Nineteen Fifty-Six Vol. 5 Issue 1 Folks

FALL 2024
Folks

On the cover: Tremeria Jackson, Erin Simmons, Lyric Talley, Lauryn Burks, Rihanna Pointer, Samantha White, Jasmyn Walden, Torian
Thompson, Valentina Mora, Julia Dominguez and Charles Adams III.
Photo by Xavier Routt

Dear
Black
Students,
You do matter.
As of Fall 2024, 13.9% of students on campus identified as Black or
African American. Black students are disproportionately underrepresented
in various areas on campus and their numerous achievements and talents
deserve to be recognized.
Nineteen Fifty-Six is a Black student-led magazine that amplifies
Black voices within the University of Alabama’s 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 wellrounded
citizens.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 3

Editor-in-chief
Managing editor
Writing editor
Asst. writing editor
Asst. writing editor
Photo editor
Asst. photo editor
Asst. photo editor
Engagement editor
Asst. engagement editor
Public relations manager
Exec. multimedia producer
Lead stylist
Contributing writers
Elise Bates, Gabrielle Chukwu, Jazmyne
Isaac, Trinity Jenkins, Raven Johnson, Kay
Maxwell, Kamari McIver, Nnenna Nwannunu,
Arianna Pope, Kristen Taylor, Andrea Tinker,
Heaven Thomas, Kendal Wright
Jeffrey Kelly
Jermaine Ball
Kay Maxwell
Andrea Tinker
Kendal Wright
Sidney Todd
Grant Sturdivant
Xavier Routt
Jordy Strawter
Jordan Huggins
Victoria Campbell
Jada Ceaser
Zachary Brown
Contributing photographers
and designers
Gabrielle Chukwu, Melanee Moore, Xavier
Routt, Grant Sturdivant, Brianna Skelton,
Jaylin Williams, Lyric Talley, Kyra Richardson,
Shelby West, Jaylin Williams, Jeffrey Kelly
Contributing social media strategists
Dallas Harper, Zandra Barnes, Nyel
Richardson, Eddie Hernandez, Taj Graham,
D.J. Goodman, Trinity Jenkins, Ryan
Wiilliams, Brianna Skelton, Dillion Orr,
Jayda Clifford
Contributing PR strategists
Kaira Harper, Heaven Thomas, Bailey
Hildreth, Kayla Harmon
Editorial Advisor
Special Thanks
Monique Fields
Tarlisha and Mike Houston, The Set Tuscaloosa;
Lee Hedgepeth, Inside Climate News
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 © 2024 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.
4 FALL ISSUE

Editor’s
Note
Before anything else, I’d like to say thank you.
Thank you to every contributor who worked on
the magazine. Thank you to my editorial staff,
who have gracefully led their teams and helped
make all this possible. Thank you to our editorial advisor,
Monique Fields, for your support, advice and wisdom. And
thank you to our readers for picking up our latest issue.
Like many endeavors, this was only possible with
teamwork. When I was younger, I found group projects
unbearable, maybe because I’m an only child, but in
college, I’ve realized the necessity for teamwork and
community; you can get things done on your own, sure,
but there’s nothing like having a community of people
who are there for you along the way.
The inspiration for this issue was born from ideas of
community and inclusion. With the banning of diversity,
equity and inclusion, the question of what happens to
the communities of color on this campus has been on my
mind for a while, as I’m sure it has been for many others.
With this “Folks” issue, we wanted to create
something that sparks meaningful conversations about
the power of connection, community, inclusion and
belonging. In a time where some might feel uncertain, it’s
tempting to say that community is more important now
than ever. But the truth is, community has always been
crucial—it’s the foundation that holds us up through
every challenge, and it doesn’t have to look like one thing.
Community can be solidarity or allyship in the
face of adversity; it can be mentorship from alums,
like Demetrius T. Barksdale, or conversations with
community members like Yasmin Rosier and Gary McGee,
or fellowshipping with others at the numerous events
happening on and off campus.
If there’s one thing we learned while working on
this issue, it is that while things might change on this
campus, there will always be a community there for you,
and as a student publication, we hope to shine a light on
that continuously.
- Jeffrey Kelly
The 2024-25 Nineteen Fifty-Six editorial staff.
Photo by Melanee Moore
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 5

08
Chronically online
With social media, the
world is at your finger
tips, but having so much
information readily
available has its ups
and downs.
12
Bending
the rules
Musicians contorting the
boundaries and playing to
their own beat.
16
Hello,
22
my name is
An interpretation of names
and their prevalence in the
POC community.
Finding safe spaces
on campus
After the passage of SB
129, many students of
color wonder about the
future of safe spaces
on campus.
28
A snapshot of
Arielle Gray
Through her photography
UA alum Arielle Gray
has learned the value of
vulnerability.
32
Crashing the party
At the University of
Alabama, students are
always looking to master
work-life balance, which
includes navigating the
vibrant weekend
party culture.
34
Unnatural hazards
Environmental racism
continues to harm
communities of color
across the U.S. with
hazardous sites, food
deserts and poor
infrastructure.
18
Swiping for the
right one
The dating pool has added
obstacles for students
of color.
38
Creating
camaraderie
on campus
Navigating how to foster
solidarity, build trust and
support one another
amidst the ban on DEI.
6 FALL ISSUE

C
O
66
Romance and Restaurants
Entrepreneurs Yasmin
Rosier and Gary McGee are
transforming Tuscaloosa’s
culinary scene with
Veganish and Urban Bar
and Kitchen.
N
T
42
44
adapt
Applying allyship
It takes more than support
to be an ally, effective
allyship requires listening,
learning and actively
working to foster real,
lasting change.
Adjusting to
American academia
How international students
to the University.
62
UA at the Olympics
After the conclusion
of the games, these
phenomenal athletes
deserve a moment to
get their flowers.
E
N
T
48
their
56
of
In conversation with
Meet three UA alums
making waves in
careers.
Dress to impress
The art of styling denim a
fabric that never goes out
style.
72
Experiences:
Belonging
How can we find a place
where we belong when
our very existence is
considered divisive?
S
76
weaver
What’s on web
Features on distinguished
research professor Robin
Boylorn and self taught
Yvonne Wells.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 7

CHRONICALLY
ONLINE
How marginalized communities navigate the ups and downs of social
media, including the normalization of graphic images.
By Kay Maxwell
Photos by Xavier Routt
and Grant Sturdivant
8 FALL ISSUE

Since the pandemic, social media usage has skyrocketed.
Model: Tamia Pitts
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 9

In recent years, social media has become an intrinsic part
of life for everyday Americans. In 2020, social media
usage skyrocketed, largely due to the global pandemic
and the nationwide lockdown that followed. Social media
became the primary way to engage in social interaction, as
well as the primary way to get information from around the
world. Though social media can be an excellent way to stay
informed and connected to global communities, there are
potential drawbacks to being online constantly, especially for
communities of color.
Being a person of color online since the pandemic
comes with a constant threat of witnessing attacks to your
identity. 2020 was the year of the Black Lives Matter protests,
a movement initiated by several indiscriminate killings of
Black people, the most notable being George Floyd.
According to Tiera Tanksley, an assistant professor of
Equity, Diversity and Justice in Education at University of
Colorado Boulder and a Critical Technology Fellow at UCLA,
Black women between the ages 18-24 across the U.S. and
Canada reported unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression,
fear and chronic stress from encountering Black death online
in 2024.
“The most common phrases participants used were
10 FALL ISSUE
‘traumatizing,’ ‘exhausting’ and ‘PTSD,’” Tanksley said. “Many
of the girls endured mental, emotional and physiological
effects, including insomnia, migraines, nausea, prolonged
numbness and dissociation.”
Tanksley said that the girls in her study opted to
avoid social media for a while in an effort to protect their
mental health.
Similarly, the global pandemic brought about waves
of racism against Asian and Asian-American communities
on social media. This increase in racist rhetoric online led to
people physically and verbally attacking Asian people around
the country.
“One-third of Asian adults (32%) say they personally
know an Asian person in the U.S. who has been threatened or
attacked because of their race or ethnicity since the COVID-19
pandemic began in 2020,” according to a PEW Research
Center article.
To Brian Butler, dean of communications at the College
of communication and informational sciences, minority
groups can be deeply affected by seeing these images and
headlines online.
“When individuals or groups that are the subject of
these images see them, or even if they don’t see them, they
become characterized by them,” Butler said.
Mahalia Crawford, an assistant professor of sociology,
understands that the graphic content can be upsetting, but it
may also be necessary to rally support.
“Because if it’s put out there, I feel like everybody
should see it, no matter how gruesome it may be, due to the
kind of change that it can elicit,” she said.
Butler said that while there are many negative effects
of social media, there are many positive aspects as well,
particularly for groups advocating for social change.
“When groups of people want to try and change their
community or have political influence or do things like that,
social media is very important for getting that going,” he said.
To Butler, social media is a way for people to organize
and gain a platform.
“It allows people to find others, other people with the
same interests, and in particular, allows you to find those
people in ways that are not tied to where you live. It also gives
people who want it the opportunity to have a voice,” he said.
“You don’t always have a very large audience, but you can build
that, and that’s available to more people that it would have
been 20 years ago.”
A recent example of social media activism has arisen
from recent reports surrounding the Israeli-Palestine conflict.
College students around the world, including Tuscaloosa are
using social media to organize protests and demonstrations
both in support and opposition of Palestine.
“Social media has become the vehicle where people,
especially Latinx communities and Black communities are

able to get their voices out and be able to be heard in ways that
they have not been heard in the past,” Crawford said.
One method used by social media activists is to share
graphic videos and images on various platforms to bring
attention to the conflict. While intended to rally support,
there is a high likelihood that these images could be upsetting
to the communities they depict.
“We’re dealing with what’s sometimes called an attention
economy, or an attention ecosystem,” Butler said. “It’s what
gets attention that matters ... that seems problematic, because
then you have a whole bunch of people that are making
decisions or making choices, not really understanding what
the implications of those are.”
The use of graphic images to garner attention for social
change can wear down on the individuals whose personhood
is depicted in these images.
“At some point they become desensitized to it,”
Crawford said. “It’s something that they see, that they may
comment on, they may repost to get the word out, but then
they move on because they know another instance like this is
going to happen in
“
the next two or three months.”
Butler said people who use social media platforms
should exercise caution when it comes to graphic content of
minority oppression.
“Sometimes it’s about making good choices for
yourself,” he said. “Some people can engage in those
discussions and can look at those images, and they can do that
in a way that’s healthy for them, and other people, because of
who they are and their background and other things, they’re
just not able to do that.”
However, he also does not think the responsibility
should fall solely on individuals.
“We need to have editors, and we need to have librarians
that create spaces where those things are present, and some
spaces where they’re not,” he said.
To Crawford, for these graphic depictions to be justified,
they need to lead to positive change.
“Social media users, people in these communities, are
the ones who are trying to garner this kind of support or
this kind of change,” she said. “But if there’s no change on a
systematic level, these images and these instances are going
to keep occurring.”
”
We’re dealing with what’s sometimes called an
attention economy, or an attention ecosystem.
It’s what gets attention that matters ... that
seems problematic.
— Brian Butler
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 11

