April '15: Redefining Black

business • politics • culture • music • health • opinion • feature

We’re looking for new staff! Email us personally or at [email protected] if you’re interested in writing, reporting, photography, design, publication, or simply in helping out the premier publication of the multicultural community at GW!

table of contentseditor-in-chiefAdam [email protected]

assistant editorsNana [email protected] [email protected]

copy editorSarai [email protected]

layoutAngel Veliz [email protected] | www.sdotfly.com

photographyNana [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]_______________________

founderSam P.K. Collins

editor-in-chief emeritusKwasi Agyemang

faculty advisorProfessor Robin Marcus_______________________

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The Ace Magazine is funded in part by a generous grant from Generation Progress, a national organization that works with and for young people to promote progressive solutions to key political and social challenges.|

03 | editors’ note

04 | business NOT YOUR GRANDMOTHER’S CIVIL RIGHTS

06 | politicsBLACK LIVES MATTER, MORE THAN A HASHTAG

08 | cultureA CONVERSATION WITH ZINHLE ESSAMUAH

09 | musicDEAR WHITE PEOPLE

10 | health A WAY’S TO GO FOR GW COUNSELING

CULTURAL FITNESS PROGRAMMING

12 | opinionLET’S PLAY THE BLAME GAME

13 | featureBHC KEYNOTE

WHO ARE YOU WHEN THE COPS SHOW UP?

THE GREAT DEBATE

The ACE Magazine Mission:The ACE Magazine connects the multicultural community to the university at-large with contributions from student writers and faculty members. Since 2008, The Ace has sparked discussion between campus groups furthering our belief that “we all have similar issues no matter our color.”

editors’ notes

last issue

Adam Middleton

Nana Agyemang

Danielle Noel

Sarai Reed

As I reflect on this past semester, I am filled with pride and concern.

The spread and success of the 2015 Black Heritage Celebration is to be applauded. For the first time in recent memory, one of our university’s cultural heritage celebrations reached audiences far beyond those it exalts. Well-executed programs and, of course, our keynote Judy Smith made BHC one to remember.

With black lives under siege across the country, to see our people celebrated for their depth, differences and distinctions was empowering. Here and across the world, regardless of the odds, we are powerful.

However, “With great power comes great responsibility,” said Voltaire. My concern, though optimistic, is in the tenacity and effort students of color at this

university will harness in the future to affect positive change on this campus. With another academic year winding down, the time has come for new leadership to take the reins. To this point, I am ecstatic to see where Nana and our new staff take The ACE in the coming year. May the content of this issue guide you into the next era of The ACE with sharp reporting, intellectual vigor and willingness to share the unheard.

Finally! This is what you all have been waiting for (especially me) the Black Heritage Celebration edition of The ACE Magazine. Sorry to make you wait so long but the more we kept you waiting the more intrigued we know you would become.

This issue will take you into something deeper than all the others have this year. The ACE showcases how our lives matter. It

is all about us: GW, the students, minorities and to everyone who picks up this magazine. We matter and The ACE highlights our achievements and our voice. This is a well-articulated issue and our staff worked for weeks to pull it together.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue. This copy will take some time to read so grab a coffee, kick up your

feet in Gelbucks and explore the stories we have shared with you.

It’s hard to believe that this is the end, y’all. These four years have gone by so fast and what I will miss the most is being part of an intellectual community. During my time at GW, I have become more aware and informed about social justice issues in America and what role I ought to play in addressing them.

In recent months, the unjust killings of black men have

spawned uprisings across the country and minority citizens are demanding that their voices be heard. As I watch the news each day I feel hopeless, exhausted and angry. A recent post by a friend on Facebook represents what we as minority students might think each day: “Why doesn’t my country love me?”

Radical feminist theorist Audre Lorde once wrote that self-care

was an act of political warfare. Being a person of color in the U.S. ain’t easy but you have to protect yourself and your being. It may seem like no one around you wants you to prosper, but you must. Stay aware and stay woke.

This has been a year to remember in GW’s multicultural community. It was a year that saw what was perhaps one of the best Black Heritage Celebrations in GW history and a year that saw students rallying around worthwhile causes—such as #BlackLivesMatter and #ItsOnUs—with fervor that could only be matched by our counterparts of the 50s and 60s. That is not to say our work here is

finished.

There is still SO MUCH work that needs to be done and as students (and soon-to-be alumni) of this great university, we are in a unique and privileged position to affect change in ways that others cannot by rallying, protesting, rabble rousing, keeping our student orgs honest and our programming effective and pursuing fields where we can really shake things

up after we leave this place.

If you weren’t involved in a student org this year, I hope that all the hype has changed your mind. I hope you’re fired up and ready to go because this is only the beginning. We have the opportunity to make movements out of hashtags. Thank you for reading!

