way for a multitude of reasons. These actions are usually
expected for the aforementioned occasions and the
following day they go back to being themselves. However,
what if the mask you wore in order to fit in has to remain
on? What if you remain in a constant state of continuously
removing and replacing the mask?
This predicament is a form of code-switching. The term
code-switching according to Oxford Languages is “the
practice of alternating between two or more languages
or a variety of languages in conversation.” This definition
connects to the earliest notion of code-switching coined
by sociolinguist Einar Haugen in 1954. Haugen described
code-switching as a mixing or alternating between two or
more languages. For people of color this definition holds
deeper meanings and implications. Associate Professor of
Spanish Linguistics Bryan Koronkiewicz states, “Typically,
the reason that code switching happens, particularly at
the sort of register the style shifting variety
level, has to do with community. It’s
a way to establish or either create a
sort of closeness.” Concepts such
as community play a dual role in
code-switching. These concepts
establish connection and kinship
amongst individuals.
These concepts like community
go farther than interactions
amongst individuals who
resemble you. As reported in
a 2019 research study in the
Harvard Business Review, “The
Cost of Code-Switching,” the
act of code-switching by people
of color, specifically Black
people, is utilized as a
tool for advancement
professionally and socially.
Climbing up the social or
professional ladder requires an act of code-switching that
rewards you for being a part of the majority. When people
of color refrain from being themselves and partake in
code-switching to assimilate to european standards, they
are often viewed as more professional thus increasing
chances of promotion. This perpetuates the cycle of
covering certain parts of oneself to be more malleable
and fit in.
Code-switching also persists in various levels of education.
Being the only Black student in class and sticking out so
starkly can evoke the impulse to want to blend in. This
can cause students to alter their appearance, accent,
or the way they speak to mask their true self and avoid
prejudices or stereotypes.
As a means of protection and maintaining self-image,
this mask remains intact when engaging with individuals
of a different race. Koronkiewicz further explains,
“Unfortunately, there is the stigmatization of certain
speech styles and they’re not considered maybe
professional or academic or all these
other things based on these sort
of issues of power connected
with language.” Typically,
individuals outside of a race
create this stigma based
on preconceived notions
and inherent bias.
As previously
mentioned, when
code-switching is
performed by people
of color there can be
results of assimilation
and acceptance. Yet, at
times when engaging
with members of their
own race or community
they may be faced with
accusations of “selling
out”. This adds to
the mental pressure
8

of trying to be accepted by both
sides.
Along with the pressure comes
the burden of pretending to
be something you are not.
This brings with it feelings of
exhaustion or inadequacy from
trying to mold to fit in or align
with societal standards. A Black
female financial professional
from the 2019 Harvard Business
Review study affirms, “I also feel
as though I am in a constant battle
of censoring/watering down my
views, thoughts, and personality
for the possibility of being looked
at differently than a nonblack man
or woman in the workplace if they
exhibited the same behavior. It’s
exhausting navigating an all-white
workplace.”
Censoring one’s self proves to
have taxing effects. These effects
are continuously placed on the
backburner of importance in
favor of appearance and avoidance
of consequences. Learning the
history and experiences of codeswitching
is necessary to address
the system that allows for racial
stereotypes and prejudices to
persist in the first place.
A society that allows for european
standards to be the norm is part
of the problem that makes people
of color have to mask their true
selves daily in the workplace or at
school.
9

Winter
Mester
Register Now!
Three week online mini-term
Nov 30 - Dec 18
to Learn More, Visit sheltonstate.edu/wintermester
It is the policy of the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees and Shelton State Community College, a postsecondary institution under its control, that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin,
religion, marital status, disability, gender, age, or any other protected class as defined by federal and state law, be excluded from participation, denied benefits, or subjected to discrimination under any program, activity, or employment.
10

KS
TA’KYLA BATES
THE ART OF
KICKS
11
ICKS
KICKS
Jordan, Nike, Adidas, Yeezy are all
big shoe brands society is obsessed
with. You would be considered
very lucky if you own a pair of OG
Jordan 1s High. But why is society so
fascinated by sneakers?
Sneakers are a status symbol for
most people according to “The
Rise of Sneakerhead Culture”
by Michael Lishnevsky.
Sneakers are very popular
among Millenials and Gen
Z culture. Usually, if you
have some rare sneakers
you might be considered a
Sneakerhead. Sneakerheads
are people who collect shoes,
sometimes sell them and have almost
an obsession with sneakers. Before
we dive into the culture of kicks, we
have to learn about the history of
sneaker culture.
Sneaker culture began to surface
in the 1970s when people wanted a
demand for athletic shoes. The 80s
was a major turnaround for the
sneaker game because of one man, a
basketball legend, Michael Jordan.
In 1984, Nike was struggling
to sell shoes. Nike had the
timeless Air Force 1, however
the basketball scene was still
stuck on Converse. Michael
Jordan just began his NBA
career in ‘84 and had a decision to
make. Michael Jordan wanted Adidas
but Nike wanted Michael Jordan. As
history would have it, we know how
that story ends. The Air Jordan 1 was
the game-changer in basketball and
street fashion. In 1985, a year after
the debut, the Jordan 1 would retail
at $64.99. Now in 2020, the retail
price is $160.
Sneakerheads can be a business’
dream or worst nightmare. A
nightmare because resellers buy
shoes in bulk at retail price and sell
them for hundreds or thousands of
dollars. The same sneaker that was
sold for $65 in 1985 is now being sold
on resell websites like GOAT.com and
StockX.com for 10 times that price.
According to Leigh Steinberg
of Forbes, the sneaker market is
expected to be worth about “$95.14
billion by 2025.” Resell websites are
a major contributor to the sneaker
market. Popular culture is another
large influence. In 2015, Rapper
Eminem did a collaboration with
Jordan to make his own shoe. There
were only ten of these shoes made in
the world. The Eminem X Carhartt X
Jordan 4 is listed as high as $45,000.
It is unbelievable that people would
pay so much money for a pair of
shoes. Yet, that is just how the shoe
game works. Many athletes, rappers
and celebrities have collaborated

