Author Archive
09 Oct
We are all adults on this campus and it is a reality that adults have sex. If you listen to the band Kings of Leon you may have recognized the title of this article. Truth is that sex is, in fact, on fire. It is and has always been a hot topic in society. What does that mean for America’s young people? How is sex affecting minority communities? Is sex bad? These are a few of the many questions that pass through the minds of young adults and being on a college campus only intensifies these interests.
It seems to methat more people are starting to shy away from abstinence only sex education in public schools. I find this to be helpful, but a significant number of people would disagree. I believe that having proper sex education in school (that is not just focused on abstinence) will better prepare American youth for healthier and safer adult lives. Having helpful sex education can have a positive impact on how one conducts themselves in college. It is false to think that sex education is out to make youth have sex and engage in wild behavior. It is here to help make better choices about how to live their lives. In the fifth grade a “Grow and Changes” class was brought to our attention. At the time I was not in a very productive living environment so this class was the only way I could learn about how my body was changing. Not talking about sex hurts more than it helps.
As one moves on into the college years, I believe it is easy to have a warped sense of what sex is. Movies and television do a wonderful job of making sex look like the most pleasurable thing on the planet. Although entertainment’s main purpose is to fabricate and heighten sex, the entertainment industry does a horrible job of educating people about sex. I believe people come to college with all of these misconceptions when engaging in sexual activities. I may be wrong, but I do not believe sex is all about smooth jazz and never ending orgasms. From talking to different individuals I have heard that sex, especially the first time is awkward and a bit painful. Although in the movies everyone is a sex god. This is absolutely false.
The use of contraception may be old news, but it is definitely not bad news. I’m sure the “protect yourself” or “wrap it up” speeches are getting boring, but they are needed. If people were being smart about sex I don’t think we would still be talking about it as much. The truth is that STDs are real and any human who engages in a sexual act can get one. Plain and simple. Don’t kid yourself with the “It won’t happen to me” talk, you may get a rude awakening. Minority groups are especially at risk. Minority youth do not receive adequate sexual education and in return reach out to their friends and the media to learn about sex.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that the rate of Chlamydia among African Americans in the United States was more than eight times that among whites. This means that the rate of Chlamydia among black women was more than seven times higher than the rate among white women and more than 11 times higher for black men than that among white men. Approximately 70% of the total number of reported cases of gonorrhea occurred among African Americans. As far as Syphilis goes, the rate among black women was 14 times higher than that among white women. At the same time, the rate in black men has increased in recent years as rates of disease have increased. HIV positivity among persons tested for HIV was highest in black men who have sex with men. HIV positivity was 8% in blacks (who make up 13% of the population), and 5% in Hispanics. This is a major American problem.
African Americans need to wake up and realize that sex is a serious issue. If you have unprotected sex there could be consequences. I am in no way saying don’t have sex. I am saying be smart about how you do it and who you do it with. Also, do not think just because you are heterosexual you cannot get an STD. The LGBT community should not be stigmatized as disease ridden. It is not an issue of sexual orientation, but an issue of humanity. So before you have sex think about what you want out of it. Use the proper contraception (condoms, birth control pills etc.) and limit your sexual partners. Get to know who you are sleeping with and make sure you can trust them. If you have any questions or concerns that involve sex go to the Student Health Center. There are many informative pamphlets and people to talk to. Don’t put your life at risk for the sake of unprotected sex.
01 May
I believe that this year at N.C. State was one of the most interesting and controversial school terms in a long time. When I look back over all of the events that have happened, I can not seem to pick that one moment which stood out the most. When I first came to this University I did not expect to encounter anything remotely intriguing. I am glad to say that I was wrong.
One incident that will stick out in the minds of many students is the situation involving the Free Expression Tunnel. This act of hate touched everyone of every race. Before this happened, I had not been a witness to public racial slurs and I did not really think I ever would. When I saw those messages across the Free Expression Tunnel it felt as if a piece of my heart had been chipped away. I know it sounds melodramatic, but I never thought someone on this campus would do something like that. With all of the diversity programs and community building we do at this University, I was saddened to see how it all fell short.
After the tunnel issue, I began to subconsciously wonder who my real friends were. When I sat next to someone in class or waved at a complete stranger I wondered if they hated me for the color of my skin. Internally, I began to question the friends I had since freshman year. I debated whether they were really my friends or if they we hanging with me out of habit. It was wrong of me to question those who I knew for years and those I had known in passing, but I could not help it. Before this incident, I never knew what it was like to feel targeted and ostracized.
