nubianmessage

RALEIGH, NC n VOL. XX, ISSUE 19 n THENUBIANMESSAGE.COM n APRIL 16, 2013

THE SENTINEL OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AT NC STATE UNIVERSITY

NUBIAN MESSAGE

Face Off: Greeks Dominate Weekend Worn as a symbol of the pain African Americans have endured as a people, Greek members put on their best Grit Faces for Pan Afrikan 2013

Faces continued page 5

Kierra LeggettEditor-in- Chief

Malcolm Stephen at Kappa Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Probate | Jasmine Jack

Task Force on Academic Programs Proposes AFS & WGS Merger Kierra LeggettEditor-in- Chief

Beginning next fall Africana Studies (AFS) and

Women’s & Gender Studies (WGS) could merge to

form a single Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) major. The

formation of this merger would lessen AFS and WGS to

concentrations.

Proposed by the Task Force on Review of Academic

Programs, the intent of the merger would be to improve

the sustainability of the programs, which have tradition-

ally had relatively low enrollment and graduation rates.

While the merger could potentially increase the low

number of students who enroll and graduate from the

two programs, Dr. Sheila Smith-McKoy, Director of both

the African American Cultural Center and Africana

Studies, feels that combining the two would strip them of

their integrity. “Although I am certainly pleased that the

programs will continue, I would love to see the univer-

sity continue its commitment to Africana Studies and

Women’s and Gender Studies without diluting either of

the programs by combining them,” said Smith-McKoy.

Dr. Deborah Hooker, Director of Women’s & Gender

Studies, also feels that the merger would do more harm

Merger continued page 2

Grit faces galore were displayed

this past weekend as the 2013 Pan

Afrikan Festival came to an end.

The greatest abundance of the faces were

seen at Saturday night’s NPHC Pan Afrikan

Step Show where Greeks took to the stage

competing for first place and bragging rights.

The host for the evening was Brint Hayes, a

student at North Carolina Central University

and music was provided by N.C. State’s own,

D.J. Koldstone, also a member of the Kappa Xi

chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Six organizations competed in this year’s

show including the Beta Epsilon Chapter of

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the Kappa

Omicron Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha

Sorority, Inc., the Kappa Lambda Chapter

of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., the Mu

Omicron Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta

Sorority, Inc., Triangle Area Chapters of Phi

Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. as well as the

Gamma Gamma Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta

Sorority, Inc. However, at the end of the night

it was the Triangle Area Chapters of Phi Beta

Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and the Mu Omicron

Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

that walked away champions.

2 |April 17th, 2013 NubiAN messAge

Only with the permission of our elders do we proudly produce each

edition of the Nubian Message.Dr. Yosef ben-Yochannan: Dr. John

Henrik Clark: Dr. Leonard Jeffries: The Black Panther Party: Mumia A.

Jamal: Geronimo Pratt: Tony William-son: Dr. Lawrence Clark: Dr. Augus-

tus McIver Witherspoon: Dr. Wandra P. Hill: Mr. Kyran Anderson: Dr.

Lathan Turner: Dr. M. Iyailu Moses: Dokta Toni Thorpe and all those who accompany us as we are STILL on the

journey to true consciousness.

EDITOR - IN - CHIEFKIERRA LEGGETT

Editor@ nubian.ncsu.Edu

MANAGING EDITOR DEERRICKA GREEN

[email protected]

325 Witherspoon Student CenterBox 7138

NC State UniversityRaleigh, NC 27695-371

PHONE NUMBER: 919.515.1468 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

[email protected]: @NUBIANMESSAGE

Facebook.com/NubianMessage

Nubian Message

April 18 Pass or Fail Hosted in conjunction with the Peer Mentor Program’s Spring Fling, this program is presented by the NAACP. Come learn about the many leadership and organizational opportunities available on campus. Representatives from student organizations will be present, so come increase your involvement in the AASAC community, as well as the N.C. State community as a whole. Freshmen are especially encouraged to attend! Talley Walnut Room, 6:30 pm.