KI
with sneaker brands such as Travis
Scott, Pharrell, Cardi B and Tyler the
Creator.
So how do people get access to
such rare sneakers? The answer is
sneaker dealers. One of the most
famous sneaker dealers is 21-yearold
Benjamin Kickz. Benjamin had
always loved sneakers and he started
selling them at the age of 15. He
sells to world-renowned celebrities
like DJ Khaled, who was the first
celebrity to buy shoes from him.
Sneakers are something that is
relevant in Black culture. We can
see this from Will Smith rocking
different types of Jordans on
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to
documentaries about the growing
number of shoe fanatics called
sneakerheads. Sneakers are a way
for people to express themselves.
Sneakers can also be a way to
connect people all around the world
regardless of race. Because let’s
face it, cool sneakers are attention
grabbers and sometimes even
conversation starters.
12

KENYA HARRIS
BATTLE OF THE BALLOT
13
Freedom and justice cannot be parceled
out in pieces to suit political convenience. I
don’t believe you can stand for freedom for
one group of people and deny it to others.
- Coretta Scott King
The United States was founded
on principles of democracy and
anti-monarchist ideology. So,
it is ironic that a country built
‘for the people’ has a longer
history supporting rhetoric
that only gives power to the
few. Alas, the fight for voting
rights has been a recurring issue
throughout American historyand
elitist ideology, hegemonic
patriarchical structuring and
white supremacist doctrine
are the guiding principles for
restricting access to voting. This
is voter suppression, and its past
is extensive.
IN THE BEGINNING
After much debate about whether
or not the pool of eligible voters
should be expanded in 1787, the
Founding Fathers turned the
issue over to the states’ discretion.
Article One, Section Four of the
Constitution states that: “The
Times, Places and Manner of
holding Elections for Senators
and Representatives, shall be
prescribed in each State by the
Legislature thereof; but the
Congress may at any time by Law
make or alter such Regulations.”
This seemingly harmless passage
gave way to horrific unintended
consequences that would
continue into the 21st century.
This laissez-faire attitude gives
states the power to invoke
exclusionary legislation that
denies citizens access to voting
through the guise of protection.
Furthermore, the repercussions
of this language perpetuate the
divorcing of citizenship and its
ties to voting rights.
The aftermath of this clause
would prove to be horrendous. By
1800, each state in the union took
legal action to reinforce systemic
racism by disenfranchising Black
people. Some states officially
documented a white-only policy.
In 1802, every state except Maine
adopted legislation banning
Black people from voting. New
Jersey’s previous declaration that
gave voting rights to all citizens
of the state, made changes to
exclude women and Black men.
Maryland even banned Jewish
people from voting until 1828,
and Native Americans would not
be considered as citizens for
another century.
These instances of voter
suppression were analyzed
further during the period
after the Civil War and the
Reconstruction Amendmentswhich
included the 13th, 14th,
and 15th amendments- ensured
the freedom and protection
of civil rights of all formerly
enslaved people— or they were
supposed to. The reaction to these
amendments across the nation was
one of ridicule. At this time, Black
political participation increased at
an astronomical rate all across the
South, so much so, that the Black
voter registration rate surpassed
white populations’ voter registration
rate in Louisiana, South Carolina
and Mississippi. Over 700,000 Black
people voted in the 1868 election,
according to the 2018 statutory
report “An Assessment of Minority
Voting Rights.” This led to many
multiracial governments all over the
south and particularly Mississippi,
where two Black senators were
elected. The growing political
influence of the Black community
was met with an intimidation
campaign from white politicians
and citizens alike that demolished
any control or political influence
Black people obtained. After power
was ceased, white Democrats held a
state convention where they openly
admitted to trying to find ways to
get around the 15th amendment.
A few years after this instance, the
Compromise of 1877 pulled federal
troops out of southern states,
diminishing any accountability to
conform to the new amendments.
THE SOCIAL DEATH
Their circumventing actions
experimented with possible factors
that would make Black voters
ineligible and resulted in the creation
of a poll tax and a literacy test. These
tools were successful obstructions
that by 1892 would drastically reduce
the amount of qualified Black voters