After in-depth conversations with friends, I concluded that one should not base opinions on the ignorance of a few. I discovered that everyone felt hurt, not just black students, and this knowledge helped to restore my mind to its rightful place, open.
This school year cannot be talked about without the budget cuts. Even thought it did not affect us that much this year, next year a ton of classes we love will be gone. It is not fair to us, and it is most certainly not fair to the upcoming freshman class. Hopefully our education system will work something out. I know this is a research/science based university, but the humanities and social sciences are just as important. I feel as if the abstract thinkers at this institution are slighted the most by these budget cuts.
On a more positive note, I enjoyed all of the programs this year. The Back to School Jam, as well as Friday Fest, were equally enjoyable. Seeing Boyz II Men in concert basically made my year from the beginning! The special presentations put on by Multicultural Student Affairs were very informative and entertaining. My favorite cultural event would have to be the UAB’s BSB Pan Afrikan week. During this week many African and African-American programs were showcased to show history as well as talent. I was very impressed with the unity on campus. I was able to learn as well as have fun. I was proud of North Carolina State University for embracing diversity and not being scared of something a little different.
Lastly the major event that changed everyone�s lives forever was Barack Obama being elected to the presidency. This was the first time in history that a non-white individual was made president. The night of the election was unforgettable; people were happy and out in the streets celebrating equality and how far we had come as a country. This night was a time of love and change, which is something many of us had never experienced. I believe the election brought about feelings of hope and prosperity across campus, as well as, the world. We finally had someone in office that was not afraid of change and was willing to put in the work to get there. His presidency is a beacon of hope for minorities, the disabled, women, the GLBT community, the poor and anyone else who has ever been discriminated against.
The 2008-2009 school year has been quite a whirlwind. We have had our up and downs, but as usual, the good outshined the bad. We have grown and changed with each other this year. The African-American community was challenged and proved to be victorious over any threats. This year has been successful, and with the right ideals, so will the next.
07 Apr
Pan-Afrikan Week brings out the most talented African as well as African-American students on campus, one of which is DanceVisions and I had the pleasure going to their Spring Concert on April 1 at 8 p.m. I had never been to a DanceVisions program before so I had no idea what to expect. Afterwards, I was thoroughly pleased with the performance and really proud that I was part of a community that was so rich in culture. The performance started off with a slow, rhythmic number. The music resembled a heartbeat and the flowing movements conveyed a sense of serenity and peace. The young women were dressed in colorful, light fitting dresses that lit up the stage. Further into the show was a very African inspired performance. They were trapped in cages and the shadows of their dances figures bounced on and off of the walls. The shadows created an eerie ambience that sent a chill down the spine. This piece was very high energy with great acrobatics and flexibility. These dances were modern contemporary, mixed with afrocentric vibes. They wore no shoes and they danced with a great amount of emotion. As the evening progressed, there was an emotional religious, mime performance. It was heart-wrenching because it was so inspirational and full of hope. The gospel music was a great addition to the number. Their faces were painted white and they were leotards with translucent white skirts. Their miming techniques were impeccable along with the amazing choreography. Through this performance you felt their pain as well as well as their deep reliance on faith. It was complex, yet simple enough for an everyday person to understand. They moved with vigorous energy and grace. Another performance was lighter and had a very monochromatic color scheme. Dancers wore nice fitting t-shirts with matching Capri pants and sneakers. This performance was happy and showed a playful side to the young women. There was a lot of acting with facial features that put a feeling of “fun” into the performance. This dance was accompanied by the music of Lil’ Kim featuring Notorious B.I.G. entitled “Crush on You.” During the show the dance company used many props, such as benches, that showed their versatility in the field of dance. Their ability to maneuver up and around these objects was mind-blowing and very professional. It would have been hard for a person to separate them from a professional dance group that had been practicing for years. The next few dances were similar to the hip-hop genre of music. There were hard hitting steps as well as free-flowing freestyle. They moved with such fluidity to the music and never missed a step. They danced with organization, but not to the point where it looked forced. I had never seen a show of this caliber and I will definitely be making to their other recitals. The last performance was included the music of T-Pain featuring Chris Brown in “Freeze.” This was a high energy performance full of smiles and fast-moving hip-hop choreography. It had the crowd going and clapping along with the music. At the end, the young women of DanceVisions got to show a little bit of themselves before exiting the stage. Overall, it was one of the best dance performances I had ever seen. I was so proud of these young women for their strength, agility, and their love for dance. It was also good to see that DanceVisions included not only African-Americans, but those of other races as well. It excited me to see how much fun they had and the expressions on their faces when they danced. Through their actions on stage I felt their love for dance and love for African culture.