April 18 You Are What You Eat The women of Women Empowering Society Together and Sisters in Sports continue their Wellness Week, aimed at promoting physical, spiritual and mental wellness. This program focuses on healthy eating habits including ways to utilize dining options on campus while maintaining a balanced diet, healthy recipes and more. Park Shops 200, 7:00 pm.

April 25 Kappa Step Off The Kappa Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. present their annual Step Off, featuring members of the Panhellenic Association. Donations will be made to the Broughton High School senior tutoring program, a local YMCA, Wake County Battered Women’s Shelter, and a scholarship fund for local high schools. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from the Greek Life Office or from the brothers of the Kappa Xi Chapter in the Brickyard. Holliday Gymnasium, Broughton High School, 6:00 pm.

April 26 Ebony-Harlem Awards of Excellence Celebration The Ebony-Harlem Awards is presented each year by the African American Cultural Center in order to recognize students who represent the mission of the African Center. Everyone is welcome to attend this formal event. Washington Sankofa Room, 6:00 pm.

COPYRIGHT 2013 BY NORTH CAROLINA STATE STUDENT MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Events for Nubian Brothers & Sisters

News

Sign Off From The Editor Greetings my Nubian Brothers and Sisters, What’s Up?

The Nubian Message and I have survived age 20. Though it was not at all an easy task I made it happen,

often by any means necessary. In other words, sleepless nights, countless cups of coffee and more than

the allotted number of tardies to my 8 a.m. Medieval History Class.

This year has been exhausting, both mentally and physically, but it is not an experience that I would

trade for the world. I have had the opportunity to discover my potential as a leader, just how well I work

under pressure and how to thrive in chaos.

While it was not my original intent to extend my editorship of the Nubian beyond the 2012-2013

academic year, I have developed a strong love and motherly regard for the paper, which is why I reapplied

and was rehired for the position of editor-in-chief.

That said, I can’t wait to embark on the journey of age 21 with the Nubian. Next year shall be all about

the #turnup. Not literally of course, but in the sense that I want to turn up the momentum of the

paper, once again. My staff and I will continue to cover news that is relevant to the African American

experience, while steadily improving the quality of our reporting and the overall paper.

You all, the readers, have been instrumental to the success of the Nubian Message this year, and for that I

thank you. I ask that you continue to support us in the upcoming school year.

Thank you to everyone who has been involved or picked up a copy of the Nubian Message this year.

Peace,

Kierra Leggett

NubiAN messAge April 17th, 2013| 3News

Learning From Nixon

Brian Nixon, N.C. State’s

second African American

Student Body President

resigned from office in 1990, just

one month before his presidency

ended, after he was attacked outside

of North Hall. Despite the short

amount of time left in his candidacy,

the racial intimidation and violence

impacted him so greatly that he

could not continue. According to the

N.C. State Historical Library, “the

pain and pressure [of his Presidency

had] finally taken its toll [on Nixon]

physically, mentally, emotionally, and

especially academically.”

Elected in 1989, Nixon won the

coveted position of Student Body

President with more than 69 percent

of votes. However, racial tension

surrounded the election, as some

N.C. State students did not welcome

his positive efforts for the University.

His life was threatened on numerous

occasions via calls, letters, and other

methods of intimidation. Due to

the frequent racial death threats,

the University provided Nixon with

personal security, but security was

unable to protect him from the

mental, physical, and emotional

brutality.

Nixon finished up his senior

year and graduated with degrees

in business management and

economics. Nixon is currently a

pastor in Chattanooga, T.N. The

adversity he faced is a harsh reminder

to Matthew Williams, our current

Student Body President Elect and the

fourth African American to hold the

position, of the racial tension that was

once present on our campus.

A native of Cary, N.C., Williams

has officially stepped into the

legacy of those before him. Though

devastated to hear about Nixon’s

negative experiences, Williams

appreciates the things Nixon was able

to establish during his presidency,

including programs such as “Project

Togo”, “Adopt-a-Part of Campus”, and

“A Night with Student Government,”

all aimed at moving the university

forward.

“[Nixon] was able to accomplish

a lot among the adversity he faced,”

said Williams. “You can either let

experiences break you down or build

you up. Brian took those times and

built an incredible legacy of great

Student Government programs,

and became an exceptional pastor,

husband, and father.”