in Mississippi from 90 percent to
6 percent. Mississippi established
a precedent that many southern
states would quickly follow by
adopting their own versions of
restrictive laws, known as Jim
Crow laws. This code combined
with racial violence continued for
another 70 years.
By the 1960s, citizens all over the
country would have participated in
persistent protests for more than
a decade. Non-violent protests
were confronted frequently with
murderous violence that was
televised globally. The general
public was appalled and the federal
government would be forced
to ratify the 24th amendment,
forbidding poll tax. A year later,
the Voting Rights Act prohibited
the residual tactics that reinforced
voter suppression and the act
established federal oversight over
areas that had a history of voter
discrimination. More policies
would be produced to ensure the
protection of voting rights- but to
no avail. Federal oversight had less
agency to hold states accountable,
and after party realignment
occurred, many states instituted
new restrictions— except this time
they offered less transparency like
in the past, and instead have coded
the language so much so that it
seems to mitigate election fraud.
This is where dog whistle politics
began to rear its ugly head.
CODED LANGUAGE
TODAY
The power of the federal oversight
clause of the Voting Rights Act
was reduced in 2013 by the U.S.
Supreme Court which would
have intervened with the voter
registration regulations. These
states with majority republican
legislatures, created a variety of
qualifications including having
tangible identification or proof of
citizenship, frequently purging
lists of inactive names from
registration polls, shortening
voting periods of time, and
limiting access to absentee
ballots and mail in voting. Sound
familiar yet?
Although Trump believes
mail-in voting will increase
voter fraud and advantage
Democrats, Stanford University
researchers have released The
Neutral Partisan Effects of Voteby-Mail
assessment that asserts
there is no partisan advantage
for either party. Furthermore,
even after being told by many
experts that election fraud in the
U.S. is rare, Trump established
the Presidential Advisory
Commission on Election Integrity
to investigate voter fraud which
was disbanded in 2018 after they
found no evidence to support any
claim to election fraud. Trump’s
opposition to additional funding
for the USPS proved problematic
when the COVID-19 pandemic
hit the U.S. The postal service
company was not given any
funding in the original stimulus
bill text and their bailout request
was rejected by the White House.
Shutting down operations was
beginning to look like reality.
Because of the pandemic, many
states have changed their
procedure for absentee ballots,
so more citizens can mail in their
vote. Without the USPS, this could
severely limit access to voting on
a national level.
Even with all of this information,
it begs the question if any
form of restrictive laws are
interconnected with voter
suppression. The Assessment
of Minority Voting Rights
Access comprehensive report
would answer yes and that these
laws “have a disparate impact
on voters of color and poor
citizens.” The study goes on to
critique voter identification laws
as placing an undue burden on
citizens by requiring them to
pay fees in order to obtain these
credentials. This is supported
by the correlation of states with
voter identification laws also
having an increased gap between
white and minority voters. The
report also investigates the
reduction of early voting and how
it creates long waiting periods
that directly limit minority
citizen’s access to the polls.
This coupled with the closing
of polling stations in areas that
have higher minority populations
is suspect. Think about how
Georgia’s 2018 gubernatorial race
between Stacey Abrams and Brian
Kemp made headlines everyday.
It was a disastrous display of
voter suppression with a bus full
of Black senior citizens being
blocked from voting, as one of
the most incredulous instances.
Brian Kemp was able to use his
position of Secretary of State to
enact last minute regulations that
suppressed Georgian votes, thus
securing his victory. The Minority
Voting Rights Access report
urges the U.S. Congress to restore
the federal oversight clause to
the Voting Rights Act. Seeing as
“racial discrimination in voting
has been a particularly pernicious
and enduring American problem.”
It is safe to say that voting rights
will continue to be an ongoing
issue. Although legislation may
aid in the protection of these
rights, the persistent nature
of systemic racism and white
supremacy will continue to
morph into legislation and legal
doctrine that are conceptually
unrecognizable, but produce the
same outcome where minorities
are exploited.
14

15
LIFESTYLE

JASMINE HOLLIE
MIDTERMS IN THE MIDST OF MADNESS
College may look different to
many students due to the recent
pandemic and social distancing. At
the University of Alabama, students
were given the options of remote
learning and in-person classes.
Some students returned to campus,
while many others opted for remote
learning instead. Incoming freshmen
were introduced to a slightly
different first year experience at the
University this Fall. In addition to the
pandemic, midterm exams could also
add to the stress many students are
experiencing this semester. However,
a few upperclassmen and staff were
willing to share some encouragement
as well as a few study tips.
“Something that has helped me
tremendously with big exams this
semester is being a part of a class
GroupMe,” said UA senior Taylan
Prewitt. “Planning ahead and making
certain days, study days also helps.”
Prewitt, a psychology major, is
currently taking online classes
to finish up her journey at the
University. She is expected to
graduate in December and said she’s
just now getting adjusted to changes
on campus due to the pandemic.
According to Prewitt, the most
challenging aspect of taking classes
online is that it appears to be more
reading assignments and work than
usual.
Dr. Vesey, assistant professor of
journalism and creative media,
has also been trying to adjust to
the sudden changes on campus.
As a fourth year educator at the
University, Dr. Vesey said she hasn’t
been specifically trained to teach
remotely. This aspect has presented
challenges for many professors and
students as they try to adapt to the
“new normal”.
“I’ve been teaching for almost a
decade in higher education and I don’t
know how to do this,” said Dr. Vesey.
“As much as we try to be adaptive and
flexible, it’s hard.”
Though challenging, Dr. Vesey tries
to make the curriculum as easy
and painless for her students as
possible. She said she uploads all of
her assignments and material on
Blackboard ahead of time. That way,
students can review the material early
and ask questions if needed. She also
said she prefers to teach in person
because it can be more beneficial for
students.
The biggest advice Dr. Vesey has
for students preparing for exams
consists of taking detailed notes,
using study guides and forming
study groups. Though GroupMe
is popular amongst many college
students and organizations, Dr. Vesey
said she doesn’t recommend the app
for forming study groups with other
classmates. According to Dr. Vesey,
there has been an issue of students
sharing test answers through the
app, which will result in disciplinary
action.
Marcellus Taylor, a junior at the
University, said he likes to use
flashcards and advises students to
review their course material each
night in preparation for big exams.
Taylor, an engineering major, also
said he likes to work ahead and avoid
cramming as much as possible.
Angel Wynn is a senior majoring in
operations management and finance.
To prepare for exams, Wynn said
she likes to make her own study
guides and use the popular study
tool Quizlet. According to Wynn,
adjusting to remote learning and
life on campus during a pandemic
requires a lot of discipline.
“It’s extremely difficult with
everything that’s going on,” said
Wynn. “I really haven’t gotten back
into the swing of things honestly.”
Dr. Vesey is very mindful of how social
distancing and remote learning also
affect some of her freshmen students.
According to Dr. Vesey, teaching
freshmen requires order and
organization to help them transition
from high school to college.
“This is probably not what they
expected their first year of college
to be like,” said Dr. Vesey. “So much
of that first year of college is about
finding your friends and community.”
Prewitt is also considerate of how
the recent changes at the University
could affect freshmen just as much
as upperclassmen. She then provided
some encouraging words for students
trying to navigate college life during
these troubling times.
“I’m sorry your freshman year looks
different and isn’t what you planned,
we’ll get through this and hopefully
things will go back to normal soon,”
said Prewitt. “For now, stay mentally
healthy and take advantage of some
of the things that have been made
easier due to the pandemic.”
16

