Nineteen Fifty-Six Vol. 3 Issue 1

NINETEEN
Amour Noir
FALL 2022

Dear
BLACK
STUDENTS,
You do matter. The numerous achievements and talents
of Black students deserve to be recognized. As of Fall
2022, 11% of students on campus identified as Black or
African American. Black students are disproportionately
underrepresented in various areas on campus. Nineteen
Fifty-Six is a Black student-led magazine that amplifies the
voices within the University of Alabama’s Black community.
It also seeks to educate students from all backgrounds on
culturally important issues and topics in an effort to produce
socially-conscious, ethical and well-rounded citizens.

ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS
WRITERS
Jolencia Jones, Leah Jones, Morgan Lewis,
Kennedi Hall, Andrea Tinker, Shamiel Moore
Sophana Norville, Tyquan Houston, Dani Brown,
Kimora Legget, A’Mya Lewis, Ta’Kyla Bates,
Madison Carmouche, Lindsey Macon
DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY
Alexis Day, Ashton Jah,
Tyler Hogan, Jalen Ford, Dallas Harper
ENGAGEMENT
Janee Hill, Jordan Strawter,
Morinsola Kukoyi, Asia Smith
COPYRIGHT
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 © 2022 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.
Pictured on the cover are Jarez Parks and Ericka Logan. Cover photography by Tyler Hogan.

EDITORIAL STAFF

FROM THE EDITOR
Love, sex and relationships. Three words
that hold so much power in today’s
culture. People either enjoy talking
about those three things or they absolutely hate
it. But important and nuanced conversations
around these things are needed now more than
ever.
This time last year, I was reading an edition
of Maroon Life, the Battalion at Texas A&M’s
special edition newspaper. This edition was
entitled “Let’s Talk About Sex.” As I was
reading, an idea popped into my head. The
stories of love, sex and relationships tend to
center on white people and their experiences.
What about Black people? What about their
experiences and how can I share their stories?
At the time, I did not know I would be named
editor-in-chief of Nineteen Fifty-Six just a
mere four months later. I just knew that these
stories needed to be heard. Once I was named,
I began to turn my vision into reality and now
present to you: Amour Noir.
I am a product of Black love. My parents were
my first visual of Black love. It is—like any other
kind of love—imperfect. There are highs and
lows. Peaks and valleys. But it is nevertheless
important that Black people of every color,
gender, sexuality and background experience
what it is like to love and to be loved.
It is important that Black people see accurate
depictions of love. Far too many times, Black
people in media are in broken homes, abusive
relationships or left alone with nothing but the
clothes on their back. I did not grow up that
way. My parents were always around and even
when it was not easy to love me, they did. My
brother did. My friends did.
Nineteen Fifty-Six is committed to giving a
voice to the voiceless. It was designed to bring
stories not always told to the forefront and
start meaningful discussions about was it really
means to be a Black person in the United States.
My staff and I have brought people from all
different genders, sexualities and backgrounds
to share just how powerful love, sex and
relationships can be.
These discussions are necessary, and I am more
than honored to give these people a platform
to share them. I hope that when you turn the
pages of the first issue of Vol. 3, you will feel the
love coming out.
ASHLEE WOODS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

TABLE OF
CONTENTS
CULTURE
12
BLACK LOVE IN FILM
GENDER ROLES IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY
MONOGAMY: DATING LIFE IN COLLEGE
ALWAYS AND FOREVER: MUSIC’S INFLUENCE ON LOVE
14
16
18
20
LIFESTYLE
22
THE IMPORTANCE OF FRIENDSHIP
LIVING IN YOUR FIRST RELATIONSHIP
INNUENDO
HOW POPULAR CULTURE HAS INFLUENCED SELF-LOVE
24
28
30
34

FEATURES
36
KORYNN, A POEM
EDITORS’ PLAYLIST
WASTELAND ALBUM REVIEW
MY FUTURE, A POEM
WOMEN’S HEALTH
BLACK LOVE QUIZ
ONE STEP AHEAD
EXPERIENCES
39
43
44
47
49
52
54
56
HOW TO MAKE IT OUT OF A BREAKUP
COMING OUT IN MY OWN WAY
MY EXPERIENCE: NAVIGATING THE DATING
WORLD AS A TRANSGENDER BLACK WOMAN
59
63
65

CULTURE

LEAH JONES
FILM
BLACK LOVE IN
Black love in film might not be hard to come by,
but the portrayal of Black couples in film is not
always ideal. There are a few films that get this
portrayal right, but the issue of how Black romance is
portrayed in the media is a topic that should be discussed.
Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” might be a kid’s
movie. However, the portrayal of Black love in films is
something that has cemented itself in the hearts of a
lot of little Black girls and has become a staple movie in
many Black households.
The film has a 85% critic rating and a 74% audience
rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised the film for
its animation and how the film seemed reminiscent of
traditional Disney films.
“The backgrounds are beautifully drawn. There are sunny
days in the French Quarter, spooky nights among live
oaks hung with Spanish moss, and a rousing denouement
at the Mardi Gras,” said critic Sandra Hall.
Mariah Thomas, a senior at The University of Alabama,
said that some of her favorite aspects of the film were
seeing Tiana find love and achieve her dream of opening
a restaurant.
Cierra Gilliam, another student at the university,
recalled that the film was the first time she saw herself
represented in a Disney movie. However, Gilliam said
that Tiana being a frog for a majority of the film was
disappointing to see.
The dynamic between Tiana and Prince Naveen is
endearing. Disney’s storytelling techniques, animation
and score hold up very well despite it being over 10 years
since the film was released.
Seeing a young, Black woman slowly fall in love with that
standard Disney princess movie formula was something
that is not seen very often, especially not in children’s
media.
Outside of children’s media, Gina Prince-Bythewood’s
film “Love & Basketball”, has received lots of love since its
release in 2000. Similar to “The Princess and the Frog,”
the movie received an 85% critic rating but scored much
higher with audiences at a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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Thomas said that the movie is her favorite because of the
dynamic between the two lead characters, Monica Wright
and Quincy McCall.
“How they come together in the end is what I enjoy,”
Thomas Said. “Because mostly what I’ve seen with Black
love and with other movies, there’s always some type of
struggle or there’s always some type of issue.”
Critic, Ann Hornaday praised the movie for how it handled
Black culture and how the characters were portrayed.
“Gina Prince-Bythewood has taken the conventional
coming-of-age romance genre and invigorated it with
such vivid characters and such alertness to the culture
she's representing, that she makes what might have been
derivative into something brand new,” said Hornaday.
Barry Jenkins,’ “If Beale Street Could Talk” is another film
where Black love is portrayed positively, despite the bad
things happening to the main characters.
The movie is based on the book, “If Beale Street Could
Talk” by James Baldwin and follows Tish and Alonzo as
they try to prove Alonzo’s innocence and navigate their
relationship since Alonzo has been arrested, all while
Tish is pregnant. Unlike “The Princess and the Frog,” this
movie showcases the more tragic side of romance. It does
not end with everything ultimately being resolved. Tish
and Alonzo still have to battle with Alonzo’s sentence,
and Tish is a single mother since Alonzo is in jail.
“If Beale Street Could Talk” boasts a much higher critic
rating at 91%. However, the audience score is only at a
71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Hanna Giorgis, a writer
for The Atlantic, applauded the film for the depth that it
portrayed.
“Jenkins's If Beale Street Could Talk is a gorgeous,
enveloping film -- and one of its most poignant triumphs
is how vividly it captures the depth and complication of
intimacy among its black characters,” Giorgis said.
However, just because these films have glowing reviews
does not mean that Black romance is portrayed fairly in
the media.
Kenneth Kelly, a student at The University of Alabama,
along with Gilliam and Thomas said that Black romance
is portrayed unfairly in the media because it focuses too
much on negative aspects such as Black women being in
abusive relationships.
“[Black romance] is always depicting a struggle, there’s
always something, whether it’s abuse, fat shaming, it’s
always showing the stereotypes of Black relationships and
Black family dynamics which isn’t true for the majority,”
Gilliam said.
According to Gilliam, these movies are also showing
younger generations that it is okay to be put in bad
romantic relationships because in these movies, no matter
what type of abuse is going on, the Black woman defends
herself and finds love in the end which is unhealthy to
show.
All three students agreed that in order to help the
portrayal of Black romance in the media become more
positive, there needs to be a shift from focusing on the
negative aspects of Black love.
“I think maybe it shows more of a side of relationships
and couples getting through a time together rather than
them being in conflict with each other the whole time,”
Kelly said.
15