4

In December, Forbes Magazine published its interactive 30 Under 30 list where hundreds of twenty-something people were heralded the leaders of their fields. The categories ranged from social entrepreneurship to marketing and advertising to

education policy. It was an inspiring and expansive list, except it was almost completely devoid of people of color.

The lack of diversity was especially apparent in the new media and technology categories, something that many people, including Civil Rights Activists Jesse Jackson, deem problematic. Jackson and other policymakers believe that increasing minority workers in Silicon Valley, the Mecca of the Tech industry, is the new Civil Rights Frontier.

According to USA Today, tech giants Facebook, Yahoo and Google released their employment numbers to the government last year, and the numbers were not good. African-American and Hispanic professionals made up only 5% of the workforce, despite being 13% of working professionals in the nation. Policymakers find this particularly troubling as many of these companies, typically politically progressive, are at the forefront of some of the nation’s greatest policy battles. It is also harrowing for minority students who are interested in technology

but find the lack of diversity in the field discouraging.

Nia Christian, a junior and computer science major, has always been interested in the field and recognized the need for people of color in the industry. She says it drives her to serve as a role model for others.

“If you learn or master a skill in the tech industry, it leads to so many other opportunities,” Christian.

Throughout high school, her environment fostered an interest in math and science. Christian believes that leaders in tech and

education can do more to help support minority students seeking careers in technology.

“The employers can make summer camps for the kids to ease them into it, and sort of navigate that path,” she said. “You know, once they see people like them … I think it’ll be a little more relatable for them.”

Jason Butler, a 2014 alumnus of GW, currently works at Electronic Arts, Inc. in California and believes that while the industry does have significant improvements, increasingly accessibility starts in the classroom.

“I think [tech companies] are very aware of the lack of diversity and are actually trying to fix it; however, they probably should make it more of a priority,” Butler added. “It also takes time for shifts like these to occur. I think there also has to be more a systematic restructuring of the education system showing people of every background that they have the ability to work anywhere and in any sector. “

Civil rights leaders and progressive politicians have pressed tech leaders to take greater efforts in increasing the number of minorities in the employment pipeline to Silicon Valley. A number of non-profit organizations and campaigns, such as DiverseTech, have materialized to shed light on this issue. DiverseTech, for example, targets Congressional leaders and legislators to implement policies that boost the number of opportunities available for minorities to enter the tech workforce.

Still, though young people of color utilize social media and online tools in staggering amounts, they cannot gain employment with companies that design these tools. It is this lack of access that is so reminiscent of Civil Rights era workplace diversity and diversity politics.

Silicon Valley is the premier site for innovation, and minority representation there is as equally important as it is in other notoriously segregated sectors like the government and Wall Street. The political pressure has already begun working with a number of companies such as Facebook implementing training programs to diversify the pool of applicants. If diversity in tech is to become a reality, this is only the beginning.

NOT YOUR GRANDMOTHER’S CIVIL RIGHTSBy Danielle Noel

African-American and Hispanic professionals

made up only 5% of the workforce,

despite being 13% of working professionals in

the nation.



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6


When people first heard about the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, they were deeply saddened and angry. Not the usual feeling that comes to mind, but the kind of anger that makes you feel as

though your very being is on fire—like you have to do something, anything to correct this wrong. It was a kind of anger that left black communities across the country wondering just how something like this could occur yet again. A kind of anger that makes you wonder how someone can look at your blessing of melanin and imagine a demon before them.

It is this anger and a vision of a more equitable United States that propelled the student body of GW to host events and open forums that discuss how black lives have been marginalized in our culture. However, as I thought more about it, I realized there is a great error in terming the loss of a human life as an “event.” In fact, we cannot truly call ourselves supporters of this historical movement if we are comfortable with applying such an understatement to the systematized killing of young black men across the nation.

When asked what the campaign of #blacklivesmatter meant to her, Amie Idriss, a GW freshman, said the movement is “a way of reclaiming our identity and standing in solidarity.”

“Power has been taken from [black people], and it is time to reclaim that power,” she said.

Using the hashtag #coloredcolonialconfessions, Idriss and a group of other freshmen have been doing just that on the GW Class of 2018 page, exposing the subtle way racism has been stitched into the fabric of our culture, and shrouded in messages of multiculturalism.

These posts have stirred controversy and Idriss explains that “social media has its pros and cons. It allows people to become aware of the movement, [however] it creates a false sense of activism; we are trying to provoke sustainable change.”

To others, such as Cyprian Christian, a GW junior, the Black Lives Matter campaign is a unity movement designed to counteract the stereotypes

perpetuated in popular culture. In the context of GW, Christian

explains that although there is a racial divide on campus, he feels it is far less apparent than what he has previously seen in other areas.

Howard Goodison, a GW sophomore, on the other hand offers advice on how to approach GW’s race culture.