Bending
the Rules
By Heaven Thomas
Over the years, people of color have branched out
incredibly within the music industry. More than
ever, there are artists all over the world breaking
standards that have been set in stone longer than
a lot of college students have been alive.
“I think it’s kind of just opening more doors for people
of color, just speaking from my personal experience, like
Beyonce was not nominated at [Country Music Awards], but
she could have been. And I think it just kind of opens doors
for other black women who might want to,” Kendal Miller, a
sophomore majoring in creative media, said.
Beyonce, a R&B and pop artist, dropped a country
album, “Cowboy Carter” this March, which took the world by
storm.
Time Magazine stated in an article that “to be Black and
country is to undo the historical narrative that has been told
to you.”
The release of Beyonce’s album contested the historical
battle of people of color trying to undo the rigidness of genre
placement within music.
Justin Wilson, a sophomore majoring in electrical
engineering, says that it is important for artists of color to
branch out and take more creative risks.
“Because then I feel like everything will sound the same,
right? Could you imagine if Michael Jackson never started in a
high-pitched voice?” he asked.
Teezo Touchdown, a Black alternative rapper and singer,
is an example of someone who does not let expectations define
them. He defines his genre of music as “Rock and Boom”, a
term he created.
“It’s R&B with the intensity of rock, and R&B toplines,”
he said.
This practice is not new; many artists of color have
branched out from expectations to create music that others
12 FALL ISSUE

wouldn’t expect from them. Lenny Kravitz emerged in 1989
with his album “Let Love Rule” which included hard rock,
funk, and R&B. The late singer Prince refused to be defined by
a genre or sound, and his experimental music has made him a
household name.
More contemporary examples include singer Rosalia, a
Spanish singer who has hip-hop, reggae, and pop influences in
her music, though she’s most noted for reinventing flamenco,
a traditional Spanish folk genre. There is also Charli XCX,
whose dance-pop and hyper-pop songs have come to define
the summer of 2024.
Social media has played a significant role in the rise of
genre bending, especially TikTok and its capacity to introduce
users to music they may have never listened to if not for
the app.
“If you put on TikTok and have people listen there,
they’ll go out of their way and do their own thing, if they like
it,” Wilson said. Pushing our own platforms and things that
people actually listen to these days could further grow the
amount of genre bending artists of color around the world.”
There is a true difference between niche and
mainstream communities which has affected the way music
is interpreted. To Miller, mainstream artists tend to be more
critical of genre bending. She claims that people tend to box
you in more than niche communities where they are more
accepting of change.
Overall, genre bending artists of color face the most
important time of innovation. A lot of artists face the true
fear of backlash due to individuality.
Taj Graham, a sophomore majoring in nursing,
said slander, backlash and negative comments are a worry
for artists.
As the music industry continues to evolve, the genrebending
visionaries are redefining the very essence of what it
means to be a musician in the 21st century.
Art by Shelby West
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 13

14 FALL ISSUE

1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 15

HELLO
MY NAME IS
Interpreting names and
their prevalence in the POC
community.
By Kay Maxwell
A
person’s name is not just
what they are called;
it is an integral part of
their identity. For a lot
of people of color, their name is a
source of pride, but also a source
of contention from those who are
unaware of the importance.
For families of non-European
descent, names can keep one tied
to their community while living in
another country.
Riya Patel, a senior majoring
in psychology and president of
the Asian American Student
Association, explained the
significance of names in her
Indian-American family.
Patel said names, especially
middle names are important in
Indian heritage.
“My middle name is my
father’s name, and it’s important
in that way, in tracing back your
lineage. My dad has his dad’s name
and his dad has his father’s name,
and it’s just kind of where you
came from,” she said.
Julia Dominguez, a senior
majoring in political science and
the president of the Hispanic-
Latino Association, said that names
are an easy way to recognize your
cultural ties.
“There’s so much power in a
name,” she said. “It gives you the
language to say this is who I am.
This is who I come from. This is
my lineage.”
Despite the value that many
cultures place on names, non-
European societies often struggle,
or simply make no effort to
pronounce these names correctly.
This can lead to people choosing
simple or non-cultural names for
their children.
“When I was being born, my
parents wrote down of names that
they passed around the doctor’s
office and said ‘Okay, if you can
16 FALL ISSUE

say this right, we have a better feel
for our child’s name,’” Patel said.
“So, I am kind of thankful for that,
but also, I feel like of upset that
my family has been shouldered to
make sure that my name and my
family’s name were pronounceable
to others when I wanted them to
name me what they wanted to.”
Patel said that when her
name is mispronounced, she finds
it easier not to correct them.
“Because some people don’t
like being corrected like that,” she
said. “They’ll be really defensive,
like ‘Oh, I have Indian friends.’”
Patel said she, along with
some of the other members of
the Asian American Students
Association, have Western names
that they use if their given
names are too difficult for others
to pronounce.
“If I go to a restaurant, my
name will be Ryan,” she said.
This is a practice common
among many groups, especially
Asian communities. Many
international students who have
traditional names may choose
English names that are easier
for Americans to pronounce,
understanding that it may be
easier for them to do so.
Mahalia Crawford, an
assistant professor of sociology,
said that there are significant
psychological effects to constantly
mispronouncing someone’s name.
“I may feel like my name is
so simple and easy to understand,
but you’re not even putting in
the effort to try and pronounce it
correctly,” Crawford said. “So, what
does that say about me? What does
it say about my parents?”
Patel understands why some
people would choose to change
their names, saying that it is an
attempt to protect their family
from mistreatment.
“No one wanted their children
to be kind of seen differently,” she
said. “I mean, there’s obviously a
difference in skin color, but they
wanted them to feel as normal as
possible within American schools.”
Dominguez said that having
an identifiable name can lead
to judgment.
“There is a lot of resilience
and whatnot, of holding onto these
names,” she said. “But it can open
up a window for discrimination,
and like ‘Oh, well I see your name,
and it looks Latino, so we’re going
to treat you in a different way.”
Dominguez said that
stereotypes surrounding Latino
names, for example, can drastically
affect one’s livelihood.
“Latino identity oftentimes is
associated with immigration, and
immigrants have this perception,
especially post 2016 of, well,
dangerous. We don’t want you
here,” she said. “And so, it kind of
feeds into this idea of, oh, if you
have a Latino name, you’re not one
of us.”
The historical practice of
minimizing non-European names
has deep roots in the Western
world. One example is the long
history of renaming Indigenous
children at residential schools.
“Throughout the residential
school period, it was common for
institutions to rename children
when they were enrolled, erasing
traditional Indigenous names to
cut the ties a child had with their
cultural identity and family,” said
Alan Lagimodiere, the Indigenous
Reconciliation Minister of Canada
in article.
Another example is the
renaming of enslaved populations,
a practice depicted in Alex Haley’s
film “Roots.” The character of
Kunta Kinte refuses to acknowledge
the European name, Toby, the
enslaver gives him an act of radical
resistance to a common practice at
the time.
In both examples, severing
their ties to their names, replacing
them with European names,
encouraged the notion that
European names are superior.
This notion continues today,
with families of non-European
descent giving their children
names that will help them better
assimilate to Western life.
“It’s unfortunate,” Dominguez
said. “Because by denying your kids
their culture, you’re setting them
up for success in the U.S. because
the U.S. demands conformity
and it requires assimilation,
and so parents, at times, go to
great lengths to deny their kids
their culture.”
Nabila Lovelace, a professor
of gender and race studies,
questioned the origin of
naming practices.
“Some other ways that we
name each other are still kind of
cooked in a colonial tradition,”
she said. “So, I don’t know if
we’re doing each other a real
difference of service in terms of
how we approach naming if it’s
through the same traditions as the
colonial power.”
Names have power, and,
although they are not all a person
is, they do represent the context
from which a person derives. It is
important to honor your family,
your culture, and most importantly,
yourself, by making sure that
when you are referred to, you are
referred to correctly.
“I absolutely love, love, love,
love, love my name,” Crawford said.
“And I’m going to correct people
every time.”
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 17

Swiping
for
the ONE
The dating pool, which has seemingly been limited in recent years for the
younger generation, has added obstacles for people of color.
By Kamari McIver
Photos by Grant Sturdivant

On a campus with over 40,000 students sometimes dating can be hard.
Models: Jermaine Ball and Selena Spaight
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 19

College is a pivotal
period in one’s life.
While academics and
extracurriculars are
usually a student’s main priority,
there is one other component
of college that students seem to
always worry about, dating.
For many students, it may
seem impossible to find that certain
someone on such a large campus.
As of the current fall semester,
The University of Alabama has a
total enrollment of 40,846 students
and 10,111 of these students are
minorities. So, if dating is already
20 FALL ISSUE
intimidating for most students on
a campus with such a population,
one might question just how
threatening it might be for people
of color.
Being a person of color at
such a large predominantly white
institution can sometimes leave
students feeling outnumbered
and unseen. This is why it was no
surprise to discover that many
students of color’s main strategy
in dating is to shy away from
dating outside of their ethnicities
and backgrounds.
“As a person of color, I
surround myself with people
who are a part of my ethnicity.
My friends that I have don’t
necessarily seek to interact outside
of my group,” said Zaynah Amir, a
junior studying at the University
of Georgia.
While there are many
students like Amir who choose to
date within their ethnicity because
of the familiarity factor, there are
many other students who want to
venture out in the dating pool but
are timid to do so.
Dating apps are commonly
used now more than ever. While
online dating seems to have
been all the rage for a lot of
college students, recent research
suggests that people of color have
endured a different perspective on
dating apps.
Apryl Williams, a sociologist
and author of “Not My Type:
Automating Sexual Racism in Online
Dating,” said that dating apps
simply “automate sexual racism,
making it hyper efficient and
routine to swipe in racially curated
sexual marketplaces.”
Dating apps use certain
algorithms to predict levels of
attraction and “attractiveness,”
but just how valid are these
methods when they are based on
the traditional white heterosexual
standards?
“Dating apps allow sexual
racism to flourish because
they rely on the white hetero
normative standards of attraction,
desirability, and gender aesthetics
to perform the sorting and
matching algorithms that we are
so comfortable with these days,”
Williams said.
In today’s society where
social media presence is extremely
prominent, it is easy to fall into
the stereotypes of what the beauty
standard is. Oftentimes, it becomes
difficult to put yourself out there,

when it seems that people who look
like you are not deemed desirable.
“There’s a stigma for people
of color being with white people. ...
It seems like Black men on campus,
especially athletes, are accepted to
be with white women,” said Mariah
Slaughter, a junior at UA. “For
Black women, there is not much
that is left for us to pick from.”
Along with that, many people
of color question the authenticity
of connections when dating outside
their race. In a society where
tokenism is still apparent, nobody
wants to feel that they are simply a
“diversity pick” while dating.
“Dating on this campus
feels more like status builders
rather than relationship starters,”
Slaughter said.
The older generation would
suggest that students focus solely
on their studies rather than being
on the prowl for love to begin with;
while this piece of information has
been proven to be valuable to most
students, the desire to cultivate
romantic relationships becomes
inevitable in adulthood.
“College students are young,
there is a lot of pressure to figure
out so many big picture questions
as is,” said Catherine Roach, a UA
sexuality and society professor.
“In many cases, this is students’
first time away from home, so of
course it will be more difficult for
underrepresented groups to steer
through dating.”
However, when it comes down
to it, college is a time for new
experiences, so it is not so much
about the outcomes of dating,
but more about what you learn as
you go.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 21