THE MELANIN MARKETPLACE: LOCAL BLACK BUSINESSES RUN BY STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY
HAIR BY ZARI
WHAT
Hair by Zari provides natural hair care
services for women of color. We focus on
college students and young women in efforts
to enlighten them of the beauty and potential
of their natural hair. We only provide natural
services to ensure that everyone is getting
undivided attention to progress to optimally
healthy hair. A few of those services include
silk press, protective styles such as two-strand
twists, and braid-outs. Clients can request a
deep scalp massage after coming down from
a wig or braids to replenish moisture. One
of our most requested services is Vitamin
Treatment. The Vitamin Treatment is a handmade,
intensive hair repair treatment mixed
with essential oils and hair cuticle fortifiers
to stop breakage and seal those brittle ends.”
WHEN
WHO
Tazari Woodmore, a senior from Southern
California majoring in Spanish with a studentdesigned
minor in Health Care Management
and a cultural background focus.
“I started to realize that all of these Black
girls at UA have a TON of hair, they just don’t
know what to do with it. I decided to provide
consistent services to help put my client in
the right mindset to learn about and maintain
their locks.”
WHY
“Most of us grew up getting consistent perms
and braids and presses as we were always
taught to tame it, put it up, or “make it look
decent”. I wore weaves from the time I was
about 10 years old until my sophomore year at
UA before I knew that my hair could actually
curl. And don’t get me wrong, I love my
wigs and weaves. But the way you feel when
you’re comfortable in your own crown is a
different type of confidence that a lot of Black
women are simply missing out on. So when I
experienced this new/ OG version of myself,
I felt obligated to bring anyone I can up to
this elevated level of self-confidence. I wanted
to start this business to show my sisters that
the very hair that comes out of their heads is
beautiful and can be maintained and grown
with patience, love, and faith. God blessed my
hands to make people feel good. So as he gave
to me, I will give unto others.”
HAIRBY_ZARI
17
CAL BLACK BUSINESSES RUN BY STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.
THE MELANIN M

OF ALABAMA.
THE MELANIN MARKETPLACE: LOCAL BLACK BUSINESSES RUN BY STUDENTS AT
K. T. D. A.
KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE
WHO
Cameron Urquhart, a graduate with a degree
in General Studies from Detroit, Michigan.
WHAT
“KTDA is a brand for everyone. We all have
dream[s] and goals that we wish to achieve,
some big, some small. However, our apparel
reflects the concept of perspective- it doesn’t
matter what that dream or goal is, it’s yours;
more importantly, it doesn’t matter what
anybody thinks or sees -reason for [the logo]
being upside down. So our brand is focused
solely on the development of the dreamer and
bringing that dream to reality via providing
goal setting tips, online mentoring, and much
more.”
WHEN
“Never decided that I wanted to start this
honestly. It honestly just happened and I’m
blessed to be that inspiration to people that
have purchased any of our clothing.”
THEKTDAWAY
WHY
“I’ve been saying KTDA since 2016. I’m
introverted deep down and, for those that
knew me throughout school, I was known for
my Snapchat posts. I’d constantly post these
“Nature” posts or KTDA in the early mornings
before a workout. In 2013, during high school,
I was diagnosed with a heart condition that
prevented me from ever playing sports again.
If you’re an athlete reading this or know of
any, just imagine being told you can’t play
anymore during junior/senior year of your
sport. The pain was indescribable. All I could
do was cry, at the time, but I soon realized that
life moves on. I was prescribed two pills to take
once a day and limited to only a brisk walk for
physical activity which killed me inside. Even
though the doctor didn’t approve, I’d still find
myself lifting light weights with my grandpa,
throwing, running, etc. because I knew/
felt fine- this condition was a major during
the time of athletes losing consciousness
and dying practices. Nonetheless, there was
something in me to keep going. The following
year I went for my checkup and the doctor had
me repeat the same tests over and over again
as if something was wrong. He said, I literally
could count on one hand how many people I’ve
let continue to play sports after first being
diagnosed with the condition- he let me back
into sports. So if you’re ever wondering why
KTDA is what it is today, it’s because of that
reason. I never gave up, I never laid down,
I never stopped believing I could come back
from this. So I stress to everyone that no
matter what you’re going through, that storm
will eventually pass but it’s up to [you] [to]
keep that dream alive, whatever it may be. You
owe it to yourself.“
18
ARKETPLACE: LOCAL BLACK BUSINESSES RUN BY STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.
THE MELANIN MARKETPLACE: LOCAL BLACK BUSINESSES RUN
I AM.
WHO
Amber Evans, graduate with a BSW in Social
Work from West Point, Georgia who currently
resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
WHAT
“Each shirt has a daily reminder of who the
Great I AM. is and what He can do. I design
socks, shirts, and bags. You choose your
favorite colors and styles to purchase.”
WHEN
“I was in a city year meeting with my other
corp members listening to them share their
stories. One person shared how they started
to dream bigger despite their circumstance
and I knew then I needed to do the same. So
I started searching for ways to put my dreams
into action.”
WHY
I started my personal relationship with God
about a year ago during a really tough time
in my life. I was really sad and I felt alone
despite being surrounded by people, smiling
on the outside but crying and stressed on the
inside. Church changed that for me and I feel
whole now. After graduating I moved to Tulsa,
Oklahoma as a part of City Year attempts to
provide services for public schools. I wanted
students to keep pushing for their goals. I
still felt like I wasn’t doing enough in life so
I started to put every idea I’ve ever had to
motion starting with the I AM. brand because
God is the one who has turned my life around
and I just want to share it with everyone who
may be where I was once before. Young lives
ending and or being taken right near me and
seeing it affect my friends and community. I
have to live for the ones who couldn’t fulfill
their dreams. I don’t want there to be one
dream that I didn’t at least try to achieve.”
CRAZYFAITH_IAM
19
THE MELANIN MARKETPLACE: LOCAL BLACK BUSINESSES RUN BY STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSIT

BY STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.
THE MELANIN MARKETPLACE: LOCAL BLACK
LI’SHUNTE
WHO
Leah McGruder, a senior majoring in Criminal
Justice and minoring in Spanish from
Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
WHAT
“I am a braider and looking to get my
cosmetology license one day. I sell clothes and
accessories while learning about trading. My
brand is about growth and having multiple
streams of income. I want to break the cycle of
feeling as if active income is the only income
we need.”
WHEN
“I have always wanted to start a business since
I got into the 9 to 5 world. The experience
helped me grow but I realized it was not for
me mentally, emotionally, and physically. After
my untimely departure from my last job in
January 2020, I took a leap of faith and decided
to start building my business!”
WHY
“My why is that I want to make a difference
for my new little family. I’m bringing my son
into this world soon and I want him to be well
taken care of. I push because I don’t want to
go back to the life that didn’t care for me as
much as I cared for it. It takes time and it is
molding me into a better person personally
and business-wise.”
LISHUNTE
20
Y OF ALABAMA.
THE MELANIN MARKETPLACE: LOCAL BLACK BUSINESSES RUN BY STUDENTS A

21
FEATURES

When you think of Birmingham,
Alabama there are a few things that
initially come to mind: the civil
rights movement, football, music
or maybe even crime. Regardless of
what springs to mind first, the last
thing people typically think of is
technology. Niesha White is shifting
that culture with Birmingham Black
Techies.
Niesha White is currently a frontend
web developer at Altech LLC
in Birmingham, Alabama. In late
2019, White began Birmingham
Black Techies as a Facebook group
to connect with more African
Americans involved with technology
in and around the Birmingham area.
“I’m like I know there are Black
people in tech here. There are a lot
of Black people in Birmingham, so I
know there are Black people in tech
here, but I don’t know any of them
except for the people from my job,”
White said. As a native of Dothan,
Alabama, White said she believed
it was more difficult for her to find
African Americans in the field of
technology because she didn’t know
where to look in Birmingham.
“I think if I had been from
Birmingham, it wouldn’t have been
so tough, I would’ve known where to
look,” White said.
The 28-year-old got her start in
technology a bit unexpectedly.
After two universities and three
majors, White discovered her love
for technology. “First of all, I started
at UAB [University of Alabama at
Birmingham] and I was a broadcast
journalism major. Then I moved
to Troy, because it was closer to
home and it was just a lot cheaper,”
White said. At Troy University,
White changed her major to music,
then graphic design and ultimately
computer science. “At that point I
switched to a music major, because
I’ve always loved music and I
wanted to get into management and
songwriting and publishing... Also,
technology because I was interested
in the production too,” White said.
Once White switched her major
to graphic design, her passion in
technology began to “click”. White
realized music, graphic design,
and art in general have a common
denominator, technology. By this
time, she discovered her love for
computers, web design and web
development. In addition, White
had more responsibilities which
led to her working as a bank teller
while earning her computer
science degree online.
White traces her background with
HyperText Markup Language,
better known as HTML, and web
design to her middle school and
high school days. Like most teens
during this time period, White
played around with Myspace and
Tumblr. “At that time, I didn’t
really consider it coding, it was
just fun making a website look
different and look cool,” White
said.
White has many plans for
Birmingham Black Techies. She
intends for Birmingham Black
Techies to provide mentorship
to young African Americans
in Birmingham that share the
same interest she had at a young
age. She wants this to become
the platform that local African
Americans in technology use to
support each other while climbing
the ladder of professional success.
White believes Birmingham is
“on the come up” in regards to
technology and she doesn’t want
African Americans to be caught
off guard or left behind. “I feel
like people don’t realize how
up and coming our tech scene
is. Which is why I think
Birmingham Black Techies is
really important right now,
because we want to be a
part of what’s happening,”
White said.
This past February, Apple
CEO Tim Cook paid
Birmingham a visit. Cook
announced that Apple
will be partnering with
JOSEPH KING
BIRMINGHAM
BLACK
TECHIES
22