“I think behind the issue of race lies many socioeconomic assumptions and generalizations,” he said. “When we meet new people, regardless of what color they are, I believe that we shouldn’t make any assumptions about them.”

Goodison emphasized the importance of education as the best way to address the microaggressions students experience at the university and that, at the forefront of these discussions, “historical context should have the loudest voice.”

GW’s faculty and student organizations have made numerous attempts to provide safe spaces to discuss the pervasive issues of race in America both past and present. Despite this effort, there is still a large proportion of GW students who are reluctant to attend these events or even broach the topic with their friends. In this reluctance, unanswered questions and misconceptions breed an ignorance about issues of race, leading to a subtle and deeply ingrained culture of racial slights.

Common occurrences such as crossing the street when seeing a black male student, or the neverending “accidental” attempts to touch, graze and sniff--yes, even sniff--the kinky tresses of GW’s natural hair community will continue. I say these things not to be funny, but because these are realities that students of color at GW and across the nation are living. Indeed, this is a reality that a majority of GW students are not aware of, or simply do not see the harm in.

One of the pillars in the discussion of the importance of black lives is the actual respect of the black body. This concept was one that I myself grappled with. Like many others, I considered strangers touching my hair without permission too minor an offense to truly warrant a reaction. However, as funny as BuzzFeed’s videos depicting the tongue-in-cheek ways that African-Americans are disrespected on a daily basis, there came a point when I realized the only way to change this—albeit subtle—disregard for my person was to actually voice my displeasure.

The purpose of the movement is not to force people to adopt a singular school of thought about racial constructs but to ask people across the nation and around the world to share in the journey of their fellow citizens in this country. This means actually paying attention to current events (even ones that do not directly affect your community) and understanding the frequency and violence of police brutality. This means building relationships with people who understand the injustices you face, but also building relationships

BLACK LIVES MATTER, MORE THAN A HASHTAG: A GW STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

By Nkechi Okoronkwo

The purpose of the movement is not to

force people to adopt a singular school of

thought about racial constructs but to ask

people across the nation and around the

world to share in the journey of their fellow

citizens in this country.


with those who do not, and sharing your story. Goodison offers an interesting view, saying it is more than pointing out when someone from a different background is disrespectful.

“It isn’t about playing the race card. It is about treating your neighbor as you would like to be treated. Not only is this opening up the opportunity for conversations, but it is opening up the opportunity for change in the way we think and deal with each other.”

Whether you are of the mind that #blacklivesmatter is a passing trend or a stepping stone into the serious dialogue on the pedagogy of institutionalized and internalized racism, Idriss sums it up best when she states, “This country has proven black and brown bodies have no significance. And people are fed up.”

Soon, there will not be enough paper to document the Trayvon

Martins, the Tamir Rices, the Michael Browns, the Rumain Brisbons and Ezell Fords. And so, GW students need to ask themselves: What does black life mean to you?

Eric Garner Michael Brown

Trayvon Martin Walter Scott

Tamir Rice

8


A CONVERSATION WITH ZINHLE ESSAMUAHBy Sydney McKinley

In an effort to explore the impact of the recent Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases on black, young adults, senior Zinhle Essamuah has begun producing a documentary titled Hands Up, which features interviews with students from the GW

community and beyond.

Essamuah, a third year senior majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication, was one of the two undergraduates in SMPA to be awarded the Manheim-Sterling Research Prize. She is utilizing this prize money to execute her project.

“Last semester when these cases were unfolding, I was intrigued by the reactions of all my peers and, specifically, the diverse responses of my black friends,” Essamuah said about the inspiration for her project. “I think there was an assumption by the general American public that all African-Americans and black people in the country felt the same way, but it’s not true.”

Essamuah hopes to uncover these various perspectives and opinions in hopes of adding to the new body of research on the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases.

“This isn’t a topic that has been explored much,” Essamuah said. “I have not seen a study of what young black people are thinking about America’s race relations following the recent high-profile killings of unarmed black men.”

In order to explore this topic, Essamuah is engaging in a series of informational interviews with different young black millennials around the DC, Maryland and Virginia area.

She explained that she is looking specifically at the DMV area because she hopes to represent individuals with varied socioeconomic statuses and diverse

experiences. For example, she said interested in documenting the experiences of “those who are African immigrants, those who identify as African American and everyone in between.”

In particular, Essamuah hopes that this project will produce a better understanding of the direct action young people took in response to the Brown and Garner cases.

In a world that tends to hold the view that millennials are “lazy,” Essamuah so far has been surprised by what she has learned about the action young people have actually taken.

“I guess I just assumed that millennials were only tweeting and hashtagging and that was it. But I met a group of young women on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day who were distributing pamphlets to black people that detailed how to respond if a cop pulls you over or stops you on the street,” Essamuah explained. “Just the fact that these girls went to that extent, to hand out pamphlets at the MLK Memorial … I wasn’t expecting that.”