In his brief bio page from his

campaign, Matt mentions that his

aunt, Sherry Williams’ courage paved

the way for minority students to

get involved and active in Student

Government, especially in executive

positions. Sherry Williams was the

first African American woman to run

for Student Body President at N.C.

State in the 70s. Williams said that his

aunt ran for Student Body President

at a time when students on campus

were not as accepting.

According to Williams, he is

not just inspired by the adversity

she faced but her work ethic and

determination. He said, “I didn’t look

to [her] for [her] courage in dealing

with racial violence, because it’s not

something I worry about here at

N.C. State. N.C. State is my home.

I think the Brian Nixon presidency

had its successes, but was a dark time

in the history of the Student Body

Presidency.” Williams feels that his

presidency will be one without a

similar incident. “It’s something that

I firmly believe will never happen on

this campus again,” he said.

Matthew Williams, Student Body President Elect | Kelly Darden

“N.C. State is my home.”

-Matthew Williams

Chelsea Gardner Staff Writer

How Past Racial Tensions Will Shape Williams’ Presidency than good. “While I understand the basis for the

recommendation, I don’t agree with the proposal for a

number of reasons,” said Hooker. “If we became con-

centrations under a general IDS degree, likely there

would be no ‘efficiency’ savings, i.e., both programs

would still need to be administered (as they are now)

by advisors who guide students with their course

selections, arrange internships, coordinate course of-

ferings every semester, handle new course proposals,

make sure faculty are offering needed courses, etc. In

short, the same work would need to be done to offer

the concentrations as to offer majors.”

Currently, the university requires each major to

graduate a minimum of 19 students every two years.

According to reports on the University Planning

and Analysis Website, AFS awarded Bachelor of Arts

degrees to 20 students between 2010- 2012, while

WGS awarded Bachelor of Arts degrees to 23 students

during this period.

According to Smith-McKoy, talk of the merger

began in December of 2012 however the discussion

was not facilitated “transparently.” Smith-McKoy, who

says she never had the chance to present to the Task

Force on why the programs should not be merged,

feels that along with marring N.C. State’s chances

at becoming an American Academy University (No

American Academy University has a mixed AFS and

WGS program), the merger could deter prospective

students and faculty from the university. “I think

that having a strong Africana Studies program and

a strong Women’s & Gender Studies program helps

recruit faculty and students who identify with these

fields of study,” said Smith-McKoy. “It would be in our

favor to support these programs.”

Created to ensure that the Provosts’ goal of provid-

ing a more comprehensive review of academic pro-

grams in the 2011-2012 school year was achieved, the

Task Force on Review of Academic Programs is made

up of 22 members. Seven of the members are women,

and only one person on the force, Myron Ford, a Pro-

fessor of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management

in the College of Natural Resources, is black.

It is statics like this which push Hooker and

Smith-McKoy forward in advocating for independent

AFS and WGS majors. “These programs benefit all

students, whether they identify as women or as people

of African descent, who value having the opportunity

to engage in these fields through research and course-

work,” said Smith McKoy.

Hooker continued, “Just as feminism isn’t ‘over,’

neither is the need for gender education. Students

need to know how strongly ideas about gender impact

their lives and how they interact with other identity

categories--like race, ethnicity, sexuality, and class.

Lacking that, students will not have the tools to

interpret the world around them and to act produc-

tively and humanely within it. I would hate to see

either of these majors and the important work they do

rendered less visible.”

Mergercontinued from page 1


Bald is Beautiful Student Makes Big Chop for St. Baldricks

News

Junior Aleiah Miller wanted to participate in

the annual St. Baldricks event last year, but she

“chickened out.”

April 8 of this year however, thanks to the

encouragement of friends and family, Miller shaved

her shoulder-length hair in order to support the

Foundation’s childhood cancer research, raising more

than $300 in the process.

For members of the Sigma Nu fraternity, shaving

their head for St. Baldrick’s is an annual tradition. For

Miller, the event is a cause that has been on her mind

for at least a year.