JOLENCIA JONES
GENDER ROLES
IN THE BLACK
COMMUNITY
16
Typically, gender roles are ways people are
expected to behave based on their gender
identity. At a young age, children are
taught to behave according to their gender. This
includes telling girls how to dress, how to behave
femininely and how to speak. Boys are expected to
be strong, confident and protective.
As people get older, gender roles start to vary
depending on life circumstances, religion or
culture. Women are often deemed as responsible
for domestic chores whereas men are deemed as
providers. These roles can put people into a social
constraint, impacting their life.
“I think challenging and changing the impact of
gender roles in a person’s life is important and
in doing so offers the individual the potential
to live a happier life, feel less constrained, and
generally improve our relationships with others,”
Utz McKnight, a professor at the University of
Alabama, said. “If possible, gender roles should
not over determine how we view our ambitions,
pursuits, and social self-descriptions.”
Gender roles often start at home at an early age.
Many Black women find themselves conforming
or defying gender roles because of their
circumstances. According to Statista, there were
approximately 4.25 million Black families in the
United States with a single mother in 2020. Black
women are forced to be financially, emotionally,
and domestically responsible for a household by
themselves.
The lack of a parental figure can skew a child’s
view of a certain gender. Single Black mothers and
fathers often must play both gender roles. It also
often leads to women teaching young boys how to
become men whereas little girls lack male love. The
cycle of gender roles in children is often repeated
by what an individual sees around them.
Religion is a core tenet in many Black households
in America. According to a study done by Pew
Research Center in 2014, nearly 8-in-10 Black
Americans identified as Christian. Many of the
gender roles that exist come from the Bible.
“The Black church has not only had an impact on
gender roles, it has shaped its very performance,”
Jurrita Williams, a Gender and Race Studies
professor at UA, said. “Without the ability to form
itself outside of the fight for freedom from white-

supremacist capitalist patriarchy, our beloved institution
of the Black church absorbed values and doctrines of its
oppressors while simultaneously having to wrestle with
the formation of its independence from it.”
Throughout the Bible, men and women were given specific
gender roles. Women are described as extensions of men,
while men are superior in some respects. The Bible details
a life for wives to submit to their husbands and husbands
to stand as providers.
“That wrestling has included gender and we feel the
limp of that wrestling,” Williams said. “Many times, our
limp is at the expense of our LGBTQ, non-binary, gender
nonconforming siblings and to the detriment of The
Body [of Christ].”
According to McKnight, places of worship have a strong
effect on how people view genders. These communities
have a certain level of control over how individuals define
themselves.
“I think it is important to allow individuals to define how
they wish to describe themselves with regard to gender
difference, and if they find their practice of religion to
provide a definition, they accept for themselves that is
their choice,” McKnight said. “I think a place of worship
because it is an important aspect of an individual’s
orientation in the world, has an important role to play in
the description of gender. The church should be attentive
to this responsibility and meet the express needs of its
congregants.”
The media Black people consume also affects the
perception of gender roles. Many popular Black movies and
tv shows depict dysfunctional households. Men are some
of the biggest powerhouses within the entertainment
industry and often control the image women portray.
“The media, in all its forms, has a central place in how
we think of gender differences and roles,” McKnight
said. “Most sources reproduce rather than challenge
established gender descriptions, because they benefit
from providing legible, community defined descriptions
of human activity. These confirm rather than challenge
how we see ourselves as gendered in a traditional social
world.”
“The formation of a reel, the direction of a movie, the
casting of a character, the writing of a script, the singing
of a song, who gets the benefit of the doubt on a news
story have all been shaped by the prevailing perceptions
of people with power who write, tell, and disseminate
the narrative. Media is one of the most powerful tools to
shape story and form identity,” said Williams.
Gender roles are very prominent and influence day-to-day
life for everyone. Although many people do not have issues
with gender roles, it is still important to acknowledge
them. It is best that everyone conforms to the roles they
see best for themselves and not what society says.
17

Morgan Lewis
Monogamy:
Dating Life in College
Does the saying, “the more
the merrier” apply to
relationships in college?
It might sound like a silly question,
but oftentimes it is said that loyalty
amongst the youth is rare to find,
and everyone seems to have multiple
partners these days. Relationships in
society have evolved over the years,
and people are becoming curious to
find new ways to gain the intimacy
they want while maintaining the
boundaries they desire. The term
“open-relationship” has cultivated its
existence in the dating world, so one
cannot help but wonder if monogamy
in college is an outdated idea, or do
young people still want “old school
love?”
A study done by a professional
research service called, the Institute of
Tropical Medicine asked 800 college
students about their subconscious
attitude toward monogamy. The
results concluded more than 9-in-
10 college students have a strong
preference towards monogamy. The
Kinsey Institute, an organization that
discusses research results relating to
relationship behavior, studied the
number of people already involved
in polyamorous relationships is
1-in-9. Out of the people who are
18

not interested in polyamory, only 1-in-7 indicated
they respect people who engage in polyamory. If
statistics show college students favor monogamy,
where is the disconnect on campus?
The apparent lack of monogamy on campuses could
be attributed to college student’s desire in securing
a degree more than a long-term relationship. An
article in The Daily Targum explains how the pressure
of finding jobs, securing internships, participating
in extracurriculars, and building resumes has
become the main priority for many students as
the workforce becomes more competitive. College
students can be responsible for balancing hours at
a job, while being a full-time student. This can make
it difficult for some students to focus on anything
else. Preoccupation with schoolwork is driven by
the need for financial independence, which can put
relationships at the bottom of a to-do-list.
Prominent college hookup culture could also be a
connection between apparent lack of monogamy on
campus. According to the American Psychological
Association, between 60 and 80 percent of North
American students have had a hookup experience
while in college, and 70 percent of sexually active
12- to 21-year-olds have had uncommitted sex within
the year 2013. Hookup culture allows for no strings
attached interactions, as well as less effort put in
compared to a monogamous relationship. If a lighter
workload is what college students seek, hookups
seem to be an easier route for some students
.
Hookup culture can also be destructive to monogamy
because it produces feelings of isolation. A study by
Scholars Strategy Network shows students who do
not participate in hookups end up being socially
isolated. Social isolation could possibly hinder a
student’s chances of developing relationships with
others.
Monogamy can still be ideal for college students
who want a traditional relationship. To achieve
monogamy, effective communication is suggested.
Research concerning communicative dilemmas
written by Kendra Knight suggests couples
participate in explicit negotiations of the status
of the relationship, expectations, and appropriate
behaviors to abide by. Casual relationships do not
require much communication, so making intentions
known can create a long-lasting relationship. An
article written on monogamy in college suggests
resisting temptation as well. Social gatherings along
with alcohol allow for a great deal of interaction
with other people, but it is important to surround
yourself with people who are supportive of your
relationship.
Although relationships in our society have changed,
knowing what works best for your idea of a
relationship, whether it is “old school love” or open
relationships, is important. Communicating your
preferences can increase your chances of finding
what you want while in college.
19