Essamuah plans to host screenings of her documentary on our campus, to distribute the film online and to submit the film to

festivals. Ultimately, she hopes that her project will spark a widespread conversation.

“For people who have felt stumped about all of the Ferguson and Garner stuff, maybe you’re saying, ‘I don’t even know how to start talking about Ferguson’ or ‘I don’t have any role in it,’ this film could be a good starting point for you,” she said.

“I want everyone to leave the theatre having been a little challenged or, at least, thinking about this topic in a new way.”

Follow Zinhle’s documentary website at: handsupdocumentary.com.

Update: Zinhle travelled to Ferguson, Missouri in March 2015. While there, she conducted over 25 interviews, attended protests and documented community meetings and religious services. A preview screening of her documentary is scheduled for Friday, May 1 at 7 p.m. in the Marvin Center Amphitheater.


Making its debut appearance in the 1970s, hip-hop has become one of the most provocative, respected, hated and loved music genres to date. The early days of hip-hop represent the new school of soul and R&B, and

has since morphed into tales of the hood, then middle school dance crazes, and the American dream of money, power and respect. Today’s hip-hop scene is an eclectic blend of all three, depending on how deep you’re willing to dive into the game; but as history could tell us, most cultures have to be expanded, explored and watered down to something everyone can enjoy.

Perhaps the most notable moment in hip-hop this past year was when every artist had a bone to pick with the blonde, Australian, pop/rap sensation Iggy Azalea. When Azalea’s breakout record “Fancy” took over the airwaves this summer, with the most annoyingly catchy hook by Charli XCX and a Clueless inspired music video, the duo ruled the Billboard Top 100 singles chart and were unofficially crowned as the champions of the suburban soccer mom pre-game anthem. And Azalea’s summer was fine and dandy, until the aftermath of Ferguson. Infamous, Harlem-born female rapper Azealia Banks, notoriously active on Twitter, went after Iggy for not speaking out on the tragedy.

“Its funny to see people Like Igloo Australia silent when these things happen... Black Culture is cool, but black issues sure aren’t huh?” Banks posted on Twitter. Hilarity aside, she was right.

Hip-hop has always been affected by cultural appropriation, transformed into media for the masses. What originated as a form of expression and an escape from the horrors of the hood has been cultivated into a mass-produced moneymaker somehow suburban white kids think they can mimic. This is not to say that only black people can like hip-hop, but people who listen to it need to recognize their place. Iggy Azalea raps in a (poor) southern drawl that doesn’t even make any sense since she’s from Australia. And while she does rep a slight element of the struggle of hip-hop—she moved to the US by herself at 16—her social media presence and response to criticism makes it apparent that she has

no regard for the culture itself. “Fancy” was made because she and her producers knew it was going to be a hit. It appears that Iggy loves hip-hop for all the wrong reasons.

In contrast, white rapper Macklemore stays in his lane. Last year, Macklemore surprised the world after winning three of the four Grammy awards in the Rap category and taking home the award for Best Rap Album. Spectators expected Kendrick Lamar’s critically acclaimed debut album, Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City to take the award. Macklemore

also believed Kendrick should’ve won and sent Kendrick a text expressing his thoughts. He caught a lot of flack, after posting the screenshot on Instagram, but eventually apologized. In the end, Macklemore gives credit where it’s due and recognizes that he sits between a rock and a hard place as a white rapper from the North West. He’s been ingrained in Seattle’s hip-hop scene since the early 2000’s. His first album was actually released in 2005.

In a recent interview with Hot 97 at the end of December, he quickly pointed out how parents tell him that he is the only hip-hop they let their kids listen to even though his album has a prominent “parental advisory” sticker like every other explicit album, assumably because he is white. There is a fine line between appropriation and paying homage to the culture that has been built into what it is today. Action Bronson, for example, another white rapper from Queens, New York, has been revered for his slick storytelling, offbeat punch lines and plain awesome food references. But he has not received the same backlash and accusations of cultural appropriation as Iggy or Macklemore have.

“You can look at Action Bronson through this more constricted lens (of Azealia Banks) and understand her point, or you can look at it more open mindedly and see what he has done for the hip-hop through who he works with and the style he carries himself,” says GW sophomore Curtis Stahl.

Action Bronson has often been compared to Ghostface Killah of Wu-Tang Clan, yet never accused of copying him.

“It’s the same thing with Drake,” Stahl said. “Drake grew up in a pretty wealthy background and doesn’t have the same background as most traditional rappers, but he’s still a huge influence on the scene. Not everybody has to be Jay Rock. I think Drake would agree with me, probably.”

However, the issue extends much farther than music. Kylie Jenner’s “new” dreads were admired and viewed as a risky and cutting-edge. But for the majority of history dreadlocks have been viewed as dirty and gross. Is this irrelevant because Kylie is different? Of course she is. She would totally still be wearing Red October Yeezys if it weren’t for Kanye and rap music. Elle Magazine also said that Timberland boots were the new fashion trend forgetting Aaliyah and the Notorious B.I.G. wore them 20 years ago. Funny how that happens, isn’t it?