Education Farm, an initiative to improve learning and
teaching through technology. This partnership will be
an extension of Apple’s Everyone Can Code program.
“I think Apple coming down here is just the beginning,
because people follow suit. They see that kind of stuff
happening, then they’ll pay attention to what we are
doing and that there is a lot going on here,” White said.
Technology is not limited to coding. There are multiple
aspects of the tech scene and White wants to emphasize
that, “I want people to know that being in tech doesn’t
mean you have to code. That’s one small part of
technology. You can be a product manager, you can be a
scroll master, you can go into management,” White said.
Although the numbers are relatively small now, White
believes Birmingham Black Techies has the potential to
grow into something more. Not ignorant to the difficult
conditions of 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, White is
aware of the difficulty in maintaining the momentum an
organization in its early stages faces. Birmingham Black
Techies gained some momentum earlier this year, but
will they be able to keep that up moving into the next
year?
“I don’t have a solid community yet, so it’s like if I don’t
get it together people’s momentum will go away,” White
said.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of Birmingham
Black Techies seems bright. Due to the limited in person
contact and the emergence of Zoom calls, people in the
United States are at home with not much to do. This
allows the opportunity for people in technology to be
more engaged and social since everyone is online during
the pandemic. “Socializing, of course, it’s been easier I
think now since we’re doing everything online,” White
said.
Although socialization is an important aspect of
Birmingham Black Techies, White doesn’t want to
limit Birmingham Black Techies to social meet ups and
curated Spotify playlists. White intends for the meet up
group to host different webinars, workshops and provide
a space for networking and presentations, “We are very
much in the stages of giving out surveys and finding
out what people want. So far, they do want networking
opportunities, they do want peer presentations, but
they also want workshops,” White said.
23

JASMINE HOLLIE
The much anticipated
2020 Presidential
Election takes place
on November 3rd.
Leaders and activists
across the country
are encouraging U.S.
citizens to exercise their
Right to Vote. Due to social
distancing requirements,
absentee ballots and early
voting have become the
voting method of choice for many
citizens. However, voters still
have the option to vote in person
at their local polling destinations.
Georgia native and UA alumna
Teryn Shipman is an example of a
young activist working tirelessly
to make sure all voices are heard
this election.
“As an organizer and someone
who is extremely passionate about
voting rights, voter
disenfranchisement and the
power of youth voices, I want to
encourage every person I can to
vote” said Shipman. “I don’t want
folks just to vote because it’s
something we were told to do, but
I want us to vote so that we can be
the ones making decisions about
our lives and the lives of those
around us.”
Shipman, 23 currently serves as
the Georgia State Coordinator
for Rock The Vote. She joined
the non-profit organization
as an ambassador in February
2020. Along with Rock The Vote,
Shipman takes part in other
national and local organizations
such as Woke Vote, When We All
Vote and many others. Through
her partnerships and leadership
positions, Shipman has been
able to use her voice to promote
voter registration, civil rights,
transgender equality and other
important matters. As an attempt
to create a diverse and inclusive
space, Shipman said she makes it
a practice to include voices and
stories that are often left out.
“We can no longer just vote for folks
because we were told they were a
good candidate or because they
are in the same social and political
groups as us,” said Shipman. “We
have to dig deeper and only elect
folks who have our best interests at
heart.”
Social media allows influencers and
activists to draw more attention
to the causes and issues they’re
passionate about. Shipman has
found a way to express all of her
passions through her personal blog,
“For Black Girls Who Have A Lot
To Say,” which she created in 2019.
Shipman describes her platform
as a “Black girl blog” that is open
to everyone regardless of race or
gender. According to Shipman, “For
Black Girls” centers the stories and
experiences of minorities as well
as individuals who are part of the
LGBTQ+ community.
Marissa Navarro is also an alumna
of The University of Alabama
and currently serves as a Brand
Ambassador for Shipman’s blog.
Navarro said she joined “For Black
Girls” to ensure that young Black
and Brown people have the resources
needed to improve themselves
and their communities. Navarro
resides in Washington, D.C. and
often spends her time working with
different campaigns like VotoLatino
and the Working Families Party.
“Democracy needs your voices,” said
Navarro.
“For Black Girls” has several
ambassadors like Navarro across
the country. Each ambassador has
a hand in helping audiences stay
connected, as well as becoming
enlightened and informed voters.
Shipman encourages everyone
who plans on voting in the 2020
Presidential Election to have a set
plan. Whether you’re voting in
person or by an absentee ballot, it’s
important that you fill out the ballot
carefully and correctly.
24

25
EXPERIENCES

ASHLEE WOODS
RECREATING THE PATH:
THE PLIGHT, PATH AND PROGRESSION OF BLACK MEN
Black men in the United States face a
unique set of issues in life. The path
to success for Black men is thwarted
by a multitude of obstacles, ranging
from racial profiling to the lack of
education resources.“The Plight, Path
and Progression of Black Men” was a
seminar held by the Black Faculty and
Staff Association (BFSA).
“The Plight, Path, and Progression
of Black Men” was just one webinar
in a series of programs the BFSA has
facilitated since the start of March.
The discussion was led by Pastor Kris
Erskine and Dr. Chance Lewis, coauthors
of the book “The Dilemmas
of Being an African American
Male in the New Millennium.” The
book highlights several issues and
solutions to help aid Black men in
the United States. When recreating
the path of a better life in the United
States, Pastor Erskine discussed
the separation of Black males from
their families and communities.
Erkskine first stated that the typical
household changed after the Baby
Boomer generation, mentioning how
it slowly became more normal for
there to be single-parent households.
Erksine continued stating how the
government also pushed for the
separation of Black families, through
tactics like higher incarceration
rates.
“You have a government that has
perpetuated the removal of the
Black male from the house and the
community,” Erskine said.
Erskine continued to say that removal
of Black men from their homes has
torn the fabric of Black communities.
Young Black men have less positive
male figures in their life to give them
support and uplift them. Many of
them eventually surround themselves
with groups of men that directly
inhibit their success.
“Your associations will also give you
assimilations. It will always assign
you to a lane of life,” Erskine said.
We must work to change those
preconceived notions. In turn,
families can be put back together
in the Black community and
relationships damaged by systemic
separation can start to rekindle.
Although the repairing of
relationships are important, many
of the monetary and career related
issues Black males face stem from
inequalities in education. This
country values the pursuit of higher
education and a profitable career, yet
Black males face several roadblocks
in gaining access to quality higher
26