“I wanted to participate in St. Baldrick’s last year

and I got afraid,” Miller said. “This time I signed up

and posted [on Facebook that I was participating]

right away so everyone would help [me] through it.”

According to the St. Baldrick’s website, in the

United States, more children die of childhood

cancer than any other disease. 175,000 children are

diagnosed with cancer each year, a startling statistic

of which Miller is all too familiar. “Some children

back home that I know were diagnosed with cancer,

one specific case being leukemia. This girl was only

four years old and at the time she was given a 20

percent chance of living. Now, that percentage has

moved up to 80 percent.”

She cites familial ties, as well as the case of the

little girl as her main influences for carrying out her

goal. “In addition to this little girl, in between the

time that I didn’t participate in St. Baldrick’s last year

and this year, my uncle passed away from cancer,”

said Miller.

On the day of the event, Miller carried on the fam-

ily ties to St. Baldrick’s, having her father, Christopher

Miller, a barber, shave her head. Despite her father’s

apprehension, he was encouraging and supportive,

Miller says. “I chose my father to cut off my hair be-

cause I felt it would make the experience more mean-

ingful. It was precious. Having him there to support

me was special for me.”

One week since her big chop, Miller says that she’s

since realized the security in hair, but that the re-

sponses she’s received have been nothing but positive

thus far. “Everyone has been great about it. I get nega-

tive comments from older men who love hair anyway,

and I got called ‘sir’ once. Other than that, everyone

has shown me love.”

Sigma Nu collected more than $14,000 for re-

search. Originally when Miller got her head shaved,

she reached her goal of $350, but since donations

have continued.

“I don’t have plans of going natural or anything,

but I think over the summer, I’m going to keep my

hair short like this. I’m looking forward to playing

with it.”

Uninhibited Praise Speak Life: Decades of Praise

DeErricka Green Managing Editor

Photos by: Jasmine Jack

Members of Uninhibited Praise singing during the 90s themed portion of their Speak Life: Decades of Praise Concert at Oberlin Road Baptist Church, Sunday April 14.

Aleiah before her haircut

Aleiah after her haircut

NubiAN messAge April 17th, 2013| 5

Faces continued from page 1The brothers of Phi Beta

Sigma impressed judges and

the crowd with their zombie

themed performance. There

mission for the night was to

“eradicate the enemy” and

they gave a forewarning

to all at the beginning of

their performance with the

message “If you want it you

can get it.”

The Devastating Divas

of the Mu Omicron Chapter

of Delta Sigma Theta

Sorority, Inc. thrilled the

audience with their Saw

Red Redemption themed

performance, complete with

a singing grim reaper.

Dressed in pink wigs

reminiscent of those worn

by Nicki Minaj, the ladies of

the Kappa Omicron Chapter

of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

stepped all the way to second place in their

signature heels.

Decked out in pharaoh caps, the

brothers of the Beta Epsilon Chapter of

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. also

slithered into second place telling the

crowd, “A pharaoh is strong, we never

retreat.”

Despite not going home with a trophy,

arguably the biggest performance of the

night came from the Kappa Lambda

Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,

Inc. Together, the brothers took to the

stage as “Bad Bruhz II,” in a performance

inspired by the Bad Boys films starring Will

Smith and Martin Lawrence. Though the

performance began with just two members,

it ended with the Chapter teasing audience

members by bringing out four masked

neophyte members.

The neophytes were unveiled at 4:11

p.m. Sunday, at the Kappa Lambda Probate

that took place at Tucker Beach. There,

the brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,

Inc. introduced to The Yard, Tyler Allen,

AJ Woodard, Richard Lewis and Malcolm

Stephen.

Two other probates were held Sunday

including that of the Xi Zeta Chapter of

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and the

Mu Xi Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority,

Inc. The Xi Zeta Chapter welcomed to The

Yard, Thomas Jasmine, while the sisters of

the Mu Xi Chapter welcomed to The Yard,

Cynthia Sharpe, Rameika Jones, Ashley

Gaie, Ashley Wilklerson, Ebony Watson

and Tiffany Williams.