It’s a tricky situation. White people are still the majority in the US and therefore make up most the music industry’s consumer market, including hip-hop. It can’t be expected that hip-hop will be stay 100% black. But Hip-hop culture should not be commodified. It’s a way of life that people identify with and see every day. We can’t let that disappear because celebrities think it’s trendy. Hip-hop culture needs to be recognized as something that can be appreciated by all but understood by few.

DEAR WHITE PEOPLE, STOP TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIP-HOP

By Chris Gellein

In a recent interview. ..,[Macklemore] quickly

pointed out how parents tell him that he is the only hip-hop they let their kids listen to...

10


George Washington University is one of the most prestigious schools in the nation. With its prestige comes an abundance of resources available for students on a daily basis. One of the more crucial resources is

the counseling that the school provides for its students. GW has different methods of providing counseling to students in need, such as a course to teach peer counseling, the counseling center (where the first six sessions are free) and others. Recently, the university launched its “Healthy GW” initiative to redefine efforts to support students in numerous ways and continue to seek different methods to better help its students. In addition to these efforts, it has also launched a peer support program in which students would learn how to assist their fellow student body in their time of need.

But are these resources useful for all students? Do students actually feel like these resources are available to all of them? Are they comfortable using these resources or expressing any problems they may be dealing with at the time? For instance, what happens in a case when a student of a multicultural background tries to receive help or guidance on an issue like race? Is there staff available for

these students, maybe of similar race, culture, or ethnicity, that they would feel more comfortable discussing the problem?

After speaking to some of the students in the multicultural community, their responses revealed that they were unaware that GW even had some of these resources. To some, the move didn’t seem to make much of a difference, but rather created other problems.

Abeke Teyibo, a sophomore at GW, said, “The move didn’t really affect me much but it did cause a problem primarily with the Bookstore which was moved to the basement. Now the bookstore has become more hectic and crowded, and the Marvin Center has more traffic going into it.”

Others weren’t aware of possibly beneficial programs like the peer counseling program and other initiatives to improve campus health. One freshman, Lilianna May, was among the many who didn’t know about the programs GW offers but believes, “many students can benefit from the resources GW has available if it made them known.”

“That way students become more aware that the help is there if they need it,” she said.

If GW hopes to become a better resource in its new initiative, it must ensure that it caters to the entire student body for students of all different backgrounds. Students like Abeke and Lilianna have just a few of the voices that don’t always get heard. The great ideas that GW brings to the table can make a huge difference in the community, and with the right tactics it can do so.

In order to do this, they should ask questions like: What reason would a student have to go to the University Counseling Center opposed to a friend? How can they connect with students of all backgrounds? How can they spread awareness so the Health Services Center and the University Counseling Center have their resources maximized to their full potential?

“Sometimes I wonder if they actually try to improve mental health assistance, seeing that its now such a big issue. They’ve only recently given attention to it,” said junior Eric Darnell.

The George Washington University has a lot of work to do if it hopes to fully address students from all backgrounds’ mental health needs. There’s been significant progress in the last year, but a prominent university such as this should never settle, and should continue to work to make a difference for students in all respects.

A WAY’S TO GO FOR GW COUNSELINGBy Leslie Ogu

For instance, what happens in a case

when a student of a multicultural background tries to receive help or

guidance on an issue like race?


Here’s a typical New Year’s resolution: “Get this body right!” Due to popular opinion across the board, physical fitness seems to be superior to healthy nutrition overall, especially leading into the warmer months. However, for

many Colonials this heavily shared resolution does not effectively change routines, as many would hope.

Could this lack of improvement among college students’ fitness routines be a result of poorly promoted and structured physical activity opportunities within GW’s campus dynamic? Or, more importantly, are certain students being excluded from this dynamic?

“I know people who have never been inside HelWell before,” said Malcolm Elashari, a GW freshman. “This is the only place regular

students can go for gym exercise on the Foggy Bottom campus.”

Popularly known on GW’s campus as HelWell, the Lerner Health and Wellness Center serves as a facility that provides community

togetherness among students, staff and faculty who pursue wellness instruction and recreational opportunities. The center includes space for intramural sports, such as volleyball, soccer, basketball and more, in addition to year-round, drop-in fitness classes in. The center is also home to many lifestyle, sport and physical activity, or LSPA, courses.

HelWell has plenty to offer GW Colonials, yet the structure of the facilities seems to be a turn off.

“This building is funky,” said Michelle Odgers, a GW senior, assistant manager, superior of intramural sports and fitness instructor at the center.

And she was not talking about the smell.