JOLENCIA JONES
ALWAYS
and
FOREVER
MUSIC’S INFLUENCE
ON LOVE
Music has been a staple in the Black community
for centuries. Imagine songs like Never Too
Much by Luther Vandross, All My Life by K-Ci
& Jojo, Love on Top by Beyonce, Let It Burn by Jasmine
Sullivan, or Best Part by Daniel Caesar & HER. The love
is described so passionately in these songs but why have
artists stopped singing as passionately about the topic
than before? How has music influenced love in the Black
community?
Some of the most consumed music within the Black
community is hip-hop and R&B. According to Billboard,
hip-hop and R&B have been dominating the US market
since 2017. As music continues to evolve, the topics explored
have become less emotional but more explicit. Different
genres invoke different emotions. R&B music tends to
cover a range of topics, from love, lust, heartbreak, grief
and anger. In recent years R&B has shifted to a genre of
less passion and more apathy towards love. No one wants
to get played but everyone wants to be the player. In 2004
80% of songs that topped the chart were classified as R&B
but from 2005 to 2013, R&B sales declined. The current
wave of mainstream R&B demonstrates that love does not
have to be expressed in a passionate way anymore.
With a recent increase in artists deeming themselves
“toxic” and the promotion of toxic relationships, R&B has
a different feel. However, current artists are not the only
ones with toxic lyrics. R&B has always had a mix of toxic
songs in the mix of passionate love songs. Rappers and
singers are more inclined to be straightforward with their
feelings today rather than disguising them in metaphors
like previous years. This also could be because songs
do not necessarily need to be radio friendly to become
popular. With streaming taking over, it is easier for music
to be accessible which means people are more inclined to
express themselves explicitly.
Hip-hop, a genre that has always been known for its
aggressive and explicit manner. Often being used for
hypersexuality and violence, also has instances of love.
However, love is often described as a struggle. Most
20

male rappers make love songs that cover topics of love
and lust. However, how are teenagers and young adults
interpreting these lyrics? People are talking about love,
but does anyone know how to give and receive love? Older
generations tend to believe love is a lost cause for the
younger generation.
“I think the main difference that I’ve noticed is just like,
subject matter, like it’s just not to me about love anymore.
It’s about something completely different. It’s about what
can you do for me, what can you provide? How much money
you got? Yet, it’s less about kind of the intrinsic value of
people in relationships, and more about money and image
and looking a certain way on social media, and that kind
of creates a completely different field in the music to me,”
said Barbara-Shae Jackson, a graduate research assistant
and doctoral candidate for the University of Alabama.
Many people have resulted in listening to older songs
to satisfy the void of emotion that is different in today’s
music. With a social media-based world, everything is
about how others are perceived. Some individuals base
their personalities off what they see and hear. If they
listen to artists with misogynistic lyrics, they will start
to agree with that ideology. Music has different mental
and emotional triggers. Violent songs can lead to violent
thoughts and actions. So, when artists spend less time
talking about love, many people follow along and focus on
the materialistic aspect.
So, what is love besides a four-letter word or a verb?
According to Merriam-Webster, love is defined as “strong
affection for another arising out of kinship or personal
ties or attraction based on sexual desire.”
Although R&B is not a dead genre, it still has a different
feel than R&B songs from the past. Are people following
trends or is love just not as cool to talk about? Although
music influences the mind, everyone has a different love
language and interpretation of love.
21

LIFESTYLE

SOPHANA NORVILLE
The IMportance of
Friendship
Finding a solid friend group can be hard for
even the most social people. Many are coming
from different places all over the country. It can
sometimes feel as though you are all alone and cannot
find anyone to relate to. Although it may look like this
for some, college can be best place to make new friends.
The reality for a lot of college students means leaving
your hometown friends. You are in a new environment
and you need some time to adjust. The best thing to
be surrounded by is a support group that can help ease
your mind with some laughter and good times.
College is a stressful time, so having a group that can
help take the edge off means a lot. College friends can
lead to lifelong friends. These friends see you through
so many phases in your life. You grow together and see
one another accomplish the things you have dreamed
about.
Ericka Logan, a junior at the University of Alabama
said, “friendships are better for a person’s wellbeing and
sense of belonging.”
College friends are basically your home away from
home. These will be the people who can come over at
24

two in the morning just to watch movies on the weekend
or that you can go with to a sporting event. Your friends
will be there when you want to cry or when you don’t
want to study alone at the library.
Sometimes it becomes hard to trust people especially
when you are in a new environment like college.
Asia Armstead, a junior at UA said, “the relationship of
friendships should be valued because people gain trust
developed from platonic love.”
In college you might come across that one person that
you end up in a romantic relationship with. While
romantic relationships are great, having a deeper level
of trust within your friends is something everyone
should strive for. Trust in a friendship means that you
know this person has your best interest at heart and that
they would never lead you down the wrong path.
Being in a romantic relationship can get tricky between
balancing your love life and your friends. Many
people struggle to find the time to dedicate to their
friends and to their partner. At times, one might feel
like less of a priority in your life. You still have school,
clubs, homework, a relationship, work, and friends
that all need some of your time and it can become
very overwhelming.
“Friendships need to be valued over relationships
because relationships don’t always last a lifetime like
friendships can,” Logan said.
Being in a romantic relationship can be great and so can
having a close friend group. Finding the right balance
between the two can help. Having friends means they
will always be there for you during your rises and falls.
They will be that shoulder to cry on if things go bad.
Your friends know you on a completely different level
and that is why they are so important to have. When
you need a break from the world and your relationship,
your friends are going to be your safe place. You never
want to make your friends feel like you don’t need them
anymore because you have a partner in your life. Your
friends can even warn you about things that you can
be blinded by. True friends know what is best for you
and only want to see you happy. Sometimes it even
gets hard for friends and you guys need to have those
uncomfortable conversations to be okay again. That is
all a part of real friendships.
Making friends can seem like such an obstacle
especially in college. It can get a little overwhelming
being around thousands of different people every day.
One of the best ways to make friends is through joining
clubs or organizations here on campus. Getting dinner
together after a club meeting or going to an event your
organization is having is one way to start making friends.
Finding people with the same hobbies as you is always
a great conversation starter. Being a part of a sorority or
fraternity is another way to make friends. You can form
lifelong bonds from being in such a strong and close
community.
Many people have their own definitions of what
friendship means to them. You can see people caring
for one other and wanting to see each other happy.
Some see laughing, crying, singing, watching movies,
having dinner or going to a concert on the weekend. All
these things and more are why friends mean the world
to many people. Handling all the different things going
on in your personal life can be a challenge, but having
friends that can help you forget about the worries even
for an hour can mean everything.
25