Finding
Safe Spaces
on Campus
Safe spaces at predominantly white institutions are crucial
for students of color to find community and navigate the
challenges of marginalization and exclusion.
By Nnenna Nwannunu and Trinity Jenkins
During the summer the Black Student Union’s on campus location in the UA
Student Center was closed.
Photo courtesy of Ethan 1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU Met/The Crimson White 23

The Black Student Union’s former office in the UA Student center now serves as a food pantry.
Since Senate Bill 129 was
passed last spring, a number
of changes have been made to
the university. The Division
of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
was replaced with the Division of
Opportunities, Connections and
Success, and several spaces that were
aimed to aid minority students have
been renamed or removed. These
changes have made students wonder
about the future of cultural and
24 FALL ISSUE
identity-based programs on campus,
and the importance of safe spaces
for minority students.
According to Alabama
Legislature, SB-129 is a bill aims to
“ prohibit certain public entities
from maintaining diversity, equity,
and inclusion offices and from
sponsoring diversity, equity, and
inclusion programs; to provide
prohibitions on the promotion,
endorsement, and affirmation of
certain divisive concepts in certain
public settings; with exceptions to
provide that certain circumstances
are not prohibited; to require public
institutions of higher education to
designate restrooms on the basis
of biological sex; and to authorize
certain penalties for violation.”
This bill had was not received
well by many students.
“SB-129 is nothing short of fear
mongering bill,” said Kiana Younker,

Photo by Grant Sturdivant
co-founder of BISON and an arts
management MFA candidate.
Prior to its removal, the
DEI division aimed to support
organizations that encourage
diversity and identity-based
initiatives. These organizations
include Black Student Union, Bama
Indigenous Student Organization
Network,
Hispanic-Latino
Association, and the Asian-American
Student Association. These
organizations were created to act as
safe spaces for students of color at
a predominantly white institution,
and the DEI division helped
maintain them.
According to the OCS’s
website, the new aim is to “provide
opportunities for those who
seek to come here, connections
and programming to equip them
while they are on our campus, and
resources to support their career
aspirations and future success.”
Students and organizations
on campus have questioned where
their organizations stand during
this change. The OCS department
has addressed students’ emotions
and concerns about the immediate
changes that have occurred early in
the start of the semester.
“The University remains
committed to our institutional
goals to welcome all, serve all and
see all thrive and succeed and will
continue to provide resources and
support to every member of our
campus community,” said Alex
House, the associate director of
communications for the Division of
Strategic Communications.
Still, students are uncertain of
how their organizations will move
forward, especially after spaces
dedicated to students of color in the
Student Center have been removed
or renamed in compliance with the
new bill. The BSU had their office
removed, along with Safe Zone, a
safe space dedicated to LGBTQIA+
students. The Intercultural Diversity
Center was also renamed to the
Intercultural Center, highlighting
the bill’s desire to minimize
references to diversity.
“The loss of our space is
significant,” said Jordan Stokes,
president of BSU and a junior
majoring in chemical engineering.
“We’re just going to have to work
harder to maintain that sense of
community and support that our
office previously provided.”
Safe spaces for students of color
are important at a predominantly
white institution. According to the
Office of Institutional Research
and Assessment Total Student
Population census, 69% of the
University’s population was white
during the 2023-24 school year.
Students of color have very few
spaces where they can go on campus
and exist among each other without
fear of discrimination.
Safe spaces can be helpful
for students finding their place at
university. A 2021 Forbes article by
Manny Nelson expressed the need
for these spaces.
“On a PWI campus, Black and
Brown students have an added
responsibility of finding a safe
space on campus. It is difficult
to feel like you belong when you
are surrounded by people who
can’t relate to you or embrace
your culture and background,”
Nelson said.
The fight for safe spaces at UA
began well before SB-129. In 2015,
students led a protest that called for
a diversity, equity and inclusion office
on Alabama’s campus. Two years
later, those efforts were not in vain
because of the official establishment
of the Office of Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion in 2017. The removal of the
office after only six years indicates a
shift backward in terms of progress.
Moreover, cutting funds
highlights Alabama’s lack
of consideration for these
organizations, and the importance
they have to students of color.
Black Faculty and Staff Association
Ambassador president Shelby
Johnson, a senior majoring in
management, says that there
are unclear stipulations for
funding events.
“I think one of the biggest
changes we’ve experienced would
probably be the uncertainty in
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 25

26 FALL ISSUE

funding for our Black scholar’s
day program, as well as the honors
day and kente robing ceremony,”
she said.
Amiracus Brown, vice president
of BSU and a senior majoring in
theatre, said that the university has
provided some guidance for culture
or identity-based groups.
“Any type of funds that the
university previously gave can no
longer be distributed because of
the law,” she said. “When in regards
of anything else, we were allowed
to keep our name. We’re allowed to
keep hosting events and everything,
it’s just knowing that we don’t have
an office space for our daily hangouts
with people.”
Despite the new changes that
have made students of color feel as
though the university does not care
about them, UA continues to repeat
their dedication to the comfort and
wellbeing of all students.
“UA strives to connect every
person, regardless of background, to
a welcoming campus that enhances
community and culture. Our campus
has a wide range of resources
available for any and all students,”
House said.
Still, students are hesitant.
“I am curious to see how things
will be a little different between the
office under the new term compared
to the old one,” Johnson said.
The OCS department is still
providing students with resources
from the source, student care and
wellbeing, student health center and
counseling center.
For those who have additional
questions or are interested in
learning more about OCS resources,
they can reach out to the division via
email at ocs@ua.edu, by calling 205-
348-2278 or visiting their office at
313 Rose Administration.
Photo courtesy of Riley Brown/The Crimson White
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 27

A Snapshot of
Arielle
Gray
Through her photography UA alum
Arielle Gray has learned the value
of vulnerability.
By Elise Bates
Photos by Arielle Gray
A self portrait of Arielle Gray.
28 FALL ISSUE

Before Arielle Gray was a beacon of creativity,
captivating audiences with her skills in photography,
she was tucked away in a corner of Tuscaloosa unsure
of her own light.
Originally from the rural town of Moundville, Gray was
the first in her family to earn an MFA. This achievement is a
testament to her dedication and effort. Her journey, however,
has been far from conventional.
Initially, the idea of college didn’t appeal to Gray; the
pressure of being a twin led her to go and switch majors many
times—from a brief stint in music performance to a venture into
apparel design, which led to a realization that both ultimately
felt unfulfilling.
“I reluctantly decided to go to UA to get my degree in
what I thought would be music
performance, just sort of as
like something to have that I
thought I was passionate about
at the time, but I changed my
major from music performance
to apparel design, and then
I really was so frustrated I
couldn’t sew,” Gray said.
While her undergrad
years weren’t working out
how she’d expected, Gray
began to focus her energy on
photographing the vibrant
nightlife at Icon, a well-known
LGBTQ+ bar in Tuscaloosa,
using her artistry to amplify
marginalized voices.
“I had become super
enamored by drag queens and
their performances and like
just the idea of performance
in general. I felt really close
to Genesis {a drag queen] at
that time,” Gray said. “And I
think that was kind of the work that I was making was sort of
what was closest to me. And that’s sort of how you start as a
photographer. You make work around what’s closest to you.”
Yet, her path took another turn when the pandemic
disrupted her graduate school plans. The school she had
been set on attending closed its doors, but instead of letting
frustrations get the best of her, she took it as redirection.
She applied to several prestigious schools, including Yale,
Columbia, Georgia State University and the Savannah College
of Art and Design, and she was accepted to all.
Eventually choosing Yale not just for its reputation, but
for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, she felt seen
and empowered to express her identity fully.
“As a young black woman on my own, I had to sort of
really reestablish my boundaries with people, and sort of
understand who I was going to surround myself with, what
I wanted my life to look like and establishing the difference
between this is your friend, this is your classmate and this is
your acquaintance,” Gray explained.
At the end of her third semester at Yale, Gray crossed
paths with Lorna Simpson, a renowned photographer, whose
validation ignited a new drive within her. Simpson’s words
encouraged Gray to keep going and served as a catalyst for
her career in photography.
“I was about to walk up to [Simpson] and tell her I was
writing the article. She stopped me before I even started. She
said, ‘You are powerful. You’re a powerful person. And like,
you know what you said is from
the heart, and that’s what most
people can’t do,’” Gray said.
Today, her work is on
the complexities and nuances
of Black identity. She weaves
in themes of vulnerability,
exploring what it means to
navigate one’s own narrative
amidst societal expectations
and stereotypes.
Through her art, Gray
uncovers the softness often
lost in the strong exterior that
the world expects from Black
people. Under this exploration,
lies some frustration — a
constant dismissal of the vital
contributions of Black women,
who channel their experiences
into meaningful work. Her
work draws attention to
exemplary figures like activist
Stacey Abrams.
“I like aspects of what it
is to be a woman, that performance of being a woman. And
putting that all together, that’s my experience. Like I’m a
southern Black woman, and I have something to say, and
I’m soft, and that’s important to you, that’s important to
everybody,” Gray said.
Currently, Gray is teaches her first-year digital
photography course at Middle Tennessee State University
and showing her photography at her first solo show “Flying
Around: Capturing a Southern Movement” at Eaton D.C.,
which will run until Jan. 1. Her photography illustrates diverse
experiences, resilience and the multi-faceted identity of Black
women—showing ways to express strength and emotion.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 29