“Since this campus is located in the city, the university tried its best to account for that and built this gym, providing as much equipment as possible, which contributes to its funky layout,” she said.

The center seems to be considered a hard place to navigate if you attempt to explore on your own.

“My first time going to HelWell, I felt lost,” said Monica Rigucci, a GW sophomore.

“We always offer tours,” said Odgers, “Students can ask any of the staff members at the front desk and a lot of what is going on in the

center can be found on the website, which we have progressively been updating.”

Odgers mentioned many great aspects of the center, yet it was lacking something: culture. A lack of cultural attentiveness within a community, especially a college environment, can cause a great divide.

So where’s the culture?

HelWell offers salsa lessons, yoga, and basketball—all of which appeal to various cultures. As a student who is in the gym four to five times a week, GW sophomore Leslie Ogu says positive peer pressure can also promote getting students into the facility for a good workout or just to have some fun.

“In the black community specifically, I think black men do a good job encouraging each other to come play basketball for cardio or to lift for overall health,” he said.

While these limited options highlight general American cultural demands, yet there is no focus on the subject of culture.

“When it comes to culture we are pretty neutral,” said Odgers, though she encourages students from all backgrounds to contact HellWell if they are interested in hosting an event.

“Culture neutral,” meaning this is not a topic that is given much concentration or bias, if any. But should it matter?

Sophomore Tobi Owoyemi says she understands the culture-neutral standpoint of the facility, given its vast campus audience; however, that does not mean there is no room for multicultural programming.

“The presence of minorities isn’t really felt or noticed, so they are kind of marginalized in a way,” she said.

HelWell seems to be a flourishing place with lots of room for improvement. In the meantime, regardless of color, students should not discard their New Year’s resolutions of refining their image and overall health so soon. The Health and Wellness Center provides a variety of fitness programs found online at their website. And, an added bonus, the center is also home to the best campus smoothies and puddings, with a healthy twist of course.

When asked for advice on how students should achieve their New Year’s resolutions, Odgers had this to offer: “Looking good, yeah, that’s great! But when you get healthy and you feel good, focusing on your mind, body and heart, you will be happy, which is what everyone’s resolution should be—happiness.”

CULTURAL FITNESS PROGRAMMING, DOES IT MATTER?

By Shannon Kirkland

The presence of minorities isn’t really

felt or noticed, so they are kind of

marginalized in a way.

12


LET’S PLAY THE BLAME GAME“I Love You More”

GW Hookups and RelationshipsBy Abeke Teyibo

From visions of sports-fueled romance inspired by Love & Basketball to falling head over heels in college like Drumline, aided by the many pairings we see on-screen, students struggle with deciding whether or not they want to

stay single or to take a risk and go out with someone.

For students like GW sophomore Angelica Cortez, being in a relationship was the best choice that she has ever made.

“Being in a relationship is good because you know you have someone that will love you and care for you no matter what,” said Cortez. “It’s not about the physical attraction, it’s more about wanting to be a better you for your significant other.”

“It’s good being in a relationship because you always have someone to express all of your feelings to,” said John Brockriede, a GW

sophomore. “It feels like it’s just you and the other person in the world sometimes, and that is all you really need.”

Although Cortez and Brockriede are in good spirits when it comes to relationships at GW, other students are not so optimistic. With the rise of the hookup culture, students that would not mind being in a relationship now wait a little longer to find “the right one.”

“I am choosing right now to be single because I haven’t found the right one yet, “ said GW sophomore Emilio Bernal.

So what about those who openly choose to stay single even if they have found the right one? Bernal thinks that it has to do with the freedom that students desire in college.

“Some guys don’t want to be tied down and so they want multiple women to put it simply,” he said.

“People don’t want to get involved too early. We are too young to

know for sure what we want and it’s good to not get caught up in it,” said GW sophomore Dion Thomas.

Jonathan Nkangabwa, a GW junior, seems to enjoy the single life.

“My reasoning before was that we are in college—young, handsome, full of energy—and will never get an opportunity to explore as many options as we have now in the future,” he said. “It’s not about sex, but I can see it plays a part especially in college where you have a lot of horny young adults who are free to do as they please.”

With arguments from a relationship side, neutral side, and a single side, dating is a choice that each individual makes from their own experiences. Some may like relationships because they are in a beautiful one, while others might dislike the thought of one because

their last relationship was a horror story. Also in a community and college where students are suppose to be finding out who they are, how is it possible to know who you want to be with if you do not even know yourself ?

The only thing students can do is sit back and experiment. Whatever choice you make, whether it’s with one significant other, none or plenty for experience’s sakes, remember it’s about your own happiness and well-being.

“It’s all about what makes you happy,” said GW sophomore Jeremy Tague. “If you find someone that makes you happy, then it won’t feel like you are being forced to choose between one or the other. You can find balance between the two and be perfectly fine.”