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SOPHANA NORVILLE
LIVING IN YOUR FIRST
RELATIONSHIP
HOW HOME ENVIRONMENTS INFLUENCE RELATIONSHIPS
Some people may not think that the
environment they grew up in has any
impact on how they live their lives. The truth is,
an environment has everything to do with the way
people live; from how they speak to people, to how
they dress and even down to relationships.
Being a college student, you experience many
relationships whether it be friendships or romance.
Growing up in a certain dynamic can really affect
how people treat one another. Someone who has
grown up in a two-parent household can have a
completely different view on love vs. someone who
had only one parent in their life. Just like how
someone who has grown up in a household where
there is constant arguing might think that is how
relationships are supposed to be. An environment
is all you know, so it becomes a part of who you are.
Sometimes you do not even realize how much an
environment has impacted you until you move away
from it. A point made by “How the Environment
Shapes Us” shows that the impact an environment
has on someone is done unconsciously in many
ways. This is because humans are social and are
constantly surrounded by interactions throughout
life. Each of those interactions have some form of
effect on them.
Growing up, your parents or guardians are
usually the first people you interact with. These
relationships have an impact on who you are
as an individual. A study that was found in the
“Psychological Science” states that men who grow
up in a warm loving environment are able to
control their emotions better and have stronger
relationships as they get older. On the other hand,
some may have experienced neglect growing up
and, therefore, became independent at a very young
age. This dynamic may cause you to push people
away and feel that you cannot depend on anyone.
Research done by “Gillespie Shields” shows that
having family intactness is important as well.
It is encouraged because studies show that an
individual's success in life can increase when
surrounded by a strong connected family. In some
Black households, for example, you may have
generation after generation of loving parents
and be able to see what love looks and feels like
through family gatherings or sitting with your
grandparents who have been together for many
years talking about their love. Being surrounded
by this can give you hope that you will one day
experience a relationship like that. Seeing constant
support like that can influence someone to strive
for the best in any aspect of their life because they
know it is possible.
Some people are not that lucky and have trouble
with relationships due to not seeing any solid
relationships around them. Growing up in a single
parent household can cause you to be extremely
independent or extremely dependent. Some might
28
28

see their single parent struggling and realize
they never want to experience that. This can
cause them to go seeking for someone who
can provide for them no matter what. In other
cases, it can make you independent because
you have never had anyone to help you and
had to “handle it all”. Either one of these
dynamics can cause painful or unsuccessful
relationships.
Observing relationships in your home
environment is not the only influence you
have growing up. It is also what you are
taught. Words have meaning behind them
and what someone says to you can stick
with you throughout life. If you are around
someone who is constantly telling you that
you do not need anyone to help you in life,
this may cause you to take on the burdens
of those around you because you feel like
you can handle it all on your own. What you
hear and what you are told as a young person
have a big impact, especially if coming from
someone you admire. Having an environment
that uplifts you and people who want the
best for you is beneficial.
In “Roots of Action” it actually shows the
psychological effect words have on the brain
growing up. The article states that hearing
positive words can cause one to excel in
life but having negativity surrounding
you can actually interrupt your growth.
Unfortunately, if you did not experience that
kind of upbringing, breaking the cycle of
mistreatment can be hard. It will take a lot of
work to undo the damage caused by a negative
environment or upbringing. Whenever you
come in contact with others, what they see
is a reflection of how you were raised. They
can either see someone who is loving and
supportive or they may see someone who is
selfish and discouraging. The saying, “You
are what you attract,” is true. If all you know
is chaos, that is what you will draw to you. You
can “relate” to this kind of person because it
is a familiar environment. Some people do
not like change, so they try to find something
that resembles what they already know.
You experience so many relationships in
life. Your home environment is your first
relationship, and it is the biggest one. An
environment is the foundation for all future
relationships in life.
How you treat people and how you let
them treat you all comes from how your
environment has influenced you.
29

30
TYLER HOGAN
INNUENDO

31

32

33

LEAH JONES
HOW POPULAR
CULTURE HAS
INFLUENCED
SELF-LOVE
FACE MASK
34
Recently there has been a rise in people practicing
self-love. With the new body positivity
movement, social media influencing how
people perceive themselves and musical artists singing
about feeling good or inspiring others to feel
good, people are learning to love themselves more
than they have in the past.
“Self-love is something nobody else can give you, but
you have to know how to do it yourself,” Shakerria
Dailey-Williams, a student at the University of Alabama,
said.
Dailey-Williams said that self-love is taking care of
yourself first because when you accomplish that, you
can know and do what is best for you.
“Always take time to love yourself. Take one day out
of the week, one day out of the month, or whatever
to be about you. Treat yourself, learn to be by yourself,”
Dailey-Williams said.
She thinks that self-love has become so popular recently
because of the positive image that some musical
artists who do not fit the traditional beauty standards,
such as Lizzo, are leading.
“Her music is giving off the ‘love yourself’ message,
and that’s always been her journey,” Dailey Williams
said. “Even before I knew who she was, that was her
message, and I feel like when we have people come
out like her that don’t fit what used to be the beauty
standard 20 years ago, and they look real, and they
look like us, and they’re coming out saying ‘I love myself,
I don’t care what I look like, I love myself and I
want you to do the same,’ people started looking in
the mirror and loving themselves.”

Doja Cat is another musical artist helping people
learn to love themselves. In an article by Romper,
writer, Tabitha St. Bernard-Jacobs said that Doja
Cat shaving her head and embracing herself without
hair taught her how to love her own hair and,
by extension, herself.
“I was in my mid-thirties before I discovered hair
picks and the crowning glory of my own afro. And
now, y’all can’t tell me a thing about my afro — it’s
my favorite feature, with a close second being my
skin,” Bernard-Jacobs wrote.
Kennedy Allen, a student at UA, agrees that selflove
means taking care of and acknowledging all
of the wonderful things about yourself. She said
that knowing how to love yourself teaches you
confidence and independence.
“It’s always great to rely on yourself for validation
and affirmation rather than getting it from something
or somebody else,” Allen said.
With the rise of social media apps in popular
culture, Allen said these apps pressure people to
change themselves to fit society’s beauty standards.
That pressure, according to Allen, can lead
to a lack of confidence, where people apologize
more often than they should.
“I think it’s important to recognize the things
that you apologize for because a lot of the time
today, people will say, ‘oh, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m
sorry,’ and I think that when people are apologetic,
they aren’t confident in themselves,” Allen said.
Diamond Cook, a sophomore at UA, also agrees
that confidence is a crucial part of self-love.
“To get through life we have to have self-love,”
Cook said. “You can’t care about what other people
think. That’s the only way you’re going to get
somewhere.”
Allen said the body positivity movement played
a huge role in how self-love is viewed in today’s
culture. Allen said that because we have only ever
seen one body type being represented, now we see
all of these different body types, which helps promote
diversity and inclusion.
In an article by Rolling Stone, Lizzo said that she
has had troubles with coming to terms with her
body type in the past due to issues such as failed
relationships and body dysmorphia, but she has
learned from those experiences how to love herself
and find worth within herself.
However, despite how much positive representation
is shown in the media, learning how to love
yourself can be difficult for some people. Not being
too hard on yourself is a piece of advice Allen
would give to people who are learning to love
themselves.
“You could be in your prime right now and not
know it,” Allen said. “Your future self will thank
you for loving yourself now because you never
know what your life will be like in a year.”
you are
beautiful
love
yourself
be who
you're meant
to be
35