education. Dr. Chance Lewis discusses
the problem of Black men being
taught by high school teachers who
lack degrees in the subject they are
teaching. According to the data from
the National Urban League Dr. Lewis
used, 21.9% of Black men are taught by
teachers that have not been educated
at the collegiate level in the subject
they are teaching.
“We tell students ‘go to school, pay
attention, get a good education’ but
look at what’s happening,” Lewis said.
Black men are also at a disadvantage
because they are being taught by
teachers with limited in-classroom
experience. Black men are expected to
reach the highest levels of education
available in this country with a lack
of quality educators supporting
them. Black men cannot reach their
educational goals nor have a chance at
a higher level of income because the
system set in place constantly gives
them obstacles nearly impossible to
overcome by pushing the goal line
further away.
What are the next steps? How can the
community around our Black men
step up and support them? Dr. Lewis
listed several different solutions
that people can use to recreate the
path of a successful life for Black
men in the United States, one being
the enhancement of the Black man’s
experience during college while
ensuring graduation.
“I’m willing to bet and I’m pretty sure
you know what I mean when I say this,
every Black male at the University of
Alabama does not have the same kind
of experience,” Lewis said.
Lewis said the University of Alabama
should focus on ensuring Black men
receive the support they deserve.
With the problems these Black men
had to face in order to reach a fouryear
university, the University has
a responsibility to prepare them
for success and not be a hindrance.
How can the University of Alabama
and the people connected to it use
its resources to change the outlook
of a Black man’s experience at the
University? Dr. Lewis challenged UA
students and faculty attending the
event to keep this in mind.
While the experience for Black men
on campus is important, their view of
the school before becoming a student
is vital as well. One of the solutions
Dr. Erskine gives is exposing Black
males to daily life as a college student.
“Why don’t we walk them through
what it looks like to be a student
at the University? What is the real
campus like, the rigor on the day to
day basis?” Erskine said.
Once our Black men see the campus
outside of any extracurricular
activities, they can begin to forge
their path to success at a university.
This exposure to campus allows them
to form their own ideas and thoughts
about a four-year university without
outside influence.
Throughout this discussion, both
Dr. Lewis and Dr. Erskine centered
their arguments around the fabric of
community. Specifically, the role the
Black community and people outside
of it has in ensuring that Black males
are afforded the same opportunities
as others. Black men cannot do this
alone. They are not given the support
or resources to fight the systems
holding them down by themselves,
nor should they have to. Through the
Black community working together to
recognize the issues Black men face,
having discussions about them and
working together to solve the issues,
we create a better and more equitable
system. This makes it possible for
Black men to progress freely in life
and choose their rightful path to
success.
27

28

R A C H E L P A R K E R
29
The year 2020 will easily go down
in history as one to remember.
With a pandemic, sudden losses
of celebrities and an ongoing
racial reckoning, living through
this time places us in the shoes of
elders recounting history from our
viewpoint. However, more important
than the stories are the actions that
have been taken to actively deal
with the issues of racism and hate.
Actions such as the OneUA campaign
which is developed and organized by
the University of Alabama Student
Government Association. OneUA
took place from Sept. 21st to Sept.
25th with different events scheduled
each day to represent the message of
inclusion. SGA Deputy Chief of Staff,
Trinity Hunter wrote “How to Be an
Effective and True Ally” as part of
this message.
Hunter, a sophomore majoring in
Public Relations, says the idea for
the letter, “How to Be an Effective
and True Ally,” came to her after
the summer events involving the
murder of George Floyd. Chief of
Staff Catherine Hayes knew about
the letter and asked Hunter if she’d
be interested in the letter being
used for OneUA. The inclusion of the
letter proved beneficial for friends
and individuals who wanted to help
but weren’t sure about where to
begin. For them, the letter served as
a stepping stone. “Here’s what you
need to do for me to be my friend, to
be my support system during times
like these when my community is
hurting,” says Hunter.
Building upon the steps listed in the
letter and enacting them, Hunter
noticed friends along with members
of the UA community actively trying
to engage and learn. “They’ve taken
the appropriate steps to learn things
themselves, but they’ve also asked
me for advice on some things they
don’t know, and they say, “Okay, I’ve
read about it. I’m getting a better
understanding of the issue. Do you
mind helping me with making this
decision or helping me address this
specific situation?” This behavior
illustrates the steps to amplify and
magnify the voices of students of color
and not treat them or their emotions
as afterthoughts by speaking over
them or lumping them together
as a monolith with the exact same
thoughts and needs. Acknowledging
the varying responses and feelings
among students of color, specifically
Black students, allows people to learn
about their inherent differences as
Hunter previously said.