30 FALL ISSUE

1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 31

CRASHING THE
At the University of Alabama, students are always looking to master
work life balance, which includes navigating the vibrant weekend
party culture.
By Gabrielle Chukwu
Photo by Grant Sturdivant
Academics always come first for students, but
for many a good party usually isn’t far behind.
It is said that the best parties at the university
are built on two large pillars: Greek life and, of
course, Alabama football.
Angelo Cooper, a junior majoring in management
and information systems and member of Kappa Alpha
Psi Fraternity, Inc., described his party life as eventful.
His go-to party spot is Twelve25, located on the
Strip, because it’s “convenient and there are always good
vibes there.”
Cooper said he enjoys his party life here at the
university much more than back home in Dothan.
“I describe my party life here as safe. I feel more
welcome to be myself, back home I didn’t go out much
because I really didn’t feel as safe,” he said.
Cooper said he would like more parties on campus
to be more inviting to all different kinds of people,
regardless of skin color.
“No matter the type of music you listen to, just
a place where everyone can come together and chill,”
he said.
Elijah Mitchell, a junior majoring in management
and information systems and member of Phi Beta Sigma
Fraternity, Inc., said his party life is back on the rise.
“It was first on the rise, my freshman year. I would
32 FALL ISSUE

PARTY
go out at least three times a week,” he said.
During his sophomore year he slowed down and
took some time to focus on his academics, and now going
into junior year, he’s wanting to have a good balance of
both academics and partying.
Along with Cooper, Mitchell also said that his goto
party spot is Twelve25, is one of the places he went
the most freshman year as well as it generally being
a popular place among the Black population at UA.
Mitchell also prefers parties in Tuscaloosa rather than
back home.
“I would definitely rather party here in Tuscaloosa.
Back home, Birmingham, is not the ideal place that I
want to party at,” he said.
Mitchell said in the future he would love to see
more venues that cater to a Black audience.
“I know there are a lot of bars that seat
predominantly white people in them, so I would just like
to see more clubs and venues catered to Black people,”
he said.
The sunsets on bar Twelve25 on the University of Alabama’s strip.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 33

UNNATURAL
HAZARDS
Environmental racism continues to harm communities of
color across the U.S., including in Alabama, with hazardous
sites, food deserts and poor infrastructure.
By Arianna Pope
Photos courtesy of Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News
34 FALL ISSUE

A large detention pond (bottom left) often overflows onto Shiloh, Alabama residents’ properties, even in moderate rain.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 35

People of color have always
had it hard in America,
with constant hurdles to
overcome like oppression
and racism. As generations have
come and gone, some of America’s
racial injustices have been
addressed and dealt with. However,
until this day many people of color
still face the same racial injustices
that their ancestors endured
whether it’s police brutality,
racial gerrymandering, or
environmental racism.
According to the Natural
Resources Defense Center (NRDC),
civil rights leader Benjamin F.
Chavis Jr. was the first to define
environmental racism in 1982 as “the
intentional siting of polluting and
wastes facilities in communities
primarily populated by African
Americans, Latines, Indigenous
People, Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders, migrant workers,
and low-income workers.”
Sociologist Robert Bullard,
expanded upon the definition of
environmental racism.
“Any policy, practice, or
directive that differentially affects
or disadvantages (where intended
or unintended) individuals, groups,
or communities based on race,”
Bullard said in the article.
The repercussions of placing
these hazardous sites in relation
to these communities often cause
them to be at greater risk for many
diseases and health problems, like
cancer and respiratory issues.
Some examples of modern
day environmental racism are the
crisis for clean water that occurred
in Flint, Mich., the outrageous
number of industry plants and
refineries stretched out along the
Mississippi River also known as the
“Cancer Alley,” and the exposure
of uranium mining to the Navajo
Nation, which led to harmful
radiation which caused many of the
Navajo Nation to have lung cancer,
bone cancer and kidney problems.
On a more local scale, the
expansion of Highway 84 through
Shiloh, Ala. has caused severe
In February, Shiloh, Alabama resident, Willie Horstead Jr.’s home was sinking. He described the situation to those on a
community tour.
36 FALL ISSUE

“
flooding in the historically
Black town.
In the article, Bullard, a
Shiloh native, and other Shiloh
residents share their concerns and
frustrations due to the damage the
floods cause.
“Water goes downhill, and it
doesn’t take a Ph.D. to understand
that. ... This was done on purpose;
this wasn’t an accidental ‘oops,’”
Bullard said. “The Alabama
Department of Transportation
cared more about not flooding
the highway than they did about
flooding the community. That
Any policy, practice, or directive that
differentially affects or disadvantages
(where intended or unintended) individuals,
groups, or communities based on race.
is unacceptable.”
Otis Andrews, a Shiloh
resident, expresses his worries
about his family home, as the
damage from the floods worsens.
“All the sheetrock and the
walls are cracking,” Andrews said.
“The ceiling in the kitchen fell
through, and we had to put it
back up because the foundation is
sinking. The laundry room began
leaking, and we had to pay $2,000
to fix it.”
Bullard has published 18
books on environmental racism
and founded the Bullard Center
for Environmental and Climate
Justice at Texas Southern
University to bring attention to
environmental racism.
Cameron Lacquement,
an associate professor of
anthropology, serves as an advisor
of the Bama Indigenous Student
Organization. He describes food
deserts as another example of
environmental racism.
“We see that people in the
inner city have to walk somewhere
between five to 20 miles to get
fresh food,” Lacquement said.
“They are put in a situation where,
if they wanted to have a better diet
to be healthier, they are physically
incapable of doing so because of
this desert essentially that we have
created around them.”
According to Healthline, a
food desert is when foods like
”
— Robert Bullard
fruits, vegetables, whole grains,
dairy, peas, beans, meat and fish are
often expensive or unobtainable.
These deserts are often
located in low-income communities
and cities with high populations of
minority citizens.
Lacquement stresses the
importance of access to fresh food.
“Everybody in this country
should have the right regardless
of age, gender, race, whatever
it might be, that if you want to
do something like eat better, be
healthier, that it should not be
harder for you than it would be
for someone in a different area
that just might make slightly
more money.”
Though this is still an
underserved area, progress
is being made. In 2023, Black
residents of Lowndes County, Ala
were involved in a landmark case
for environmental justice.
According to an agreement
from the Biden administration,
the county was “denying access
to adequate sewage systems
and fining them for sanitation
problems beyond their control.”
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 37

CREATING
CAMARADERIE
ON CAMPUS
As Alabama faces legislative pushback on diversity programs,
conversations surrounding the barriers and building blocks for
collaboration and support among each other become more important.
By Kendal Wright
Photos by Xavier Routt
and Grant Sturdivant
38 FALL ISSUE

Students sit and talk outside of Amelia Gayle Gorgas library.
Models: Samantha White, Rihanna Pointer, Lyric Talley, Valentina Mora and Julia Dominguez
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 39

Solidarity between people of color is a topic
constantly up for discussion, especially
within the state of Alabama. Within the
past few months, the very concepts of
diversity, equity, and inclusion have been a subject of
retroactive legislation.
Most recently, the state of Alabama passed
Senate Bill 129, a law prohibiting the sponsorship of
DEI programs by public entities under the belief that they
are divisive in nature.
Its physical effects have been seen across campus
with the repurposing of safe zones previously established
for marginalized groups at the University.
With the removal of these spaces brings about
the question of how people of color can work to foster
community at The University of Alabama.
Keisha Bentley Edwards, the associate director of
research at the Cook Center on social equity, said that
community is built on support.
“I think the first step is finding ways to support each
other, where it’s not a quid pro quo,” she said. “Let me go
to your events. Let me invite you to our events. You have to
build the relationship and build that trust, especially if it’s
been damaged based off of politics and lack of knowledge
of history.”
Bentley Edwards said encouraging dialogue between
cultures and races is a good way to create a strong
foundation for solidarity. Such as hosting joint events
between organizations in a town hall or panel style and
finding a common point of concern where students can
discuss amongst each other about how they can plan to
make themselves visible and establish that they are not
going anywhere.
“I definitely think organizations targeted towards
minorities bring us together,” said Margo Norwood, a
junior majoring in nursing. “I think organizations really
strengthen bonds, but also just sharing resources.”
There are over 600 student organizations at UA, 40
of which are defined as inter (cultural) and identity based.
Many of these organizations are also major or career
focused and provide minority students a place to meet
other minority students on the same education or career
path as them.
Cierra Gilliam, a senior majoring in news media, said
that it can be difficult to support everyone.
“I feel like we can consolidate a lot of our organizations
and be able to see the turnout that we want to see and get
the message out to the masses,” she said.
She said that since there’s so many organizations
sometimes the student support gets “watered down”
because people can’t be in five to 10 different clubs at once.
“I think it’s important that we find a community
40 FALL ISSUE
“
”
If we don’t stick together,
who can we count on.
— Margo Norwood
within
us, because at the end of the day, we
can’t really count on anyone else to truly be there, so it’s
important to have that community,” Norwood said. “If we
don’t stick together, who can we count on?”
Additional factors exist that play into why there
is a struggle to form fellowship between people of color
especially in the pursuit of higher education.
We exist in a society geared towards the benefit
of white people, which has inadvertently and sometimes
deliberately brought about a desire in the POC community
to maintain proximity to white people because of their
social connotation with success.
“If the only way I can feel like I am a good, strong
successful person is to negate my blackness or my being a
person of color, then that’s where the problem is,” Bentley-
Edwards said.
By decentering whiteness and instead looking to our
peers, there exists the opportunity to share insight with
each other, such as the ideas of resource scarcity and silent
competition where students of color, whether consciously
or subconsciously, compete with one another socially,
for leadership positions and even post-graduation in the
job search.
So exists the phrase, “pulling up the ladder
behind you,” where when people get to a position
they have sought after or is highly sought after by
others, they keep how they reached that position
to themselves.
“Everybody wants a seat at the table,” Gilliam said.
“There’s some out there that their mindset is more like,
‘hey if I can get in, worry about yourself.’”
This ethos does a disservice to students in
the ethnic minority as it can backfire and decrease
the likelihood that the next person to hold that
position will be a person of color. There already
exists a lack of racial representation in the workforce
across disciplines.
“Oftentimes people have an all or nothing
perspective when it comes to opportunities, but there
are so many opportunities. There are so many paths
to be great,” Bentley-Edwards said. “You’re in a college
at a great institution, you’re already on the path to
be great. So, it’s lonely at the top. Why not bring
a friend?”