With the rise of the hookup culture, students

that would not mind being in a relationship

now wait a little longer to find “the right one.”


BHC KEYNOTEJudy Smith

By Emma Ashworth

Don’t give up. It’s not an option for anyone in this room.” Judy Smith is one hell of a woman. She’s that kind of person that you just notice in a crowd. She holds her head high, but not with her nose turned up. There’s something

about the way she carries herself that’s powerful yet welcoming. Like she has enough self-respect for herself and you, yet she still manages to be humble and inviting. The dynamic of the room shifted when she spoke. The threat of a large audience seemed to dissolve in front of her; it felt as though she was addressing each person individually.

“I think Monday night gave us a great jumping off point to lead into the rest of programming for the month,” said Eric Darnell, the Programming Chair for the Black Heritage Celebration committee.

What began as a formal occasion with opening remarks was interrupted by Judy Smith herself declaring that the prepared biography was far too long and it was time to begin the Q&A. She told stories of joking with President Bush about an affair between the two of them for publicity and what it was like to juggle helping the president of a foreign country in the middle of a military coup and her son’s basketball championship. Smith effortlessly told these stories that had the entire audience laughing and heckling in agreement. Its as though her life is a mix of Olivia Pope problems and the daily tasks of a dedicated mother.

Never had I been to a GW-sponsored event that had a sense of community like this one did. I often feel as if our school takes itself too seriously, that every event that is held is a networking opportunity and I should dress the part, but Smith made the room feel like it was full of old friends.

“Judy Smith is one of the best [speakers] we’ve had in the past four years I’ve attended GW,” said Student Association President Nick Gumas. “I’m incredibly proud of the BHC committee. She was perfect for the ambitious pre-professional student body that we have.”

Smith brought more than just her eccentric personality and energy to the GW community. Her advice and lessons gained from personal experiences resonated with me. Again and again she noted how critical it is not to be overwhelmed by the pressures from all aspects of life. She emphasized that it goes beyond school and

family. We need to be patient with ourselves and recognize our paths to success do not follow a definite structured course. This type of advice coming from someone as successful and intelligent as Smith really stuck with me. The proof of its success is in her life story. The world I live in emphasizes the importance of a life plan

and long term goals constantly. Judy Smith was inspirational both in her practice of balancing a family and a successful career as well as her personal wellbeing.

After the structured Q&A, the floor was open to the audience to ask questions. A few were about Scandal and others were about her job as a crisis manager, but one woman stood up and asked how Smith navigates around the stereotypes of ambitious black women, and she replied, “It’s their baggage, their stereotypes, not mine. You must be clear about who you are and accept nothing less than respect,” and it’s one of the most vital things to remember, that stereotypes and labeling are for the weak.

We must confront those that are ignorant and stupid enough to try to get away with discrimination. It’s time to demand respect for those who have been inhumanely denied it for far too long. It is time to demand respect for both the black individual and black culture, and we must do so in the same graceful and powerful way that Judy Smith does.

“

Never had I been to a GW-sponsored

event that had a sense of community

like this one did.

14


WHO ARE YOU WHEN THE COPS SHOW UP?By Abeke Teyibo

Dick Gregory once said, “This isn’t a revolution of black against white; this is a revolution of right against wrong. And right has never lost.”

In a nation that provides education, laws, health care, and other aspects that position our country as a world leader, the most important values that shape the development of new ideas, new technologies and peace in our society tend to be forgotten: equality and diversity. To start off the annual Black Heritage Celebration at GW, on Thursday, February 5, the Black Student Union and ACE Magazine collaborated on a presentation of why being a unique individual in society is more beneficial than having a society where all of its citizens think and are alike.

The event discussed how, as black individuals in society, sometimes we are socialized to speak, act, dress and behave in a way that would not bring negative attention to ourselves, especially around police or in professional, predominantly Caucasian settings. At the same time, those influences must be leveraged against accurately representing who we are and the culture we come from.

Students and attendees discussed how they define black culture and ways they show their culture through their own ways of thinking, sense of style, actions and more.

“Internally, I see myself as just being a role model and embodying ideals that break the stereotype,” said GW senior Bryson Thomas.

Many students made it apparent that although they are role models and work hard, they have been judged by the color of their skin, not by their accomplishments, and therefore not recognized to their fullest capabilities.

In one of the multimedia presentation’s clips, TED presenter Mellody Hobson, a board member of The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. and chairman of the board at DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc., described her similar struggles of being treated unequally due to the fact of the color of her skin. She recalled going to an editorial board lunch and being mistaken for kitchen help because of the color of her skin. When will society change—when will skin color no longer misinform others about who you are as an individual?

Another aspect the event discussed was language and what greater society considers proper and appropriate. By the looks of it, every student of color in the room had some experience with “code switching.” Code switching is when someone uses different ways of

speaking depending on the context of the conversation or situation.