News

Sisters of the Mu Xi Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. at their Probate

A member of the Kappa Omicron Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. stepping at this year’s NPHC

Step Show. | Kelly Darden

Above: Members of the Mu Omicron Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Triangle Area Chapters of Phi

Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. after winning first place at the NPHC Step Show. | Kelly Darden

Below: Local High School Student and member of high school step team performing during intermission of show.|

Kelly Darden

6 |April 17th, 2013 NubiAN messAgePerspectives

What’s That Drank in Everyone’s Cup A Closer Look at the Rap Industry’s Obsession with Lean

Alfred AndersonStaff Writer

Rumors swirled the Internet a few weeks

ago that New Orleans rapper, Lil Wayne

had died as a result of seizures induced

by his frequent use of Purple Drank. While these

rumors were false, his hospitalization has brought

new attention to “Texas Tea” also referred to as

Purple Drank. A powerful concoction used as a

recreational drug in the rap community, Purple

Drank has many names including Sizzurp and

Lean. It consists of prescription-strength cough

syrup, a soft drink such as Sprite, Mountain Dew

or Pineapple Fanta, along with some kind of

candy, usually Jolly Ranchers, for additional flavor.

The addictive drink has origins in Houston,

T.X. where some artists, including rapper Big

Hawk claim that the drug has been in use for

recreational purposes since the 1960s. Despite this

Purple Drank didn’t gain widespread popularity

until the 1990s, mainly because of producer DJ

Screw and other popular artists from Houston.

Subsequently, its usage began to spread

throughout the southern United States, becoming

cornerstone of southern rap culture along with

the chopped and screwed style of music that also

originated in Houston. In June of 2000, Three 6

Mafia released the single “Sippin’ on Some Syrup,”

featuring Houston’s own Pimp C and Bun B who

formed UGK (short for Underground Kingz).

Together, they helped introduce Purple Drank

to a nationwide audience and set the pace for

southern rappers to glamorize the indulgence of

this dangerous mixture.

Since the dawn of the millennium, the

popularity of Purple Drank has continued to rise

thanks to rappers like Eminem, T.I., Rick Ross,

Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Drake, and Future, who

have verbalized their relationships with Lean.

There are even songs released by these artists and

others in which the entire focus of the song is

on the recreational use of the prescription drug.

Example’s of these songs include “I’m On One” by

DJ Khaled, Feat. Drake, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne,

“Drank In My Cup” by Kirko Bangz, and “Me and

My Drank” by Lil Wayne, just to name a few.

Consumed out of white, Styrofoam cups, the

drink which sells for $300 to $600 per pint, has

spread outside of the rap community to urban

and suburban areas including colleges and high

schools.

This is dangerous given that the side effects of

Purple Drank includes dizziness and drowsiness.

It slows down the heart rate and suppresses the

respiratory system and when used often or mixed

with other drugs like alcohol or ecstasy, the results

can be fatal. As if this is not enough, the rap

community has even lost great talents as a result

of the frequent use of this drug. Pimp C (member

of UGK), DJ Screw, and Big Moe (a DJ Screw

protégé) all passed away after heavy usage of the

drug.

With its constant appearances in rap videos

and verses, it is apparent that this drug will not

be going anywhere, anytime soon. If one thing is

certain however, the rap community needs to put

a cap on this drug before it claims even more lives.

“Purple Drank has many names

including Sizzurp and Lean.”

Promethazine with Codeine Syrup and Sprite, main ingredients in Purple Drank

31 Students took our

online survey where we

asked 1) Have you ever

tried lean? and 2) If yes,

would you try it again.

Here are the results we

got.

NubiAN messAge April 17th, 2013| 7Lifestyles

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The Haute Seat

It’s the Beard Gawd, aka Deion Slanders

bringing you the Haute Seat once again.

Coming back from a semester hiatus in

full form, I bring you my review of the Pan

Afrikan week as it pertains to fashion.

Pan Afrikan week, from the Kick-Off to

the probates, was nothing short of what I

expected. From multiple patterned outfits,

to variant kicks, it seems like we have

learned nothing from my tenure here as

Haute Seater. Not shying away from the

spotlight, there were numerous offenders

just waiting for their time to shine, so here

it is.