FEATURES

38

Korynn
by Kimora Leggett
When they mention a love like ours
They say it comes from a choice.
They say we choose who we are
While they look at us with disgust
I agree with their statement because
I did get to choose
But it’s not the gender I chose,
It’s every aspect of you.
Out of all men and all women
All genders and those with none.
I choose you, my perfect person
who I’d choose over everyone.
39

40

41

To improve your eating and lifestyle habits, take advantage of the
nutrition services offered by the registered dietitian at the
UA Student Health Center and Pharmacy:
• Individual nutrition counseling and medical nutrition therapy in the
areas of healthy eating, weight loss/gain, GI conditions, food
allergies/intolerances, diabetes or hypoglycemia, heart health and
disordered eating.
• Measurement of metabolism and body fat.
• Nutrition presentations for student groups.
Access your patient portal to make an appointment today!
{Your patient portal login is located on the Student Tab of your MyBama account}
Cherie Simpson, MS, RD, LD
Dietitian Nutritionist
nutrition@ua.edu
205-348-0205

Editors’ Playlist
1.) I Will Always Love You-
Whitney Houston
2.) All of Me-John Legend
3.) You-Lloyd
4.) Boo’d Up-Ella Mai
5.) Let Me Love You- Mario
6.) My Boo-Usher ft. Alicia
Keys
7.) Real Love-Mary J Blige
8.) I Want You Around-Snoh
Alegra
9.) Cater 2 U-Destiny’s Child
10.) Good Kisser-Usher
11.) Ordinary People-John
Legend
12.) Thinkin Bout You-Frank
Ocean
13.) When I See You- Fantasia
14.) Love On Top-Beyoncé
15.) Dangerously In Love-
Beyoncé
16.) Kisses Down Low-Kelly
Rowland
17.) We Belong Together-
Mariah Carey
18.) Love Don’t Change-
Jeremih
19.) In the Mood-Tyrone
Davis
20.) Lady-D’Angelo
21.) Rain-SWV
22.) Weak-SWV
23.) Can We Talk-Tevin
Campbell
24.) Hold On-En Vogue
25.) 4th Baby Mama-Summer
Walker
25.) Sit On it-Jazmine Sullivan
ft Ari Lennox
26.) Poetic Justice-Kendrick
Lamar ft. Drake
27.) Secret-21 Savage ft.
Summer Walker
28.) High School-Nicki Minaj
ft. Lil Wayne
29.) Body Language-Big Sean
ft. Ty Dolla $ign & Jhené Aiko
30.) The One-Tamar Braxton
31.) So Into You-Tamia
32.) Mrs. Right-Mindless
Behavior
33.) How You Gonna Act Like
That- Tyrese
34.) My Bestie- Lloyd ft. Sevyn
Streeter
35.) About You-Blxst
36.) F.N.F- Hitkidd & Glorilla
[Remix] ft. Latto & JT
37.) How To Love-Lil Wayne
38.) The Weekend-SZA
39.) Earned It- The Weeknd
40.) Rock the Boat-Aaliyah
41.) Love- Keyshia Cole
42.) Rocket-Beyoncé
43.) Love Song-Kaash Paige
44.) Cuff it-Beyoncé
45.) Dance For You-Beyoncé
46.) If I Ain’t Got You-Alicia
Keys
47.) All Mine-Brent Faiyaz
48.) One of Them Nights-
Moneybagg Yo
49.) Be Careful-Cardi B
50.) Like You-Bow Wow ft.
Ciara
51.) Kiss Me Thru The Phone-
Soulja Boy
52.) 03’ Bonnie & Clyde-
JAY-Z ft. Beyoncé
53.) Love Happy- The Carters
54.) V.S.O.P- K. Michelle
55.) Girls Need Love-Summer
Walker
56.) Dream- DeBarge
57.) Ex Factor- Lauryn Hill
58.) Hrs&Hrs- Muni Long
59.) Come On-Jhené Aiko
60.) Sweet Lady-Tyrese
61.) From Time-Drake ft.
Jhené Aiko
62.) Lotus Flower Bomb-Wale
63.) Excuse Me Miss-JAY- Z
64.) Power Trip-J.Cole ft.
Miguel
65.) Put It On Me-Ja Rule ft.
Lil’ Mo & Vita
66.) Just In Case-Jaheim
67.) Part II (On the Run)-
JAY-Z ft. Beyoncé
68.) Love All Over Me-Monica
69.) The Way-Jill Scott
70.) So In Love-Jill Scott ft.
Anthony Hamilton
71.) Charlene- Anthony
Hamilton
72.) If It Isn’t Love-New
Edition
73.) Close Friends-Lil Baby
74.) How Do You Want It-
Tupac
75.) Never Too Much- Luther
Vandross

Wasteland
Album Review:
DANI BROWN
Brent Faiyaz’s third studio album, “WASTELAND”
embodies his idiosyncratic style, as it tells
the unique story of how the consequences of
actions have an effect on one’s mental state. The cinematic
theme of the album captivates the mind to visualize the
feelings of suspense, anger, pain, passion, and heartbreak.
Faiyaz and his music are often deemed as toxic, as it
often correlates to emotionally fragmented relationships.
WASTELAND embodies the failure of relationships made
worse by successes. The album, WASTELAND consists
of 19 elements, the introduction, 14 tracks (songs), an
interlude, and three intriguing skits.
The arrangement of the album truly fits the sequence of
the story that Faiyaz is trying to convey. Starting with the
introduction as it gives the listener a sense of anticipation
for what’s to come in the following tracks. Each song track
on this album allows us to dive into Faiyaz’s struggles
with his success, as it takes a toll on his relationships and
mental health. He truly takes us on a visual journey in the
making of his skits as they grab our attention, keeping us
eager for answers and explanations for each.
Track 1 - VILLAIN’S THEME
Faiyaz’s opening introduction, VILLAIN’S THEME is a
portrayal of how he views the ways of life while dealing
with the rise to his success. It starts as a conversation
that encompasses how working can become so repetitive
that you can lose yourself during the process. During this
introduction he states that he makes real music “that’s like
a temporary euphoria.” Throughout VILLAIN’S THEME
he addresses the label “toxic” in which the internet world
has attached to him. He expresses why he messes around
having fun and finding joy in ways that others view as
reckless. In the end of his intro he poses the question,
“What purpose do your vices serve in your life?”
Track 2 - LOOSE CHANGE
In this song Faiyaz recognizes his successes and rightful
path to fame as he questions his lover and their intentions
of being with him. The song begins with “What’s left of
us? “What’s left of our lives?” These lyrics engage the
audience as it gives us a relatable visualization of his his
declining relationship. The condition of his relationship
caused him to question love and its entirety. In all, the
misunderstanding of love can lead him to making more
poor decisions in other relationships to follow.
Track 7 - PRICE OF FAME
Understanding Faiyaz’s disappointment in the song,
LOOSE CHANGE leads to his acceptance that success
and fame often has a price to be paid when it comes
to maintaining relationships. In his 6 minutes and 19
seconds song, PRICE OF FAME, he goes into depth of the
disconnect that he has with relationships because of his
fame that he feels is overrated. The song begins in slow
44