02 Apr
Animal welfare has been a growing concern within the United States, as well as the rest of the world. It sparked in the 1980’s when Ingrid Newkirk decided to launch “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,” also known as PETA. This organization promotes the vegan lifestyle and condemns using animals for any kind of food, experimentation, entertainment, furniture, clothing, etc. They also go as far as to say that it is wrong to keep animals as domesticated pets.
PETA has become some what of a phenomenon among the younger generations of America. There is even a separate division for high school teenagers and college students known as the peta2 Street Team. They do their best to promote their cause through peaceful marches and assemblies. Lately, the way they promote their cause and organization has changed.
Along with demonstrations and informative pamphlets, they have now created new posters to promote their cause. There are not just posters of helpless chickens and worn down cows, but of naked women. You may ask “What do naked women have to do with animal welfare?” This was my question exactly, and I cannot find an answer.
These posters have naked women lying in piles of vegetables or women only wearing body paint under the slogan of “I’d rather go naked than wear fur.” You can barely see the PETA logo at the bottom of these posters. When I came across these ads I was astonished. I thought I was looking at an ad from Playboy. They say that that these ads are supposed to give a real, live view of how the animals are treated and force human beings to put themselves in the animal’s position. When I look at these posters of women naked and chained to steel bars, I do not think “Save the Animals,” I think “S&M!”
It disturbs me that a well-known, non-profit organization that is suppose to promote for the greater good of animals has stooped so low as to use sex as a selling tactic. This is something that Hollywood would do, not serious advocators. It angers me to see women degraded yet again for societal gain. Obviously there is something wrong with your advertisements, if you have to have naked people on them to get attention.
I feel as if the public is not going to take PETA as seriously as they did before. I am not a member of PETA, but I am in favor for the betterment of animal welfare. I do not think animals should be treated horribly, and I am not a fan of wearing fur, but I am not radical about it. Their views can be extreme, and they have gone to the extreme with their advertisements.
The response to these ads has not been very positive. There are online forums debating why PETA has decided to go follow the famous “sex sells” idea. They seem to have lost a little respect for the organization. While walking around I have seen how others react to these ads. Young men pass by and all they see is a naked woman lying on her back in a sensual pose. They laugh or make snide remarks. It sometimes occurs to me that they do not even realize they are PETA ads. The images are close to pornographic and hurt the ad more than they help.
I am not a full supporter of the ideals of PETA, but I liked their old ads. They were shocking enough. There were pictures of mistreated, diseased animals helplessly hanging on for life. The posters also included statistics showing exactly how many animals are being hurt and what needs to be done about it. The old ads had perspective and clarity, as well as shock value. They told the truth from the perspective of PETA. When people passed by, they got an eyeful for what was really going on, whether they liked it or not. Now people get an eyeful of thighs and breasts.
My point is that no one should use sex or degrade someone else’s body for their own purposes. This will make your cause get the wrong kind of attention and people will have the wrong idea. PETA needs to wake up and look at the ideas that are being conveyed through these posters. Naked women will do nothing for animal welfare in the long run.
29 Mar
One common problem I think we all face in America today is what to call each other. Since we as a university strive to better our understanding of diversity, this subject tends to reoccur. The last thing we want to do is offend someone, so we try to be as politically correct as possible. Sometimes an issue such as this can get us into trouble.
I have had a few friends who were not African-American try to describe a black person to me, but they would always dodge around the word “black.” I would ask them “Well, what did this girl look like?” They would proceed to tell me she was tall, thin and any other word they could come up with. When it came to skin color they would always pause. It occurred to me that they were afraid to call her “black.” At first I did not understand why it was such a big deal. Then as I continued talking to them I found that they genuinely did not know that black was not a derogatory term. They were trying so hard not to sound offensive that they were at a complete loss for words.