The University of Alabama has over 600 student organizations and 40 of those are intercultural or identity based.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 41

Applying Allyship
Allyship is about more than just support— it’s an ongoing commitment
to listening, learning and challenging injustices.
By Raven Johnson
Photos by Grant Sturdivant
Being an ally can be described
in many ways, but it’s
important to understand
that allyship is an ongoing
process that requires reflection, action
and willingness to grow.
Allyship is recognizing
that identities are complex, and it
acknowledges the different layers of
oppression and the need for solidarity
across various movements. It is not a
one-time act but a continuous effort
to support and uplift marginalized
communities over time.
“Allyship means a partnership or
trust and dedication to another person
or community,” said Justin Wilson, a
junior majoring in engineering.
It brings empowerment and can
help amplify the voices of marginalized
groups, giving them a platform to share
their experiences and perspectives.
Supporting and recognizing leaders
and organizations in their initiatives
helps empower the community and
foster genuine change.
When applying allyship in the
UA students gathered in Spring 2024 in front of Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library for a Defend DEI demonstration.
42 FALL ISSUE

community, they must prioritize
understanding the historical and
contemporary struggles faced by
individuals, including systematic
racism, economic equality and social
injustice which is being acknowledged
by many.
When building solidarity in
all communities, everyone should
apply that solidarity during protests,
campaigns and movements that
advocate for justice and equality,
demonstrating commitment to the
cause. Ongoing effort, dedication
and reflection, rather than it being
a temporary engagement or trend is
what is needed.
Allies can educate themselves and
others about the history, culture and
issues surrounding those communities
to help dismantle stereotypes and
promote understanding. Everyone has
a privilege or the upper hand in certain
situations, when applying that to a
situation when that privilege is needed
is pure allyship and shows the morality
in our communities.
Allyship is a critical concept
in the ongoing struggle for social
justice and equity, particularly for
marginalized communities. At its core,
a relationship requires recognizing
one’s privilege and using it to support
those who face it.
It requires active engagement,
empathy, and a commitment to
challenge injustices rather than
remaining a passive observer.
Challenging systematic inequality
in another crucial role of an ally.
This means actively confronting
racism, sexism, homophobia, political
injustices that target one group and
other forms of discrimination within
one’s own circles.
“The word ally is usually used
in war terms like to be a friend, but
it has so much more meaning to it
when dealing with the world today,
you need to know who you can trust,”
said Malcolm Brown, a senior majoring
in psychology.
Two students sit on the Quad during the Defend DEI demonstration last spring.
Allies can use their privilege
to call out inappropriate behavior,
question discriminatory policies, and
advocate for changes that promote
inclusivity. Moreover, being an
ally is a vital practice that fosters
understanding, solidarity, and
social change.
By actively listening, educating
themselves, challenging injustices, and
committing to long-term engagement.
Allies play a crucial role in the fight for
equality. In doing so, they contribute to
creating a more inclusive and justice.
Financial support is almost
overlooked or selective when it comes
to small businesses. Supporting small
businesses and organizations helps
address economic disparities and foster
community growth. Financial allies
can support. These allies can advocate
for and support initiatives that teach
financial literacy and management
skills in marginalized communities.
“The word community comes
to mind and how we are working to
support all our student organizations
here on campus and help to provide
them resources and support and
really help them to be able to be
authentic in the work that they’re
doing here on campus, no matter what
background they’re coming from,
what walk of life, you know what ever
their position may be, their interests.”
said Teneshia Arnold, director of
Student Involvement.
Empowering individuals with
knowledge about budgeting, saving
and investing can lead to greater
economic independence. Allies can
challenge discriminatory lending
practices and support policies that
promote fair access loans to credit.
Advocating for changes in banking
policies that disproportionately affect
all communities is a massive part
of this.
“Building partnerships like
collaborating with local organizations
that focus on empowerment is allyship
and should happen more,” said Nylen
Patterson, a junior majoring in nursing.
By pooling resources and
expertise, allies can create more
significant, sustainable change.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 43

Adjusting to American Academia
How international students adapt to the University.
By Andrea Tinker
Photos by Grant Sturdivant
and Melanee Moore
The University of Alabama’s
campus has students that
come from all over the globe.
In fact, the university is so
varied in its student demographics
that there are more out of state
students than there are in-state
students. However, when campus
demographics are discussed, the
University’s international student
population is often overlooked. For
the Fall 2024 semester, the university’s
Department of Institutional Research
and Assessment reported that there
are just over 1,200 international
students enrolled. Vera Boakye,
a graduate student majoring in
women’s studies from Ghana, came
to UA in August 2024, and said she
came to the university following the
recommendation from a friend and
seeing how international students
were treated.
“I think University of Alabama
specifically was recommended to
me by a pastor friend of mine, I
think his wife, came to have her
Ph. D there some time ago. So, he
was like us, a great school. There
are good opportunities,” she said.
“And I think I saw the Tuscaloosa
International Friends also, and I
read a few things about it, and I was
like, ‘oh, I want to feel like home.
So, if there is something like this
that they involve the international
students and they accept us basically
having my education, I want to feel
safe. I want to be in an environment
where I am appreciated, or people
are really interested in where I’m
44 FALL ISSUE
coming from.’”
Matilde Tricca, a junior
majoring in international studies
from Italy, had a different journey
to Alabama.
“I was an exchange student. So,
I lived in California, and then I went
back to Italy for a little bit. And then
when I reapplied to be an exchange
student, they picked a host family
for me, which lived in Bridgeport,
Alabama,” Tricca said. “So, I went to
high school over there, and my host
mom was an English teacher. So
she kind of recommended me UA,
and when I got to know UA, it was
fantastic. It was fabulous. So I fell in
love with it.”
Justice Dadzie is from Ghana
and is pursuing his doctoral degree
in educational research. He said
education has been a critical part of

Students enjoys each others’ company during one of the Capstone International
Center’s sponsored Multicultural Coffee Hours in the UA Student Center’s
Intercultural Center.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 45

Two students share a meal during Multicultural Coffee Hour. The event featured cultural delights.
his development as a person.
“I actually grew in an
environment where education was
actually [immensely important], as in
we had that mentality that you must
make it through education. So, as if
education is the only source of making
it in life,” he said. “So we actually
went to school. I had first degree at
the University of Cape Coast, which is
the best university in Ghana and the
best university in West Africa. And
I also had my masters in university
in Cape Coast. And I really aspire to
be a faculty member really aspire to
be, into the academics, where I would
also give back to generation what
I’ve learned and also try to improve
what is not available to me during my
grad school.”
Adjusting to a new school can
be hard, and it can be even harder
when the student is not from
this country.
Tricca said coming to UA was
hard not because she was homesick,
but because she was scared of
something happening to her family
back in Italy.
“It was a lot at first. Not that
I was homesick like many other
international students, because I
was used to it already,” she said. “I
lived alone a lot of times, but it was
overwhelming, in the sense that you
are alone. Like my family, it’s not
in another state, they’re in another
continent. So, whatever happens, I
can’t get close to them immediately.
So that was my main danger.”
Culinary differences are
another challenge that international
students face. Dadzie said the lack
of access to ingredients commonly
used in African cuisine has been a
“
”
I want to feel safe. I want to be in an
environment where I am appreciated, or people
are really interested in where I’m
coming from.
— Vera Boakye
46 FALL ISSUE

challenge for him.
“It’s quite pretty difficult,
super difficult, to get the local, you
know, ingredients to prepare their
local meals. And I believe this is as
a result of Americans loving this a
second cycle, foods like this, frozen
foods. You know, they like the
processing foods than the raw ones,”
he said. Godwin Dellah Gonyoe, a
graduate student and president of
the African Students Association,
added that African students have to
drive to Birmingham or Atlanta to
get ingredients.
“We don’t have any African
shop in Tuscaloosa, yes, so what
we do is that we gather ourselves
together,” Gonyoe said. “One person
drives to Birmingham or to Atlanta to
an African shop, to go and get all the
food stuff, or whoever needs it. Aside
from that, we don’t really get our
traditional full stop in Tuscaloosa.”
Finances are another
obstacle that stands in the way of
international students.
“For me, the challenge that was
coming was with my tuition and all
those stuff,” Boakye said. “Coming
without funding or educational
support from your department as an
international student is really costly,
it’s really expensive, because as you
pay the tuition, pay your bills, and all
that stuff.”
However, despite all of these
challenges, international students
have been able to find communities on
campus and throughout Tuscaloosa.
“The first community I found
was Church of the Highlands, because
that was my main goal, to find a
church, find my community, find my
people who worshiped Christ with
me. So that was my first option, which I
did find,” Tricca said. “And then other
communities such as [International
Student Association], for example.
Now I’m Vice President of ISA, but I
was general officer, and before that, I
was individual coordinator. So being
with other international students
meant being understood better, not
because American people don’t, of
course, but like as an international
student, you go through the same
path.” Boakye said that meeting
with her department allowed her to
find community during her move
to Alabama.
“My first meeting with my
department actually was, let me
say, the doorway for me to actually
begin to feel like I’m home, because
everything they’ve said made me feel
very loved, like everybody is there
to help, that’s one thing every day,
everybody is there to support you in
whatever, like just let them know that
this is there and they’ll be willing to
help you,” Boakye said.
Tricca said her advice for other
international students is to adapt
to their new setting the best way
they can.
“I always tell international
students to adapt. We know it’s not
our country. We know it’s not our
culture, nor our traditions, but at the
same time try to view it from another
point of view, from another angle,”
she said. “Meaning, yes, I know it’s
not my culture, but at the same time
I’m gonna try to understand it and
enjoy it, and it’s okay if something
doesn’t go like you planned, if classes
are too hard, if it’s like language, the
language is kind of an obstacle.”
Tricca added that for any
international student struggling to
adapt, there are resources on UA’s
campus that can help.
“There’s so many resources that
campus offer to help international
students, and you can use them on
a daily basis that will help you, like
the Writing Center, for example,”
she said.“There’s so many so I
suggest students to go out, look for
opportunities again. Step out of your
comfort zone. We are here. ISA is
here to help you if you need as many
as other communities.”
Two student volunteers help with Multicultural Coffee Hour.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 47