and low tones giving us his idiosyncratic style at
its finest. As the song progresses, it speeds up,
then begins to transition at 2:59 displaying unique
expressions. In the music video for this song,
Brent is recorded with a fan who is elated to be
in his presence, he didn’t treat the fan indifferent
but it’s clear he isn’t impressed. The main chorus
of the first 2 minutes 59 seconds of the song is
“(The fame) I swear it isn’t everything,” “(People
screaming your name) I swear it isn’t everything.”
These lyrics convey that just because Faiyaz has
reached a certain stature in the name of fame, he
is still human, fame doesn’t make you any more or
less important than the average person.
Track 13 - DEAD MAN WALKING
Although DEAD MAN WALKING was released as a
single two years prior to the drop of WASTELAND,
it is listed as the thirteenth track lasting at
four minutes and seven seconds. This song
communicates the idea of the intro, VILLAIN’S
THEME. The chorus symbolizes putting yourself
first, stating, “You can do what you wanna, live
how you wanna, spend how you wanna, be who you
wanna be.” These lyrics align with the “temporary
euphoria” implication of VILLAIN’S THEME.
Track 19 - ANGEL
WASTELAND ends with the 19th track, ANGEL.
This song gives a captivating love ballad about
the relationship between the flawed artist and
his lover. In this song he looks to his girlfriend
to never leave his side, despite what he has done
to her negatively while deeming her an angel in
disguise. He feels as if he would be lost without
her and her support, he looks to her as an escape
from the dysfunctional world he feels like he has
created for himself.
The skits of this album truly tie the moral of this
album in and its cinematic theme. In skit one,
EGOMANIAC, lasting at only 1 minute and 22
seconds, Faiyaz is playing the character “Chris.”
Chris is having a conversation with his pregnant
girlfriend who feels like he is not supporting her
in any way. She feels alone and like he doesn’t care
about her as he is giving his attention to other
things and people. Moreover, skit two, OBLIVION
really gives us insight into how his girlfriend is
feeling. In skit two “Chris” seems to be enjoying
a short intimate time with a female friend. How
do these poor actions play out in the end? Finally
in skit three, WAKE UP CALL, we get a full intake
of the consequences of Chris’ actions. This
skit may be a trigger warning as it tells what the
ending of the lovers’ story could be. Chris’ girlfriend
is fed up with his careless actions, as she
states, “You’re the worst thing that ever happened
to me.” During their phone call, she states that
Chris “will never see her or the baby again.” As
Chris tries to make his way to save his girlfriend
and unborn child, he crashes, leaving us feeling
the sorrow of their demise.
45

46

My
A’MYA T. LEWIS
FUTURE
I hope that my future husband thinks I’m as beautiful as the man who created me
I hope he loves me like my father
And cares for me like my mother
I hope that he protects me like my brother
And confines in me like his best friend
I hope he sees past my flaws
And is deaf to the negativity talked behind my back in this crucial world
I hope that like a doctor, he treats the stab wounds in my back
And heals me with his love
I hope that he is calm, like the night
And soothing like a hot bath to aching muscles
I hope that he brings me warmth like the summer sun
For I am cold, like long, lonesome, winter nights
I want him to hold me, like I’m a child
And fill me up, where I am empty
I want to mean the world to him
Because he will mean the world to me
For I will have waited long enough to meet him.
47

48

LEAH JONES
W O M E N ’ S
H E A L
H
Women’s healthcare is more important
than many women may understand it to
be. Those who have reproductive organs
such as a uterus and a cervix require checkups and
care to remain healthy and safe. However, many
people are not aware of just how crucial this is.
“As women and, whether you identify as female or
not, those who were born with a uterus and born
with a cervix, we have some very unique healthcare
needs,” Dr. Amy Lee, a professor at the University of
Alabama and the DNP Program Coordinator said,
Lee said it is important to be affiliated with someone
who works with women and people who have those
reproductive structures. Doing so helps with
prevention of issues like STIs and cervical cancer,
but also helps with intervention if these issues ever
occur.
“If you get infected with an STI like gonorrhea or
chlamydia, if left untreated it can result to long
term infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and
ectopic pregnancies,” Lee said. “So, the sooner you
recognize you have a problem, and it is detected and
treated, the more likely you are to prevent all this in
the long run,” said Lee.
Dr. Lee has an expansive background in women’s
healthcare covering practices like obstetrics,
gynecology, and labor, delivery, recovery and
postpartum (LDRP) nursing. Since graduating from
the University of Alabama in 1990, Lee has assisted
many women with their healthcare needs.
Many women are familiar getting an annual pap
smear to examine the state of reproductive organs.
However, most people are not as well informed about
pap smears as they may think. Research has found
that they are not always efficient in finding cervical
issues.
“We’ve recognized over the past two or three decades
the role that the HPV virus plays in cervical cancer
and how prevention of HPV virus can prevent cervical
cancer,” Lee said. “The recommendation that has
come out recently is that we can use primary HPV
testing starting at 25. Then you just test for HPV
and if it’s negative, you do not have to do the cycle.”
49

Most people are still told they should receive a pap
smear at least once a year. Issues with access to
health services like HPV testing across different
demographics create a level of misinformation.
“There are just layers upon layers of barriers to
access that make it really hard for women and those
who have cervixes and uteruses to access the care
they need,” Lee said.
Lee has worked to spread her knowledge about
women’s sexual and reproductive health. After
recognizing the flaws in Maryland’s sexual education
curriculum, Lee created an updated sexual education
curriculum. Lee’s curriculum added information that
originally was not allowed to be taught in Maryland
schools like emergency contraception.
The approval was important to Lee because she
believes everyone should be informed about their
bodies so they can make decisions for themselves.
“This should just be a normal part of our curriculum
in an educational format,” Lee said. “Just the facts.
Give people the facts and let them decipher those
facts for themselves.”
Having a trusted healthcare professional that
understands female reproductive organs is especially
necessary for Black women. With medical biases and
racism that lead to Black women having three times
the maternal mortality rates as white women, it
makes having someone who understands their body
more crucial for these women.
Monica Beltran for Every Child Thrives wrote,
“Regardless of income or education level, Black women
in America are three times more likely to die from a
pregnancy-related cause than White women. That’s
unacceptable, and caused by systemic inequities –
the differences in how people are treated, based on
who they are, which create significant disparities in
healthcare outcomes.”
Multiple factors contribute to why Black women
disproportionately face barriers in the medical field.
Lack of educational resources on reproduction
in Black communities makes Black women more
suspectable to unintended pregnancies.
The National Partnership for Women and Families
wrote, “Black women experience higher rates of
unintended pregnancies than all other racial groups,
in part because of disparities in access to quality
contraceptive care and counseling.”
50