“And I think that is one of the best
ways to amplify my voice personally
to make me feel celebrated as a Black
woman. Is them valuing my opinion in
areas where I would have a different
level of expertise than they would
ever be able to reach, no matter how
much they read, no matter how much
they go through, just from the sole
factor of my skin color.”
Emphasis upon one’s skin color
was showcased through the choice
for a movie during the OneUA
campaign. “The Hate U Give,” a 2018
film focusing on police brutality,
was shown on Sept. 22nd. The film
struck a nerve with its audience by
showing, through a fictional story,
the real-life occurrences and effects
of police brutality on the Black
community. With the recent crimes
of police brutality against George
Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland
and countless others, this issue could
no longer be swept under the rug
and kept out of sight. “We truly saw
a lot of people wanting to become
allies. A lot of people are starting to
want to learn about police brutality,
specifically as it affects Black people,”
said Hunter.
With this campaign and the ongoing
work to understand current racial
issues, it may seem that racial tensions
are being resolved, but this racial
wound cannot be healed so quickly.
These wounds are much deeper and
long-lasting as stated by Hunter,
“Racism is not just somebody being
murdered. It’s not just lynchings that
happened years and years ago in the
last century. It is everything that you
are doing today. It’s the system that
we’re living in.”
A systemically racist environment
is still prevalent in office and
campus cultures, shown through the
interruption of a Black colleague or
the minimization of a Black friend’s
emotions about an uncomfortable
incident. Systemic racism continues
the cycle of silencing Black voices
and minority students’ voices.
Overlooking people of color and their
experiences becomes commonplace
unless they stand out through their
own merit, such as through athletics
and/or entertainment. This platform
of exceptionalism grants them
the ability to have their issues and
concerns acknowledged and listened
to. Value is placed upon them and
their wants that is not granted to all
people of color, a sentiment shared
by Hunter from past comments she
has heard.
“Oh, my gosh, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj,
you know, Viola Davis, Whitney
Houston, Mariah Carey. All these
women are so strong, so great. But
then you’re not allowing the Black
woman in your life to speak, then what
are you truly doing for us? Or when
you are saying Roll Tide at football
games or at a basketball game and
you are cheering for all these Black
bodies on the court [and] on the field.
What are you doing for the Black men
in your life?” Hunter said.
Advocating for people of color,
specifically Black people in your
life, is a delicate issue and must be
handled with care. Otherwise, wellintentioned
help or recognition can
be perceived as self-serving. “Being
an ally versus being a savior is a
fine line to walk and you never want
people to go into the savior portion,”
said Hunter. Worrying more about
appearances and reputation should
never be more important than
actually working towards equality
because the truth is that the work
being done is messy and hard but
vital for generations to come.
“And so if you kind of look at the
microcosm of the University of
Alabama. It’s not perfect. And I’m
not sure if anything is ever going
to be perfect. But, if we just remain
stagnant in the fact that it isn’t
perfect, we aren’t going to grow and
we aren’t going to be able to make
a better life for the people who are
coming after us. We have come so far,
we’re right here. We’re not taking a
victory lap, because we still have so
far to go. But the only way that we can
get to that point is if we all commit
to understanding that growth
is not easy. Growth is not linear,
growth takes time. It takes awkward
conversations. It takes frustration. It
takes butting heads. It takes differing
opinions.”
30

JASMINE HOLLIE
UNIQUE STUDENTS
ON CAMPUS
Hatcher. The Hoover native is a
senior majoring in musical theatre
and criminal justice. For his senior
project, Hatcher decided to create a
Talk Series titled, “This is My Story,”
which creates a space where Black
people can open up about their
personal stories and experiences.
The series will feature a variety of
guests and strives to help break
down stereotypes within the Black
community. Hatcher said this special
project has been in the works for a
while. Also, it was created with the
intent to help break barriers between
the media’s portrayal of Black people
and the truth.
“I found that conversations can end
stereotypes and bring a sense of
empathy to the Black experience,”
said Hatcher.
31
The University of Alabama is filled
with talented and gifted students
ranging from athletics, arts, beauty
and politics. Christian Hatcher and
Elissa Nation are just a few examples
of the many extraordinary students
that exist within the UA student
body. Quarantine and recent cultural
events have inspired these students
to discover new passions as well as
perfect older ones.
Nation, a sophomore majoring in
political science, is the CEO of her
own charm bracelet business named
A Nation’s Charm. What started
off as just a fun hobby for Nation
quickly blossomed into a successful
brand. However, A Nation’s Charm is
not limited to just charm bracelets.
There are also necklaces, anklets,
purses and many other items. Nation
said she hopes to continue expanding
her business in the future.
“I started making bracelets in high
school and began selling them to
my friends,” said Nation. “Everyone
started encouraging me to take it
more seriously my second semester
at UA, so I did
and it only went
up from there.”
Nation is very involved on campus.
A few of her organizations and
leadership roles include: Al’s Pals,
Women of Excellence, Ignite and
several others. She is also a part of over
five different honor societies. Nation
said starting your own business can
be challenging because it takes a lot
of time and money. However, Nation
also said making her bracelets is often
therapeutic and her friends keep her
motivated during stressful times. So,
what should other aspiring students
do if they have hopes of starting a
business? Persistence, patience and
self-encouragement is key.
“Do your research, save your money
and believe in yourself. Take the
leap,” said Nation. “You should be
your biggest investment. It’s also
better to work for yourself than for
anyone else.”
Another gifted student at the
University of Alabama is Christian
Hatcher said the inspiration behind
“This is My Story” as well as other
creative projects comes from
growing up in a neighborhood and
attending a school that were both
predominantly white. According
to Hatcher, his experience in and
outside of school made him realize
how ignorant some white people
were to the experiences and lives of
their Black peers.
“I personally believe that most people
aren’t racist, but ignorant,” said
Hatcher. “When people watch the
show; if it helps to touch someone
or change the attitude and values of
just one person, I’d consider that a
success.”
Hatcher said his main goal is to
create a database where Black people
can share their stories and also learn
about the experiences of their peers.
Hatcher described his talk series as
an educational tool for both Black and
non-Black people. Eventually, he plans
to branch out and feature other races
on the show, but for now it focuses on
Black stories. As far as guest speakers
for the show, Hatcher said he wants
to interview “interesting people with
interesting stories.”

HALLOWED GROUNDS
A visual presentation of the Hallowed Grounds tour composed of photos
and videos by Nineteen Fifty-Six Magazine.
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