Demitrius
T. Barksdale
Meet the three-time University of
Alabama alum, who now serves as
a full-time faculty member, rising
entrepreneur and consultant for
holistic development, leadership
and wellness.
Photo courtesy of Demitrius T. Barksdale
By Jeffrey Kelly
Q
: Since graduating, what has
your journey been like to your
current role, and can you describe
your profession?
A
: Challenging, yet possible. I
often champion my journey with
this thought: “DO IT SCARED!” As
a Christian, I’ve been encouraged to
live my life in a way that is honoring
to my faith. Although this is true,
I’ve encountered many challenges
that were extremely overwhelming,
seemingly impossible, and
threatening to my belief system. This
is when I learned that faith is not the
absence of fear, but faith is present in
times of fear. With this in mind, I’ve
learned to “do it scared,” whatever it
is! By doing so, my faith has not only
encouraged me, but has encouraged
others, and that’s my ultimate goal in
life, to help someone else.
No one achieves their goals without
assessing and addressing their fears.
Fears will be encountered on your
journey towards success. It’s been
challenging championing a journey
as a first-gen college student. Firstgens
are pioneers, and pioneers walk
a scary path, often alone. This is why I
love serving as a faculty and teaching
psychology because psychology is
real life, and I can teach others about
themselves and relate why and how
psychology is so imperative to learn
for many purposes.
Q
: What was a challenging part of
starting your career, and how
did you overcome it?
A
: Identity development. Often,
our parents and society push
each of us to dream big or to decide
what we want to be when we grow up,
but no one informs us on how to do
so; they just encourage us to think
big! I’ve learned that life is not linear;
life is often not plug and play. You can
also dream big and shrink back due to
fear of failure, insufficient resources,
or lack of communal support.
Embarking on my career terrain,
I’ve learned so much about myself,
my dreams, my goals, my ambitions
– what I want to be when I grow up.
Identify development has been at the
core of my career development, and
has proved beneficial in assisting
me to success, and in maintaining
success. You MUST know who you
are, if not, others can (and will) tell
you who you are… Also, I’ve learned
that my career isn’t about me alone,
it’s about others. At some point in
your career, you’ll come to the end
of yourself or have reached all your
goals, then what? You will need an
48 FALL ISSUE

identity and purpose far beyond
yourself to remain successful.
Q
: What’s one piece of advice that
you wish someone would have
given you while you were in college?
A
: While in undergrad, I wished
I had known that life was not
linear. Our cultural upbringing and
the American way have convinced
us that if “we do this or do that,
this or that will happen for us,” and
this is not always the case. Although
we hope that we will have a great
job after four years of educational
training, that, unfortunately, isn’t
always the case, and we must be ok
with that and learn how to become
emotionally intelligent along the
way. After graduating from UA, I
did not have a job for a month. This
reality was depressing, but I was able
to prevail. I know others who have
had similar experiences.
Q
: What does being an alum of
the University mean to you?
A
: Pioneering. As expressed, I
am a first-gen student in every
aspect. I’m a first-gen student on
both my mom’s and dad’s side of
the family, so I really had to “get it
out the mud” – pioneering my path.
Now that I hold a doctoral degree
from UA, establishing a legacy of
educational awareness and support
for others is so important to me. I
want to help others navigate their
lives in wellness, through education
and community resources. This is
why I’ve established my very own
book scholarship at UA, and have
accepted various opportunities
to speak across campus, and have
recently been invited to serve as
an advisory board member for the
University of Alabama’s College of
Education. I want to be a resource
to future pioneers in any respectful
way I can. UA has taught me how
to pioneer!
Q
: What do you think has been
the most important thing
you learned from your time at
the University?
A
: I often say, “people are
resources.” I’ve learned the
power of walking in agreement with
others, leaning into my community,
reciprocating what has been given
to me, and building purposeful and
intentional relationships. Never
burn bridges (active forgiveness is
key) because you will never know
when, or if, you’ll need to walk across
that beam of support again. “Life
isn’t about what happens to you, it’s
about how you treat others when life
happens to you.”
Q
: What has been your experience
navigating the professional
world as a person of color, and do
you have any advice for students
entering it?
A
: This is a tough one. I’ll be
honest. I grew up in a community
and a school system where color or
race wasn’t talked about much. It was
not until I enrolled in my doctoral
program where I begin to see the
effects of color (or that everyone
doesn’t have the same experiences,
resources, or trajectory to success).
Let me explain, I got the opportunity,
while in my doctoral program, to
visit an HBCU. Though it was a
great experience, I realized my own
personal privilege, and it challenged
me to reflect on the resources I’ve
been provided and the path that has
been afforded to me as a black man at
UA. I also began to think about what it
meant to be black at UA AND as a black
doctor, WOW. I am now in the 1% of
black Americans that hold a doctorate
degree in the U.S. I never would have
imagined being here, but now I often
ponder, what do I do with all of this?
So now, part of my professional focus
is to be an example, a resource, a
source of hope and direction for
others. I have committed myself to
working on further connecting with
those who look like me, while also
holding (and fostering) relationships
and friendships of those who are
different for me. I value balance in
life, and inclusivity, to me, is balance.
As it regards my advice for students
like me, I live by this mantra: “Show up
daily” – meaning, don’t give anyone
any reason to discredit you, disengage
with you, or avoid acknowledging you
and your work. If they choose not to
engage with your or acknowledge
you, let it be their own doing, not for
a reason you gave them. So, show up
daily with integrity and reputable
character. Being a professional of
color is a blessing and we must begin
seeing it as such. We are the authors
of changing the narrative.
Q
: With everything happening
with anti-DEI legislation, what
advice do you have for students
looking for community or creating a
safe space for themselves on campus
or in the south in general?
A
: Community is where you find it.
Seek out community and invest
into that community; never take
without giving back. Additionally,
my grandad would always say, “if you
don’t have a seat at the table, or if
they don’t invite you to the table, go
build a table, and invite them to your
table.” We have access and resources
like never before. Try to collaborate
and join in, but if you can’t, build
your own AND be sure invite others
to sit at your table. Inclusion is
an invitation to my table, even if
we differ.
Read the full story on our website.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 49

Photo courtesy of Amber Underwood
Amber
Underwood
Meet the two-time University of
Alabama alum, mental health
therapist, resilience advocate and
life coach, whose journey hasn’t
been easy, but definitely has
been rewarding.
By Jeffrey Kelly
Q
: Since graduating, what has
your journey been like to your
current role, and can you describe
your profession?
A
: My journey to my purpose has
been an unorthodox one.
After receiving my MSW in 2019,
it was difficult for me to get a job in my
career field. No one could’ve prepared
me for the reality that having a
masters, speaking two languages, and
a great work ethic doesn’t always open
the doors to your “next” immediately.
Going through that process has
taught me patient endurance. I
became a Barista at Starbucks in the
morning, and I worked part time with
a non-profit helping young girls in
my local school system through after
school programs, equipping them
with the tools needed to continue to
evolve and become stronger. Not long
after, the pandemic fully manifested
and the schools closed. I devoted my
mornings to Starbucks and delivering
groceries with Shipt. It turned out
50 FALL ISSUE
that I made more money working for
myself delivering groceries so I quit
Starbucks and did Shipt full time.
What I didnt know was that Shipt
was preparing me to build my own
business years later - it’s really all in
the journey.
I felt this pull in 2021 to pursue
my professional career again. I got
hired as a Substance Abuse Counselor
to work with women and children in
substance abuse treatment centers.
That work was hard but it was
rewarding in the most beautiful and
humbling way. I watched women
become free from addiction and
embrace their true self apart from the
drugs and alcohol. That experience
led me back to my ultimate calling
to empower high schoolers to choose
life and not death. I’ve been at it for 3
years across Jefferson County and we
are just getting started!
Q
: What was a challenging part
of starting your career, and how
did you overcome it?
A
: I remember it like it
was yesterday.
Becoming a traveling neonatal was a
dream that took root when I was in
the 3rd grade. I clung to that dream
because I wanted to save the lives of
babies like the nurses that saved my
life when I was 3 weeks old. Truthfully
I thought the only way to help save
lives was by becoming a nurse. I
was wrong.
I was a junior in college and I’d
been rejected from nursing school
for the 3rd time. I spent that Summer
weeping, trying to make sense of my
life and what was next. I had no idea
what I was going to do.
I’d watch my classmates prepare
for their senior year of college, while
I was anxious, trying to figure out if
I was even going to graduate from
college. My parents didn’t have the
money to send me to school in the
first place, and student loan programs
and pell grants were running out. It
felt like time was running out and
every day the sun rose, I became more

and more anxious. So I did what I only
knew to do - I prayed.
I asked God to show me my
path because the path I was on
clearly wasn’t the one for me. He
began speaking.
I matched my faith in prayer
with working through a Strong’s
Inventory Test. The baffling part
is that the test rated Nursing as a
top career fit for me. Chuckling, I
continued to scan the rest of the
results and my eyes met the words,
Social Work.
With base in my voice I told
God, NO!
I didn’t want to take this route.
I’d heard the horror stories of social
workers “taking people’s babies”
(something I learned wasn’t true).
People always said there was no
money in it, and I couldn’t risk that
considering I was working my way
out of financial poverty. But I’d also
had my fair share of experiences with
the department of human resources
growing up. Humbly speaking… I DID
NOT WANT TO DO THIS!
Not only was I taking a risk by
staying an extra year at the University
of Alabama, not knowing if my tuition
would be paid, but I was taking a risk
changing my major so late in the
game. I didn’t know if this path would
work out for me.
I took that leap of faith and
anxiously walked through those
double doors of Little Hall to meet a
social work faculty advisor, and well…
the rest was history.
I became a Social Work major
and the doors of my life seemingly
flung open. It all started with
humility becoming my best friend,
making over every part of my life. I
went out of the country for the first
time (two times in the same year). I
failed a writing exam that pushed my
graduation date back further (talk
about humbled!). The school gave me
scholarships and financial assistance
(can we say God provided!). They gave
me additional assistance to study
social services abroad (out of the
country for the THIRD time, whew!).
And Social Work continued making
my mind, body, soul, and spirit.
I took a risk… a risk that showed
me my degree was less about how
much money I’d make and more about
the woman I’d become for a purpose
much bigger than myself.
Risks aren’t always easy to take
because you don’t know what’s on the
other side. While you gain things in
the process, you also lose something.
But that’s just life. I’m still riding this
Social Work wave and I thank God for
it everyday. Because that risk of “not
knowing” and taking a leap of faith,
put me right where I was supposed
to be.
Q
: What’s one piece of advice that
you wish someone would have
given you while you were in college?
A
: When I came to the University, I
thought I had it all figured out. I
had no idea that my college experience
would be what it was. I had no idea
that anxiety and depression that
started in high school would follow
me to UA, exposing me to what was
going on inside of me mentally and
emotionally. I had no idea that I would
attempt suicide and then go on a
journey to see myself holistically, and
heal. I had no idea that I’d change my
major. I had no idea that I’d graduate
late. I simply had no idea.
I wish someone would have
helped me understand that when
your journey is much bigger than you,
you don’t get to decide how it will
play out. You just have to rest in the
process and trust it. Hold loosely to
what you think is supposed to be and
allow life to happen for you. When you
flow with life, you’ll always end up
where you’re supposed to be.
Q
: What does being an alum of the
University mean to you?
A
: Being an alum of the University
is a blessing, and I don’t mean
that lightly. It’s a blessing because
God’s hands, grace, mercy, protection,
and favor afforded me the opportunity
to become an alum. It’s a reminder
that I can defeat whatever life throws
at me because the fortitude and
perseverance was built in me there.
It’s being a part of a legacy that truly
defines what being a legend in your
lane is. It’s knowing that big things
really do come out of “Little Hall” and
it’s Where Legends are Made.
Q
: What do you think has been
the most important thing
you learned from your time at
the University?
A
: My experience of higher
learning became the voyage
to awaken my purpose. College was
less about the degree I’d get and
more about who I was becoming,
for a calling much bigger than me
- (your calling will always be bigger
than you)!
Overcoming myself and
limiting beliefs has introduced me to
another version of myself, as well as
people and opportunities that I have
been praying for. Feeling resistance
to my plans and goals invited me
on a journey to surrender it all to
God. Surrendering not only brought
me peace, but it brought clarity.
Growing in the areas of mindset and
surrendering to the ultimate plan for
my life has allowed me to see things
with fresh eyes. I’ve learned that I’m
where I’m supposed to be. And I have
UA to thank for that.
Allow yourself to go through
“it”, whatever it is, so you can learn
what you need for the person you
are becoming.
Read the full story on our website.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 51