Additionally, “Black women’s access to abortion is
limited, and they may be more likely to experience
the ill effects of abortion restrictions — such as
delayed care, increased costs or lack of access to
care.”
Other factors like lack of healthcare due to not being
able to afford it put Black women at a disadvantage
with medical care.
“Median wages for Black women in the United States
are $36,227 per year, which is $21,698 less than the
median wages for white, non-Hispanic men. These
lost wages mean Black women and their families have
less money to support themselves and their families,
and may have to choose between essential resources
like housing, child care, food and health care,” The
National Partnership for Women and Families wrote.
Combating the disparities Black women face in the
medical field will require better access to healthcare
for Black women and more health professionals to
be aware of and understand the unique experiences
their Black patients face.
This is where having a trusted medical professional
comes in to play. Doctors that understand the issues
Black women face and make those women one of
their priorities are important. This includes doctors
like Dr. Mia Cowan.
Cowan is a board-certified gynecologist and the
founder of MiBella Wellness Center, located in
Birmingham AL. She obtained her undergraduate and
graduate degrees at the University of Alabama and
now works as a physician specializing in gynecology,
wellness, weight management, and intimacy.
A part of MiBella’s core values of customer service is
treating patients with empathy regardless of their
identity.
MiBella’s website sates, “We welcome and embrace
everyone regardless of race, gender, sexual
orientation (LGBTQ), and socioeconomic status.
We proudly serve all our patients with respect and
exceptional patient care.”
Through her inclusiveness with patients and the
empathy she can show as a Black woman herself,
Cowan is doing the work to care for marginalized
groups in healthcare like Black women.
“I’ve changed a lot of women’s lives by listening to
them,” Cowan said for Medical College of Wisconsin.
51

Black L ve Quiz
Movie Edition
written by Ta’Kyla Bates
1. “I’ll play you. For what? For your
heart!”
A. Love & Basketball
B. How Stella Got Her Groove Back
C. Waiting to Exhale
D. Brown Sugar
2.“Love is a juice with many tastes. Some
bitter, others sweet. A wine which has few
vineyards.”
A. Boomerang
B. Love Jones
C. The Photograph
D. Poetic Justice
3.“Would you like to have dinner
with us tonight? It’s just leftovers.
Collard greens and corn bread, some
candied yams, a little potato salad,
fried chicken, peach cobbler and a few
slices of ham.”
A. Deliver Us From Eva
B. Waiting to Exhale
C. Two Can Play That Game
D. Think Like A Man
4. “This from the guy who makes a
midnight run to the video store and
comes back with Booty Call and the Lion
King!”
A.Deliver Us From Eva
B. The Wood
C. How Stella Got Her Groove Back
D. Jason’s Lyric
5. “Simplicity provides a
fine line between elegance
and plainness”
A. Brown Sugar
B. Love Jones
C. The Photograph
D. Jason’s Lyric
6. “I want to make love
to you tonight. I feel
our opportunity has
presented itself again,
and... I don’t want to
miss out on it twice”
A. Deliver Us From Eva
B. Love Jones
C. Malcom & Marie
D. Boomerang
7. My mother wasn’t very
good at love. What if I’m
just like her?”
A.How Stella Got Her
Groove Back
B. Why Did I Get Married?
C. The Photograph
D. Jason’s Lyric
8.“I am TRYING to love
you, but I don’t want
my heart broken. But
that’s exactly what
you’re gonna do if you
keep trying to save a
brother that don’t want
to be saved!”
A. The Wood
B. Just Wright
C. Jason’s Lyric
D. Waiting to Exhale
52

9.“Man, why do you always do
that? If you want the last
piece, why did you ask me if
I want the last piece?
A. Love Don’t Cost A Thing
B. Love & Basketball
C. Think Like a Man
D. The Wood
12. “Boom”
A. Love and Basketball
B. Why Did I Get Married?
C. Jumping the Broom
D. Why Did I Get Married Too?
10. “What do you know
about love? What could you
possibly know about love,
you know I’m sick and tired
of men using love as if it’s
some disease you just catch.
Love should have brought
your ass home last night!”
A. Why Did I Get Married?
B. Boomerang
C. Best Man
D. Southside With You
13. “I’m not saying it like that. No, I
am. I am. It’s like that Ms. Loretta,
I’m ready for th rest of the tour!”
A. Think Like A Man
B. Think Like A Man 2
C. About Last Night
D. Just Wright
14. “You ain’t got to love me, but you
gonna know that I love you”
A. If Beale Street Could Talk
B. Sylvie’s Love
C. Lover’s Rock
D. Moonlight
12-14 You know your Black Love films, no doubt about it!
9-11 You watch a lot of Black movies, you’re just a lil’ rusty.
6-8 Come on now, you got it, you just gotta go re-watch a few.
3-5 You’re letting us down, maybe it’s time to do a little movie
marathon.
0-2 Black Card REVOKED! Just playing but you got some work to do.
Answers
1.A 2.D 3.B 4.C 5.A 6.B 7.C 8.C 9.D 10.B 11.A 12.B 13.A 14.D
53

MORGAN LEWIS & TYQUAN HOUSTON
HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune
system. The CDC reports that most people
have flu-like symptoms within 2 to 4 weeks after
the infection, including a sore throat, fever, rash,
night sweats, mouth ulcers, etc. The second stage of
HIV infection is asymptomatic. The virus is still active,
but a person may not get any symptoms.
If a person with HIV is left untreated, the virus can
evolve into AIDS. People who have AIDS have a badly
damaged immune system and can be prone to other infections
as well.
According to the CDC, HIV can be transmitted through
sexual contact including anal sex, vaginal sex and oral
sex. The virus can also be transmitted by sharing needles,
syringes or other drug injection equipment. If
bodily fluids from an infected person touch the mucous
membranes of a non-infected person, it could lead to
infection. Bodily fluids come from cuts, sores, or open
wounds of an infected person.
NEW HIV DIAGNOSES
in 2020, according to a CDC report
42% OF THE DIAGNOSES:
AFRICAN
AMERICAN
26% OF THE DIAGNOSES:
BLACK
LGBTQ+
PREVENTION
In 2020, there were a total of 30,349 new HIV diagnoses
reported by the CDC. 42% of those cases were African
Americans. Black people in the LGBTQIA+ community
were the most affected with Black gay and bisexual men
accounting for 26% of the new diagnoses.
HIV is not a curable disease, however there are ways to
prevent an infection. A person can use condoms every
time they have anal or vaginal sex, refrain from sharing
needles or syringes. Sexually active people can also take
pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to significantly reduce
the chances of contracting HIV.
As a young gay Black man, the fear of HIV is overwhelming,”
Tyquan Houston, a senior majoring in public
health at UA, said. “For me, being on PrEP has sort of
taken a weight off my shoulders.”
There are other barriers Black people must overcome in
order to receive proper education and treatment of HIV.
The cost of treatment is one of those barriers. However,
there are also medical centers across the U.S. dedicated
to helping people get the treatment they need. Five
Horizons in Tuscaloosa is designed to be a safe space
for HIV education and treatment, among other things.
USE CONDOMS
WHEN HAVING ANAL
OR VAGINAL SEX
DON'T SHARE
NEEDLES OR SY-
RINGES
TAKE PrEP
IF YOU'RE
SEXUALLY ACTIVE
Receiving PrEP treatment at Five Horizons can be at
virtually no cost for people that need it. The center is
willing to work with all forms of health insurance to
54

ensure that people get the treatment they need.
Side effects of PrEP include headaches, nausea, vomiting
or diarrhea. Other side effects can include kidney or liver
function problems or bone density problems. These problems
may subside once a person stops taking PrEP.
HIV is still affecting a number of people in the U.S. It’s important
to be properly educated and proactive in limiting
the spread of this virus.
“Being proactive about my sexual health has made me realize
that it is nothing to be ashamed about,” Houston
said. “Taking care of yourself is something to be proud
of.”
STUDENTS CAN GET
FREE HIV & STI TESTING
AT FIVE HORIZONS HEALTH SERVICES
631 28TH AVE TUSCALOOSA, AL 35401
OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE:
PrEP Prescriptions
HIV Education
Case Management for HIV Individuals
Referrals to Support Services
55