In my experience, I have never seen a black person become angry over being called “black.” I cannot say this for all black people, but to me the term does not sound offensive. Yes, there are others that prefer the term African-American, or person of African descent and etc. One thing people need to realize is that when you try too hard to not be offensive you may come across as offensive anyway. This goes not only for race but for things like religion, sexuality, etc.
If you find that someone is uncomfortable and confused about how to address you, just tell them. Reassure them that you know they do not mean to cause you any harm. Even though we are all meshed together on this campus, we have not been properly educated on how to talk to each other. I do not think calling someone “black” is the same as calling them “the n-word.”
Now, there are those black individuals that wish to be addressed as “Black American” rather than “African American.” In a psychology class I had, we talked about this specific topic. There were those who felt as though they had no ties to the African way of life, so they did not want “African” to be in their title.
There are also those who take great pride in being called “African American.” They may not always have direct ties to Africa, but they are proud to say that they are descendents of the enslaved people that were brought over to America.
Personally, I do not mind which one I am addressed as. I do tend to call myself both. My father is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and so are many of my family members. I am proud of this because Africa in itself is so rich in culture. So I take pride in being called an African-American.
There are also others that do not want any kind of ethnic or racial definition in their title at all. They would just like to be described as “American.” This is not because they are ashamed to be black or because they want to be associated with another race. These are the people that feel that the ethnic and racial titles are part of the racism problem. They feel that by separating themselves from others, these titles actually widen the gap between us as a country. So if everyone were just American then it would cut down on the “us against them” idea.
The bottom line is that no one can ever be sure of what to call anyone. Take a stab at it, and if they do not respond positively, ask them what they prefer to be called. I am sure that people would not get angry with someone simply by asking them their preference on labels. If they do, then your friendship with them should be questioned. If you are of African descent and someone asks what you want to be called do not get mad and think “They should know this” because they don’t. Be proud of who you are and be proud to speak out.
18 Mar
In my opinion, these issues should not be taken lightly. Yes, Spring Break is a time to let loose, but not completely lose your mind. You want to have as much fun as possible on these trips, so therefore there needs to be some kind of precaution and planning. There’s no shame in planning early for next year.
Students wait around all year for Spring Break and make elaborate plans to far away cities to cause mayhem. Going to Panama City and Daytona Beach is fun and safe, as long as you travel in groups. Traveling in groups create a larger network of people to look after each other and take care of each other if something were to go wrong. If you consider yourself and independent traveler that is fine but, it’s a big world out there and you are only one person. Travel with friends, it makes life so much easier.
Another safety trip for traveling would be to watch your alcohol intake. I say this at the risk of being a Debbie Downer, but it needs to be said. I know that college students get grilled from every direction on the dangers of alcohol, but some things are worth listening to. I’m not saying do not drink at all, just limit your intake. There are a lot of people out there who do not have your best interest at heart. If they see that you are vulnerable they will strike.
An acquaintance told me that they didn’t remember five of the seven days of spring break because they were so drunk. In that time they lost their cell phone, credit card and a very important piece of jewelry. My solution for this would be to designate one of your travel mates a “Sober Person of the Night.” This may sound lame, but designating a person or two to look after all of the intoxicated friends will come in handy. This will make sure you get back to the hotel in one piece and with all of your belongings.
So if you are nominated as “Sober Person of the Night,” do not think of it as a dent in your fun, but a way to protect those you care about. None of you want to end up in the hospital or at the police station.
One issue I hear about concerning Spring Break traveling is money. It always seems as if one person doesn’t have the money or they didn’t pay their share. Travel with friends you can trust. If they are really your friends they would pay up front and not try to manipulate you into paying for them.
Also, start saving money early. It’s not a very good idea to go somewhere far away from home and not have the money you need. I would also try to save a little emergency money because you never know what can happen.
For your next trip always carry a cell phone, or be by someone who has a cell phone. Having a cell isn’t just a luxury anymore, it’s for safety. If you are stranded all you have to do is call someone and the problem can be solved. If you have no phone and all of the stores are closed, you are pretty much on your own. We can all imagine how scary that would be. Make sure your phone is charged and ready to go anywhere with you.
It is also a good idea to let the people back home, like you parents, know where you are. As college students we are adults and see ourselves as completely independent at times. No matter how sure you are of yourself you still need to let people know where you are. If you turn up missing or something strange happens on your trip, you will have people back home to verify where you were. If no one knows then there is a smaller chance that you will be found.