Ryan
Levon
Coleman
Photo courtesy of Ryan Levon Coleman
Meet the 2015 University of
Alabama alum and Director of
Strategy at Salesforce, a software
company, whose career has been
fueled by curiosity and a passion
for learning.
By Jeffrey Kelly
Q
: Since graduating, what has
your journey been like to your
current role, and can you describe
your profession?
A
: My career journey is defined by
three powerful words: growth,
learning, and curiosity. Growth has
been my compass, guiding me to
seek new opportunities that push me
to become my best self. I’m always
looking to broaden my horizons
and improve. Learning fuels my
development, and I approach every
new role with the question, “What can
I learn here that will drive me toward
my ultimate career goals?” Curiosity
is the fire behind my passion—I’m
always eager to dive deeper, explore
what’s new, and stay ahead of the
exciting changes in my industry.
My career began in technology
sales after I earned my MBA from
52 FALL ISSUE
the University of Alabama. Starting
out in tech sales was an exhilarating
experience, but I soon realized that
consulting was where my passion
for problem-solving and people truly
ignited. After several rewarding
years in consulting, I leveraged
that foundation to transition into
strategy and operations at Salesforce.
I’ve spent the past few years here,
continuing to grow and make
an impact.
As a Director of Strategy at
Salesforce, I lead a critical function
that drives profitable growth at
scale. I partner with senior leaders
as a trusted advisor, setting strategic
business priorities that fuel growth
and building long-term GTM
strategies that move the needle. I’m
dedicated to creating best-in-class
operational processes, managing
cross-functional transformational
projects end-to-end, and leading
change management to standardize
and scale the business across
countries, segments, and clouds.
It’s a dynamic role that lets me
bring big ideas to life and make a
meaningful impact.
Q
: What was a challenging part
of starting your career, and how
did you overcome it?
A
: Early in my career, one of the
biggest challenges I faced was
working under leadership that wasn’t
fully invested in my development.
That experience taught me a valuable
lesson: I needed to take ownership
of my growth and career path. It
wasn’t easy, but learning to be the
driving force behind my own success
empowered me to create a plan and
take charge of my future. Now, I make

it a point to share this lesson with
everyone I work with. If you want to
achieve something, you have to be
the one making it happen. You are
the spark that creates the magic in
your career.
Q
: What’s one piece of advice that
you wish someone would have
given you while you were in college?
A
: Your career is a marathon,
not a sprint. The start doesn’t
define the entire journey. Along the
way, you’ll find roles that inspire you
and others that challenge you. You’ll
encounter people who cheer you on
and others who may stand in your
way. But that’s the beauty of it—it’s a
journey that keeps evolving, and with
every step, it gets better. Remember,
you are the author of your own story.
Until you decide to put the pen down,
you have the power to shape your path
and create something extraordinary.
Q
: What does being an alum of the
University mean to you?
A
: The University of Alabama has
been special to me since the day
I was born. With my parents, sister,
and several other family members
having attended, it has always
been a part of my life. Alabama has
given me so much—an excellent
education, lifelong friendships,
career opportunities, and countless
unforgettable experiences at the
Capstone. A significant part of who I
am today is because of the incredible
people who invested in me during my
time there. Even though I graduated
years ago, I still maintain meaningful
relationships with professors and
faculty. It’s not just a chapter in my
life—it’s a lifelong connection.
Q
: What advice would you give
current students who want to
get where you are now?
A
: Trust the process and embrace
the journey of self-improvement.
Fall in love with the grind of becoming
better—whether that means being
a better student, a better person, or
a better friend. There will be tough
days, but the bright days ahead make
it all worthwhile. Remember, the
effort you invest always pays off in
the end.
Q
: What has been your experience
navigating the professional
world as a person of color, and do
you have any advice for students
entering it?
A
: Discover who you are and stand
firmly in that identity. I was
fortunate to have two parents who
navigated the corporate world before
me and showed me that you can
stay true to yourself while building
a successful career. I’ve also been
blessed with a strong support system
of friends of color who have been my
success circle—we’re in this journey
together, lifting each other up every
step of the way.
Q
: With everything happening
with anti-DEI legislation, what
advice do you have for students
looking for community or creating a
safe space for themselves on campus
or in the south in general?
A
: Find your success committee—
the group of people who
will uplift you and cheer you on.
Remember, others are navigating
similar challenges every day. While
there’s no perfect path, one thing
is certain: we’ll keep pushing for
progress and positive change
together.
Q
: What does success mean
to you, and how has that
meaning changed since graduating
from college?
To me, success means creating
A: opportunities for others to
grow and thrive. Whether at work or
in the community, my role as a leader
is to open doors for people to excel
and reach their full potential. My
parents always instilled in me the
importance of “leaving the ladder
down” so others can climb up, and
that lesson continues to guide me in
everything I do.
Coleman said he loves working
with students.
For those interested in reaching
out to him you can add him on LinkedIn
or send him an email at rlcoleman1mba@
gmail.com.
“
”
You are the spark that creates the
magic in your career.
— Ryan Coleman
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 53

54 FALL ISSUE

DRESS
TO
IMPRESS
The art of styling denim, a fabric that never goes out of style.
Styled by Zachary Brown
Photos by Xavier Routt, Grant Sturdivant and Melanee Moore
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 55

SKYLINE
BLUES
Model: Tamia Pitts
56 FALL ISSUE

Denim on denim outfits aren’t appreciated
enough when putting a look together, but
denim is a fashion staple making a big return.
So, I wanted to take a step outside the box and
style somethign that I don’t see a lot in the media or
in person.
Pitts’s top is from Fashion Nova and her shorts
are Levi’s and her calf length white boots from Pretty
Little Thing.
Pitts said she loved wearing the outfit.
“I always love a good denim on demin fit and the
shorts rolled down, ate with the v cut, and the boots
elevated the fit” she said.
She said when she put on the outfit she felt
confident and excited for people to see her all
dressed up.
Recreating this look is simple, first find some
denim in your closet and pair it with some bright
boots or shoes of your choice, to give an interesting
contrast between the dark denim.
Denim goes with everything so play around with
your look and have fun.
- Zachary Brown, a senior majoring in
apparel design
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 57

CAFE
SCHOLAR
Model: Zachary Brown
58 FALL ISSUE

This look was solely inspired by a mixture of
street wear and business casual. Personally,
I think fashion isn’t about conforming to a
certain aesthetic it’s about taking what you
like from a few and creating something that makes
you feel your best.
When I put this outfit on I felt a little out of
my comfort zone because I usually wear more grungy
clothing, but it was still extremely comfortable. I’d
definitely wear this for a nice brunch or to study at a
coffee shop.
If anyone would want to recreate this look, play
around with beige and denim. Dressy aspects of this
outfit are crucial; anything from a beret to a tie to a
sweater vest can be incorporated into the recreation
of this outfit.
- Zachary Brown, a senior majoring in
apparel design
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 59

Cold
Sunday
Model: Dede Davidson
Styled by: Dede Davidson
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1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 61

UA AT
THE
OLYMPICS
By Kay Maxwell
Photos courtesy of UA Athletics
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Several UA students and alumni competed in the 2024 Paris
Olympics, representing their home countries. After the conclusion
of the games, these phenomenal athletes deserve a moment to get
their flowers.
LUISA BLANCO - COLOMBIA
Luisa Blanco is an artistic gymnast who
represented Colombia, and made history as the first
Colombian woman to advancing all the way to the
individual all-around final.
To Blanco, her time at UA helped prepare her
for Paris; prior to the Olympics, she was the 2021
NCAA balance beam champion. At UA, she learned to
combine her love of the sport with her connection to
her culture.
“When you get to university, gymnastics is no
longer an individual sport but a team sport. You’re
competing for something bigger than yourself, and
that’s where I felt my pride,” she said in an Olympic
interview. “I’ve always been proud to be Colombian,
but finally, I have the platform where I can express
that to the world.”
Alabama gymnast Luisa Blanco performs her floor routine during the NCAA National Semifinal at Dickies Arena in
Fort Worth, Texas on Thursday, April 18.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 63

SAMUEL OGAZI - NIGERIA
Samuel Ogazi is a current sophomore who
participated in the men’s 400m and the 4x400m relay.
In his Olympic debut, he was the youngest athlete in
the 400m final at 18 years old, and the first Nigerian
man to advance to the 400m final since 1988.
Prior to the Olympics, Ogazi had already proven
himself as an athlete. He ranked second in the Worth
U18 400m in 2023, and was the 2023 Commonwealth
Youth Champion in the 200m, 400m and Mixed
4x100m relay.
Alabama Track Athlete Samuel Ogazi poses during
NCAA Championships at Heyward Field in Eugene, Ore.
on Saturday, June 8.
TARSIS OROGOT - UGANDA
Alabama Track Athlete Tarsis Orogot poses during
NCAA Championships at Heyward Field in Eugene, Ore.
on Saturday, June 8.
Tarsis Orogot is a current senior who also made
his Olympic debut in Paris. In his very first race,
the 200m, he won in the second Heat, automatically
advancing to the semifinals. While this itself is an
impressive feat, he made waves on social media for
doing it in a pair of SpongeBob socks.
Before the Olympics, Orogot proved his
athleticism in other impressive feats. He currently
holds the Ugandan national records for both the
100m and the 200m, and was the first Ugandan to ever
compete at a World Championship in the 200m. He is
also the first East African in history to run under 20
seconds in the 200m.
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PORTIOUS WARREN - TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Portious Warren graduated from UA in 2019 and
competed in Paris for women’s Shot Put. This was her
second Olympic games after competing in Tokyo in
2020, where she placed 11th.
While at UA, her senior season proved to be an
impressive send-off to her collegiate career. She set a
new campus record at the 2019 LSU invitational with
a mark of 61-03/4, placing second. At the same event,
she placed first in the discus event.
Former Alabama Athlete Portious Warren receives an
award at the 2019 NCAA Championships on June 6, 2019.
JEREEM RICHARDS - TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Jereem Richards appeared for the third time in
the Olympics, competing in the men’s 200m, 400m,
and 4x400m relay. In the 400m semifinal, he placed
second in the first heat, advancing for the first time to
the final. Though he finished fourth overall, he ended
his time in Paris by setting a new national record for
Trinidad & Tobago.
While at UA, he received many accolades prior to
graduating in 2017. He was the school’s record holder
in both the indoor and outdoor 200m, as well as the
4x400 relay.
Former Alabama Track Athlete Jereem Richards practices
on June, 5 2017.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 65