“There are times when I slip up [around white friends] and talk like I would in the MSSC, and what I say would get latched onto and then everyone would latch on and respond to me like ‘Grrrl.,’” said GW senior Jade Graver. “Code switching can be protective, at least for me, because I don’t want to have to deal with that.”

When will it become that being yourself is not mimicked and embraced as a way of describing a culture through humor? At home, parents of color may teach their children to code-switch so that their children can be seen as smart and well-spoken individuals. It is taught in class that the Queen’s English is proper English, but who decides on what should be deemed as proper and articulate, and when?

TED presenter Jamila Lyiscott, a self-described “tri-tongued orator;” used a spoken-word essay entitled “Broken English” to celebrate the three distinct types of English that she speaks with her friends, at school and at home. With her “Broken English” essay, she described the constant issues of cultural identity through language that was constructed in the past and still lives in this generation. She challenges what articulate means, and although she speaks differently in three types of English, she shows that being “articulate” does not mean speaking like a Caucasian.

She says in the piece, “Yes, I have decided to treat all three of my languages as equals. Because I’m ‘articulate.’ But who controls articulation? Because the English language is a multifaceted oration. Subject to indefinite transformation. Now you may think that it is ignorant to speak broken English But I’m here to tell you that even ‘articulate’ Americans sound foolish to the British.”

There is no form that is properly seen as articulate speaking. To every individual in any part in the world, the way that everyone speaks would seem strange to that of another person. Therefore, a unique “articulate” language does not exist and all language should be respected.

Cultural diversities are not limits to a society but benefits. Racism is an issue that many people feel uncomfortable with and flee from the conversation, but only when racism—implicit and explicit—is attacked head on, will progress be made. Embrace differences to get different viewpoints of the world, create new technologies and develop a better society. That is the only option from changing a society that is based on racial and economic inequality to a world providing liberty and justice for all.


THE GREAT DEBATEBy Briana Stephenson

One of the most anticipated events of this year’s BHC was The Great Debate: Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) vs. Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs). The discussion, held by the Alpha Kappa

Alpha Sorority, Inc., Mu Delta Chapter and moderated by Professor Cheryl Thompson of the School of Media and Public Affairs, reached the crowd with inquiring minds looking to understand and compare the experiences of going to either a PWI or HBCU.

The event began with a bang, examining statistics like retention and graduation rates for black students at both kinds of colleges. One interesting fact stemmed from our own institution, as the six-year graduation rate of black students at Georgetown University is 86.8% compared to 68.9% at GW.

The wide variety of PWI and HBCU graduates on the panel offered attendees a diverse set of opinions on each side. Many of the HBCU alumni focused on the sense of self-confidence they gained from being surrounded by a plethora of hardworking, encouraging black students and staff. They also challenged a common stereotypes, disputing the lack of diversity and asserting the great variety of peers coming from different religions, regions and ethnicities that attended their university.

A consistent theme over the course of the evening was overwhelming argument attached to knowing one’s history and supporting black-owned institutions. Several HBCU alumni argued that blacks are responsible for the negative image of those institutions and the solution will be to build up our own institutions because, in the past, we weren’t allowed at these PWIs unless we were the help.

Associate Director of the Multicultural Student Services Center and Morehouse graduate, George Rice, III also clarified one of the reasons for the disparities in graduation rates.

“Academic excellence at HBCUs and PWIs should not be determined by the graduation rate because

there are several reasons that one may have dropped out. It doesn’t necessarily mean that those attendees are academically incapable,” he said.

The audience discussion session of the night caused the most excitement, as students got to interact with the panel and each other. Everyone definitely came with their own ammo about promoting their school as the better choice. When one Howard senior insinuated that attendees of PWIs do not have the same amount of racial discussions as HBCU students, GW senior Samone Ijoma disagreed with his sentiment ensuring that we do have those debates because we are reminded of racial injustice on a daily basis. And while another GW senior, Bryson Thomas, inquired about fixing the party school image of HBCUs, academic advisor in the Columbian College Shonda Goward emphasized the fact that PWIs have the same reputation and blacks should be proud of our contribution in the field of entertainment.

Director for Diversity and Inclusion of the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Howard University graduate Dr. Grace Henry had perhaps the most moving statement of the

night as she shared her view on overall inclusion.

“The great debate is how do we finish period. How do we help those who do not have access?”

Ultimately, the main conversation was to debate the stereotypes of HBCUs giving their students a skewed view of the world or PWIs making black students less aware of one’s culture and history. Though no definite conclusions can be reached, the conversation definitely encouraged students

to remember it’s more important to stand in solidarity with our peers in order to uplift each other.

Dr. Henry’s sentiments remind us that it doesn’t matter what school we choose, as long as we do graduate and help others along the way.

The great debate is how do we finish period. How do we help those who do

not have access?

HBCU

vs

PWI


2015 The ACE Magazine©

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