I am not saying all of this to scare anyone or make them stay close to home on Spring Break. Spring Break is a time to have fun and explore new lands, but try to be safe while doing it. We have all seen stories on the news of missing people. Some have yet to be found. You would not want your parents to have the same sad expression on their faces as the parents on the news who have lost their children.
When the next Spring Break rolls around, take the proper precautions. Have fun, but do not forget to stay level-headed. The best part of Spring Break is coming back and telling stories, right? You can’t do that if you endanger yourself. Plan thoroughly for trips like these, they will prove to run smoother in the long run.
27 Feb
November 5, 2008 will stay in the minds of N.C. State students as being a dark day in campus life. The hurtful messages that were displayed on the Free Expression Tunnel pulled at our heart strings and caused an uncomfortable feeling around campus. People got angry. Others began to question who their friends really were and their intentions. Who really are our friends and how do our classmates truly feel about us?
To ease the tension around campus the Campus Culture Task Force was created. The group consists of faculty, administration and students that have taken it upon themselves to evaluate student conduct and potentially create guidelines for the Free Expression Tunnel. The report that the task force issued is open to all N.C. State students to comment on, but there seems to be a lack of response. Even though it seems that things were heated around campus and there were various opinions thrown back and forth, few of them made it to the task force. When great displays of hate are made one would think that everybody would be lined up at the door to speak their mind on the matter. In a way it surprises me that students have not responded. On the other hand, the lack of response isn’t that outrageous to fathom.
First of all, I feel as if the survey was a very impersonal way to reach people. We answer surveys all the time (i.e. class evaluations) and it gets rather routine and boring after a while. Granted, what was sent out concerning the task force was of the upmost importance although it wasn’t very appealing. It is hard to reach a large population of people in a short amount of time if the surveys are not sent through e-mail. I am just making a point that because of this it is easy to just not pay attention to it.
I believe that there was a lack of response because students feel as if nothing is going to be done about it. Yes, we can talk all we want, but what is going to come of it? You can compare this to people not voting in national elections. They have lost faith in the national government just as N.C. State students have lost faith in our university administration. This is in no way the students fault. One cannot blame someone for ignoring something they feel will have no effect.
There was also the question of the chancellor taking the matter seriously. We have all known or heard of people in power just sweeping things under the rug and hoping that it will go away. I am sure he is a much more concerned than people think he is. This type of situation could, if handled improperly, be damaging in the long run.
I feel that the chancellor does have our best interest at heart and that he was also offended by such messages. Although, since he is a man of power and prestige he has a reputation to uphold. If he went too radical on the issue then how would others see him? The student body would probably appreciate a radical outburst from him, but higher authorities might not. So I feel as if he is going through a dilemma and has yet to come to a decision.
On the other hand, some students believe the Task Force to be a step in the right direction. One student who wished to be quoted was Rene Norman a junior in psychology. She says, “I think the task force has a positive impact on the University. It’s reinforcing the stance that the University has taken against the hate speech on campus. If the suggestions of the task force are implemented, I think they will be well received since the task force isn’t just made up of administrative personnel, but students as well.”
Overall, I believe the Task Force will only be effective with more student comments and input on the issue. All of the technicalities of it may not be the most exciting pieces of information, but it will help students now and in the long run. I am under the impression that the majority of students would be sad to see the Free Expression tunnel be done away with. It is one of the symbols that the student voice does matter and I could not imagine the University without it. So, get involved so this problem can be resolved.
12 Feb
Through the decades of the twentieth century, and heading into the twenty-first century, the way people have approached the realms of romantic relationships have evolved. In the early twentieth century, the main focus for people was finding a marriage partner and starting a family. As the years have passed by, people have become less concerned with marriage, and other things like divorce, interracial relationships, and same-sex relationships have come into play. Along with these factors came one huge entity that seemed to draw everyone together: The Internet.
Today, we have different definitions of what a true relationship is than years before. The emergence of “online relationships” has become quite prevalent over the years. People have been so immersed in their careers or other things that they do not have time to actively go out and pursue other individuals. Also, some people find it hard to get out there. Let’s face it, nobody likes rejection. Sometimes all we have is our pride. Making a profile on some website is much easier than stressing over the technicalities of actually meeting someone for a date. Joshua Souther, a junior in bioprocessing sciences, says that “online dating is more impersonal and allows you to say more things about yourself without so much pressure.”