56

EXPERIENCES
57

58

Shamiel Moore
How to Make it
Out of a
B r e a k u p

College is a place where young people
come to pursue knowledge in their
desired fields, develop connections
for future positions and attend sporting events
and other campus activities.
Throughout their college career, these
young people may also interested in pursue
a relationship. Relationships become an
extracurricular activity for many students and
because of the abundance of that, relationships
end fairly often.
Because of students’ hectic schedules and a
multitude of outside influences, it will be hard
for many to cope with losing someone they care
about. It is important to stay positive and social
when dealing with breakups.
Isolation can be a harmful way to cope with a
bad breakup. It seems easy to wallow in sadness
in your dorm or apartment and cry the pain
away. But it can force a person to constantly
overthink the situation. Being heartbroken is
expected and natural, yet not looking towards a
better future makes the issue more detrimental
than it should be.
“Take time to heal and focus on self-nurturing
& establishing a new routine,” psychologist Dr.
Jennifer Barbera said. “Try new things during
this time. Explore and learn about yourself.
Keep a routine. Eat well, exercise and build a
new routine that includes good self-care.”
Talking to others is also another way of dealing
with the end of a relationship. Confiding in
others is a great way to improve your mental
state and get all the negative thoughts out.
It’s also important to talk to people that are
trustworthy.
“Let yourself be sad for a few days, maybe even
a couple of weeks,” Maddie Vaughn, senior at
60

the University of Alabama, said. “It's important
to feel the sadness, but you can't let yourself
wallow and stay there. Definitely take some
time to reflect on how things are and take some
time to get comfortable being by yourself.
Being happy on your own is such an important
part of the healing process.”
Rushing into a new or a sexual relationship
is also not going to erase the sadness. In fact,
it may bring more pain. Trying to get with
someone new right after a breakup forces
you to compare the new person with your ex,
leading to disaster for yourself and them. Using
sex as relationship therapy causes unwanted
companionship with people you see nothing in.
Also, drinking the pain away is probably the
last situation you want to find yourself in.
Resorting to alcohol and drugs is an extreme
way of coping, and never fixes the affair. These
substances can lead to addiction, depression,
and worst of all death.
The initial relief of pain is not permanent and
leads to a spiral of worse conditions than what
you started with.
“The problem occurs when alcohol becomes
your way of coping with or blocking out
emotions,” writer Alicia Schultz said. “In short,
you shouldn’t feel like reaching for a drink
every time a painful feeling comes up. And if
you do feel that way, it might be best to lay off
the booze for a while. As tough as it can be,
avoiding alcohol may set you on the path to
feeling better for the long haul.”
A breakup is never an easy thing to shake off.
There are several vices that can numb the pain,
but not heal it. Surrounding yourself with
positivity clears out the negativity of a breakup.
61

62

MADISON CARMOUCHE
COMING OUT IN MY OWN WAY
Most people have an image of what they think
a gay person looks like, but in all honesty,
there isn’t a “look” to it. While being gay
has become a lot more accepted in American society over
the past 20 years, there is still a lot to be done for the
community. I recently came out as a lesbian, something
I have been holding close to me for a long time because,
like many others, I feared peoples’ perceptions of me
changing. One of the many things people said to me was,
“I would’ve never guessed that” or “You don’t look gay,
you’re so hot!” But what does gay look like, and what does
being hot have to do with it?
Everyone has their personal opinions on gay people, their
rights, and their relationships, but those perceptions may
impact how they react when finding out someone close
to them is gay. Being authentically yourself is one of the
hardest things someone can do, but the relief that comes
along with it is indescribable. I have known for about two
years that I am attracted to women, but I was not ready to
be authentically me yet.
I think something that really helped me to be myself is
my circle of friends that I have found over the last year.
They are extremely supportive as well as my family and
once I realized if the people in my corner are on my side,
who cares what everyone else is thinking? Now that I have
come out, I feel nothing but love and support from everyone
around me. I received so many encouraging messages
since the day I posted about my sexuality. The first time
I tried to come out to someone, I was not met with the
support that I am receiving now. I think that really set me
back on my path of loving who I am. But no matter what
other people say, don’t let that stop you from accepting
who you are and loving whomever you love!
63

My Experience
Navigating The Dating World As A
Transgender Black Woman
64

M
y name is Lindsey Macon. I am
21 years old, a senior here at The
University of Alabama and I am from
Mississippi. Most importantly, I am a Black
transgender woman.
Being Black and trans is a roller coaster to put
it calmly. Most people hear trans and the first
thing they think of is some tall, deep voice
person who you can clearly tell is a man. That
is nowhere near the case. We all don’t have deep
voices. We all aren’t tall and stocky either.
But that’s not what I’m here to talk about. I’m
here to talk about how life is being trans and
dating. In a nutshell, I would say it’s difficult to
say the least. You never know who just wants to
be with you just as some sick, twisted fantasy
that they’ve always wanted to try or who wants
to be with you for the amazing person you are.
Don’t get me started on the DL boys those
masculine men who are too afraid of what
society will think of them, so they act all hard
in public and often talk down upon those of us
in the LGBTQ+ community but behind closed
doors are blowing up our phones saying how
much they want us.
In my experience with being trans, it is always
important to tell someone who you are thinking
about being sexually active with that you are
in fact transgender. I personally have never
experienced any transphobia while here at
the University of Alabama. In my experience,
I find that when you be honest and upfront
with men their reaction is very accepting. For
instance. I’ve never had an experience where I
told someone that I was trans and it completely
went left field. Most men will respect you more
for telling them upfront then stringing them
along.
Now, I know sometimes this could be hard
because you want people to try to get to know
you for you and not for you being transgender.
But at the end of the day, it’s always important
to do the right thing and keep your safety first.
As a trans woman, the day-to-day can be very
hard especially with the hormones we take.
One day I might wake up mad at the world and
5 seconds later, I’m the happiest person alive. It
all varies because of the hormones.
Overall, though, I would say even with all the
ups and downs and challenges we as trans
women face, I wouldn’t change who I am for
anything in the world. I am living my life how
I want and as the strong woman that I aspire
to be. To all the transgender women reading
this, always remember to be who you are and to
not rush your process because it happens in the
blink of an eye.
I know it can be hard when you see other trans
women who are further along then you and
it makes you want to rush to get there, but
everyone has their own process. I have not
always looked how I do now and when I look
back, I realize that even though the process to
get here was long and hard, it was necessary so
that I could be where I am today.
65

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