ROMANCE
AND
RESTAURANTS
Entrepreneurs Yasmin Rosier and Gary McGee are transforming
Tuscaloosa’s culinary scene with Veganish and Urban Bar and Kitchen.
By Kristen Taylor
Photos by Sidney Todd
and Brianna Skelton
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Gary McGee (left) and Yasmin Rosier (right) standing in the Urban Bar and Kitchen’s dining area.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 67

There are many reasons why people become
entrepreneurs. Whether to pursue a passion,
build a legacy, or be their own boss. The drive
to innovate fuels their entrepreneurial spirit,
allowing them to bring unique ideas to life.
The flexibility of being an entrepreneur also
attracts individuals who value work-life balance.
Ultimately, the journey of entrepreneurship is as
diverse as the individuals who embark on it.
Tuscaloosa is witnessing a culinary revolution
with the openings of Veganish and Urban Bar and
Kitchen, two distinct restaurants that not only
add to the local food scene, but also represent the
collaborative attitude of its founders, Yasmin Rosier
and Gary McGee. As a couple, they support each other
in running their respective businesses, blending their
culinary visions to create a vibrant community hub.
Veganish, Tuscaloosa’s one-of-a-kind plant-based
restaurant, offers a diverse menu that features both
plant-based and meat options. Rosier saw a lack of vegan
options in Tuscaloosa and thought “Why not me?”
Rosier’s goal was to establish a welcoming
environment for people looking into plant-based
alternatives. Her partner would encourage her to
produce smoothie bowls, so she included them on her
menu, as well as a diverse array of other meal options.
“The vegan community here is too small, so I
wanted to create an environment where everyone
feels welcome,” Rosier explained. “It’s a place where
people can come to get a head start on finding options
for themselves.”
This approach encourages diners to explore new
dietary habits without feeling intimidated. As a selfidentified
“veganish” individual, Rosier understands
the challenges of transitioning to a plant-based diet.
McGee, with nearly 30 years in the food and
hospitality industry, has faced his own challenges.
After losing two restaurants during the pandemic,
it was Rosier’s encouragement that pushed him to
open UBK.
“She told me, I really think you got one more in
you,” McGee recalled, emphasizing the importance of
support in entrepreneurship.
The menu at UBK is designed to appeal to a wide
range of tastes. Patrons can expect to find everything
from gourmet burgers and handcrafted cocktails to
fresh salads and unique appetizers.
Both Rosier and McGee recognize staffing as a
major hurdle in the restaurant business. They both
claim that staffing is number one, along with the
challenge of ensuring product quality from vendors.
This commitment to excellence extends to
maintaining the high standards of service and food
quality that customers expect. McGee’s efforts paid
off when UBK received the USA Today Best Restaurant
Award earlier this year.
While both entrepreneurs identify as Black
business owners, they want to be recognized as just
business owners.
“I want people to see the business first,” McGee
said. “It just so happens to be owned by Black people.”
They aim for their businesses to be spaces where
people of all backgrounds can gather, enjoy good food,
and feel valued.
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Urban Bar and Kitchen is located at 2321 University Blvd and is closed on Sundays.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 69

Their partnership goes beyond business
operations; they actively support one another’s
ventures. Rosier shared that McGee helped her navigate
the early stages of Veganish, providing essential
guidance to ensure she had the tools to succeed. Their
collaboration fosters a supportive environment that
inspires others to do the same.
Both businesses are committed not just
to their own success but also to uplifting fellow
local entrepreneurs.
“I believe in trying to give back by way of let me
come and help you,” McGee said referencing his efforts
to support other businesses in the area.
For aspiring Black entrepreneurs, Rosier’s advice
is clear: “Keep going. It’s tough out here, but if you
pursue your passion, good things will come.”
Her motivation stems from the support of her
community—both customers and employees—who
inspire her to keep pushing forward.
“They promise to come support me because they
want a place like this in town,” she said, capturing the
essence of what community means to her.
As Rosier and McGee continue to navigate
the complexities of the restaurant industry, their
dedication to inclusivity, support for one another,
and commitment to creating welcoming spaces are
reshaping Tuscaloosa’s culinary landscape. Their
journey is a testament to the power of community,
reminding us all that when we uplift one another,
everyone thrives.
The Veganish Market is located at 2128 University
Blvd and is closed on Sundays.
In addition to its vegetarian options The Veganish Market also has dairy and gluten free options.
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1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 71

Belonging
To belong is to have a space where you can exist as
you are without having to compromise for another’s
comfort. For people of color, that space can be difficult
to come by. From the moment you walk into a room,
you are defined by the color of your skin, and the preconceived
notions that exist around it. How can we find a place where we
belong when our very existence is considered divisive?
The answer exists within each other. There is enough systematic
discrimination toward people of color. Why must we continue to
enforce it between one another? In a country that encourages
competition and disdain between minority communities, this
edition of our magazine seeks to recognize that we are better
when we are united than when we are divided.
The creative works in this section, submitted by UA students,
explore unity, belonging and the importance of diversity.
72 FALL ISSUE

Kaleidoscopic Melodies
By Rihanna Pointer
A kaleidoscope of melodies,
A mosaic monophony of deep-rooted notes to the soul.
Intervals of time mark the low, middle, and high,
Every stanza a tick of each note’s engraving toll.
Melanated skin like priceless jewels,
A wondrously vibrant symphony of hues.
Eyes bore into the depths of that inner reflective mirror,
Societal temptations prompt fragile opposing views.
The prejudiced and outcasted low note,
Melancholic arrangements of loneliness at the ancestrally bruised core.
Doors of inclusion and equity close repeatedly,
The soul left starving, begging, and desperately pleading for so much more.
The tediously complacent middle note,
Monotonous preliminaries stripping the kaleidoscope colorless and dull.
Repetitive placements by the higher powers of societal injustice,
Chords strike defiantly with the will of systemic adversity, exuberant, vivid, and effortful.
The triumphantly divine high note.
High-pitched harmonies of inborn and immutable eloquently diverse shades.
Cracked shards of resistance and inner turmoil fall from within the reflective surface,
Melodies turn the Kaleidoscope left and right, sounds of sorrowful oeuvre joyously fades.
A kaleidoscope of melodies,
A mosaic monophony of deep-rooted notes to the soul.
Intervals of time mark the low, middle, and high,
Every stanza a tick of each note necessary to make a whole.
An everlasting spectrum of radiant colors and noise,
Each unique and visually astounding, consumed with beauty and pride.
No matter the interval of scars which make a melanin soul,
Whether left, right, up, or down, kaleidoscopic melodies shall never divide.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 73

A Fire Without Warmth
By Mallori’ Wilkerson
My innocent cry rang through the air of the night.
I was born.
I hear the chaos, confusion, and content.
I feel the threads of my blanket.
I see nothing much.
But what I smell is nothing short of foreign.
My nose wrinkles in distaste.
What is it?
I began to shift on the tide of uneasiness.
My eyes ponder from left to right underneath my lids.
I struggle to breath as my young lungs panic.
What is that?
My veins thrum in anticipation.
Until, my eyes open and,
I regretfully see the world that’s oh so new to me.
The world was on fire.
A burning inferno that only seemed to let flames in.
I couldn’t understand. I couldn’t understand
I was dead before I could even live.
The fire burned infinitely.
On
and
On.
For days, weeks, and even years.
So bright, almost inviting.
Yet, so shunning.
I’ve never been so cold as the fires attacked my spirit.
It crept along the walls of my mind.
Singed every thought of myself existing beyond the
fires.
I was trapped.
Its radiating heat ignites the tips of my hair.
Smoke waters the ducts of my eyes.
And a final thrush of heat cascades along my skin.
My body laid desolate on the floor.
I was once born. Now, I mourn for the loss of my spirit.
Through the frailness of my senses,
I hear a unified gait in the distance.
I see nothing much.
I smell a wave of fresh air.
But, I feel something more.
What is that feeling?
A bloom of hope from the ashes?
What is it?
I pondered and pondered
Until, I hear the steps stop.
My ears ringed in anxiousness.
My heart beats with hope.
And my eyes shifted with curiosity.
I shook to pry them open.
What I saw was a desire that I dreamed of.
I looked into their eyes.
I marveled at their hair.
I wondered at their skin.
(Me.)
They all looked so different.
Talked differently
Acted differently
But, were a mirror of each other.
And, when they extended a hand-
-A warm hand.
I never felt my spirit warm more.
I felt peace.
Every charred part of myself was soothed over
With the embrace of
acceptance.
74 FALL ISSUE

The Alliance
By Raven Jackson
We stand together, hand in hand, though different paths, we share this land.
Your voice, my voice, a rising sound, in unity, our strength is found.
I see your struggle, I feel your pain, though I can’t live it, I won’t refrain.
To learn, to listen, and to fight, for justice, for truth, for every right.
Your battle’s not for you alone, in your case, I found my own.
To stand besides, not lead the way, in solidarity, come what may.
An ally’s heart is open wide, not seeking glory, but the tide of change, of shape, of hope, of
equity, together crafting destiny.
So here I stand by you, with you, in words, in actions, through and through.
For allyship is more than talk, its how we live, the path we walk.
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 75

WHAT’S ON WEB
Watching Yvonne Wells weave her
stories together
Self-taught quilter Yvonne Wells has been honing her craft for over 40 years, and earlier this semester
Paul R. Jones Museum hosted an exhibit to showcase the fruits of her labor which also included a new
book “The Story Quilts of Yvonne Wells” by Wells and UA American Studies professor Stacy Morgan
published by UA Press.
Read full stories at 1956magazine.com or scan the QR in the corner.
Photos by Grant Sturdivant and Xavier Routt
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WHAT’S ON WEB
1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 77

WHAT’S ON WEB
Photo courtesy of UA Strategic Communications
Robin Boylorn is the inaugural Holle Endowed Chair of
Communication Arts and Founding Director of the Holle Center
for Communication Arts in the College of Communication and
Information Sciences.
Earlier this semester she was recognized as a Distinguished
Research Professor by The University of Alabama’s Board of Trustees and
spearheaded the opening of the Holle Center for Communication Arts,
which serves as an “international, interdisciplinary hub for storytelling.”
We sat down to talk to her about her work at the University and
what’s next for her.
Read full stories at 1956magazine.com or scan the QR in the corner.
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1956MAGAZINE.UA.EDU 79

2023-24 AWARDS
Associated Collegiate Press Fall 2023 Conference
Honorable Mention, Feature Photo, Tyler Hogan
Associated Collegiate Press Best of Show 2024
First Place, Feature Magazine
College Media Association Apple Awards 2024
First Place, Best Magazine Cover, Division I
Southeast Journalism Conference 2024
Second Place, Best Magazine
Third Place, Best Magazine Writer, Kay Maxwell
Fifth Place, Best Feature Writer, Kay Maxwell
As our staff continues to grow
and our team improves as student
journalists, you can help support the
work we do by donating via this QR
code:
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FOLLOW US ON
SOCIAL MEDIA
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