But is it really healthy to rely on a computer to decide who your perfect match is? It can be fun meeting people from all over the world and networking across various countries, but are these relationships? Some would argue no. Some would argue yes. I would argue �it depends.� It is a fact that you have to be a rather bold person to just throw yourself out there in the dating world. A lot of people feel as if it is too much for them, so they subject themselves to the Internet. I would say the good thing about this is that it is easier to let your hair down and say what you think in front of a computer. If you do not like the person you are chatting with, you can just stop talking to them. This would not be the case if you went on a real date, hated it, and then saw them in class the next day. The negative part of online dating is that you cannot see that person, so you virtually have no idea what they are about. All you can do is take their word and go with it. Now, you can be married to a person for twenty years and find out they are not the person you thought they were, just like you can be slighted by your e-mail lover. There is no particularly safe way to be one hundred percent sure about someone; this is where the trust factor comes in.
“In my opinion, online relationships are the phileo (the kind of love you would have for a friend) type of love where you are looking for someone just like you. Maybe that is not the best way to go about finding something serious,” says Sommer Oliver, a junior in animal science with pre-vet requirements. I agree that, after awhile, talking to someone and not meeting them would just be a waste of both of our times. Being exclusive with someone you have yet to meet is not the easiest thing and some realize that it is not for them. Now, there are many people that meet online and they are happily married or deeply committed to this day. The Internet can be a useful source for people who are actually genuine and looking for someone with whom to share their life; the problem is that there are so many people that are out there for the wrong thing and so they string people along. They do not see it as playing with someone’s emotions or deceiving them. One must remember that these are real people on the other side of the screen and they can get hurt just like us.
Overall, I say the Internet would not be a bad place to start dating. It will be an easier transition into the “real thing” and it is cheap! As long as you are looking for friends and have the intention of being yourself, there is no problem. If you are in an online relationship for years and you still have not met the person, and they keep making excuses for not meeting, then there is a problem. If you are insecure, remember that you have to love yourself before anyone else can love you. We all deserve someone special and you should not waste your time with those who are not in for the right reasons.
07 Feb
The United States is known as the land of the free. We were established with the words “equality” and “the pursuit of happiness” in mind. Even though these strong words are a part of our doctrine, unfortunately, they do not apply to a large population of people. Today we celebrate the diversity that was not embraced during the times of our Founding Fathers. In the present we not only have black history month, but also Asian Pacific American heritage month, National Hispanic heritage month, and Native American heritage month. While engaging in the history of these cultures, I have come across others asking the question “Why don’t we have a White History Month or White Heritage Day?”
I consider the idea of a white history month a touchy subject. On the surface, denying one would be discrimination and exclusion. It is easy to want a month when other cultures are getting them. Some people might see it as a white supremacy kind of idea as well. To me there is not a need for a white history month. It has nothing to do with race or me being hostile towards white people, because I am not. If we had a white history month I feel as if it would be a kind of historical overkill.
The point of black history month as well as Asian, Hispanic, and Native American heritage month is to educate the population about underrepresented cultures. There are many untold stories and unheard voices from these people that need to be heard. In the public school system, very little is taught about these cultures. Yes, today is much better than the previous years, but there is still room for improvement.
When a child starts school they learn about the great people that had a huge impact on this country. These people include individuals like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and etc. I agree that children need to be taught about these very influential people, but it would be great if the children from more diverse ethnic backgrounds were taught about someone who they could relate to. Eventually, Martin Luther King, Jr. is mentioned. Then there are many presentations on black history month, but it is very repetitive. There are many people besides Martin Luther King, Jr. that aided in the civil rights movement, but they are not discussed. I haven’t been to elementary school in a very long time, but I remember learning nothing of influential Asian, Native American, or Hispanic people.
At the middle school level I would like to think that there would be more expansion on incorporating ethnicity into the history that is taught. I know from my middle school experience that they pretty much glossed over anything to do with slavery or the civil rights movement. We only talked about the “good” things or the “accomplishments.” This is a good thing, but I believe the school system has a certain obligation to prepare the children of today about the world. I’m not suggesting a showing of “Roots” during class, but an actual discussion of real events. You cannot create something new without learning from something old.
At the high school level there are still important subjects that involved ethnic people, but instead they decided to gear the advanced placement classes towards European history and British literature. These are wonderful classes, and I have taken them myself, but I feel as if I was not shown the world for what it was. I would have loved to have had an African American History course at my high school. Sadly, my community was one that was not real to embrace diversity and talk about the real issues of the United States. I am sure that this is the reason there is so much racial tension. We don’t understand each other, therefore, we are hostile towards each other.
Throughout the American education system, European history dominates. That is basically the first type of history we learn. College is the only time one gets to branch out and choose classes that they feel will benefit them. Those who were not fortunate enough to receive a college education are slighted and never truly learn what they need to. Because European history is so prevalent within the education system I believe there is no need for a white history month. Europeans have made vast contributions to society, but so have Africans, Asians, Native Americans, Hispanics and so on. If we regarded each other equally then maybe we wouldn’t have to stress these heritage months.
To sum it all up, white history month would really be a regurgitation of what we already know. Heritage months fill the void that the history books don’t. I don’t look at not recognizing a white history month as discrimination, but an opportunity for expansion of the history of ethnic people that has yet to be told.
29 Jan
In this day and age, we as a generation have tried to ease the pain of the past from ourselves and others. Sometimes this means poking fun at some of the past events that were looked upon years ago as horrendous. I’ve heard many people making jokes about enslavement and hangings. We also make jokes about each others backgrounds. We call ourselves “nigga” or “wetback” and try to make light of the words. We sometimes try to justify it as endearing or “turning it around” to make it cool. The truth is that that these words came about because of hate. These words were never meant to have a good connotation.
The media does an amazing job of tricking people into thinking bashing your own race, ethnic group, religious organization, etc. is okay. In movies, television, radio and all other forms of media people are constantly making fun of themselves. They are ignorant to the fact that these words still hurt. They also live up to the negative background these words give them. In hip-hop music I hear the words “nigga” every five seconds. Is there an explanation for this? The real contradictory act comes about when someone of another race calls a black person “nigga.” They may be trying to fit in and not mean any harm by it at all, but then black people get really mad and want to fight. This is a problem. If you don’t want everyone to say it, then you also have to live up to not saying it. Because the word is used so often, it seems like it is okay to say. I personally cringe every time I hear the word. Now, I know that the argument is that anybody can be called an N-Word because it is supposed to mean ignorant, but do you want to label yourself as ignorant? That is still horrible and no one deserves it.
One example of the media having a negative influence on perceptions of diversity is in the February 2009 issue of Essence magazine. They have a monthly “10 Things We’re Talking About” feature (compiled by Cynthia Gordy) and on the list was a quote from rapper, Soulja Boy. He is quoted saying during an interview with a BET correspondent, “Shout out to the slave masters! Without them we’d still be in Africa. We wouldn’t be here to get this ice and tattoos.” He later stated that he was only joking. To me, this is not something to joke about. Enslavement of innocent human beings is not something to joke about. I am appalled that he failed to realize that these were his ancestors he was poking fun at. Soulja Boy, like many others, seem to have forgotten from where they came. The Africans didn’t sail to America on a luxury carnival cruise, and they were not greeted at the piers with fine whine and cheese. Even though he said he was only joking, the words still sting and are highly inappropriate.
We all, not just African-Americans, have been discriminated against for some reason or another. It could be your religion, weight, sexuality or anything else about you that people don’t like. I do not agree with using words that bring others down as terms of endearment. I honestly have no idea who came up with the concept and why it is so supported. We are supposed to rise up from those stereotypes, not constantly degrade each other with evil words. I see little kids walking around using these words and it’s wrong. They have no idea what or why they are saying these things. They are using hurtful words because they see us using them. It is a vicious cycle that has yet to end.
There is no harm in joking around with your friends, but is it right to make fun of an era in history that has shaped the racial tensions of today? Can you imagine one of your friends or family members being whipped and chained with no hope of escape? If you can, I would ponder on that thought for a moment and then think about what you are really saying. According to Soulja Boy, the only important things in life are “ice” and “tattoos,” but I would like to think that we as college students are smarter than him and want more than that. We know that our ancestors were not brought over here for freedom and a life of happiness, so it is up to us to keep that dream of “rising above” alive. They paved the way for all of us; the least we could do is give them the respect we owe them.
The next time you call yourself or a friend, a “nigga,” “chink,” “guido,” “fag,” or whatever “endearing” term you use, think about those who came before you. There were many activists that stood up for each group that is discriminated against today. Don’t be like Soulja Boy, be a solider for respect and equality.