The Pan Afrikan Kick-Off started the

week officially, ironically, I found some-

thing very unofficial in the crowd.

I was minding my own business, chillin’

with some of my friends, and into the

distance, I spotted some fugazy Olympic

VIs. I guess these J’s came from the 2012

Egyptian Olympic Team care package. Ap-

parently this young sir didn’t learn from the

September 26th edition of the Haute Seat.

Not only did he not learn from yours truly,

he also had the nerve to stand and befriend

someone wearing the legitimate Olympic

VI’s. Though I do give him some credit for

having some dignity and buying a non-

airmax midsole variant.

The next day of Pan Afrikan was Soul

Food Sunday, and out of respect for the

Sabbath, I will omit any blasphemies I saw

that day and keep it moving.

Monday brought us the AATS Fashion

Show, and I can confidently say that no

one disappointed me here. This goes for

the designers and the attendees. Everyone

looked great. Either that, or I was too busy

shuffling through tickets to catch anyone

slipping.

Moving on to Tuesday, which happened

to be a great day to be on the Brickyard,

there were many leftover runway looks

seen. During the dog days of Spring, a

day of 86 degrees, I saw people trying

to catwalk the bricks in six inch heels. I

mean, hey, I get it; you want to be seen, but

wearing high-low skirts, and those “Jeffrey

Campbell’s” you got from Charlotte Russe

are not the way to do it.

Moving on to Wednesday, where it was

another blistering day of heat in the neigh-

borhood. During the Sprummer (yeah,

‘cause you know we don’t really get Spring

around here) is where less is more. That

even goes for “your” hair, too, seeing how

more of those tracks gives you less edges.

For some reason big, curly weave is the

thing for warmer weather. This baffles me,

because doesn’t more hair make your head

hot? As my homie Pymp said, “People like

to act Dominican in the summer.” Any-

way, all of you Diana Losses are supremely

catching L’s in this heat.

Thursday was chill. The sun was high,

but the temperature was not. Peaceful day if

I must say so myself.

It seems like all of the real recklessness

starts on Friday for the weekend. Well, the

12th was no different. Pullen Park is a place

of joy and tranquility, but this is the Haute

Seat, so you know that’s not how it really

went down. With another warm day given

to us, and all the Jungle Juice in the atmo-

sphere, there was sure to be scantily-clad

offenders. From cropped, sleeveless, lycra

turtlenecks, to visible tracks, it was just a

sight to see.

Going into that night, the wardrobe

changes were so bad, Corey Holcomb

offered a complementary Burlington trip.

Concrete is an unforgiving surface, so

walking that rocky road to the Dorton

Arena in heels was nothing short of a

tightrope performance. Except, there was

more spandex and clown make-up worn

than usual.

Saturday rolls around quite mildly for

the ROAT Carnival. No violators were

present; I guess they figured to keep the

ratchetry at a low level for a good cause.

Kudos to them.

But as soon as the sun sets, the banshees

are in full form. You had people taking it

back to 2004 with the airbrushed shirts.

It’s like their bad decision came full circle

when he came back to the Fairgrounds

wearing the shirt where he quite possibly

got it airbrushed.

Going into the last day, the three pro-

bates were the cherry to top off Pan Afri-

kan. Other than the few trying to get chose

in their hoe uniforms, there was quite an

atmosphere that couldn’t be beat.

There was a sense of black unity and at-

mosphere that really lived up to the “Black

Homecoming” title. But not digressing too

much, this week made me proud. With

there not being too many violators, I guess

people are really learning from the Haute

Seat. Finals are approaching, and I can

proudly say I see N.C. State not repeating

Fashion Don’ts 101.

I guess it’s the time to ice the Haute Seat.

Pan Afrikan Edition Christopher LynnStaff Writer


Poetry From @TheBlackVoice Taurean Brown is a commuity activist and

free-lance writer based in Durham, N.C. Follow

him on Twitter @TheBlackVoice or visit

blacksankofa.wordpress for more of his writing.

Good Hair

Daily Hustle

NovocainI got good hair, I got Afrikan in my family

Kinky and curly, I’m happy to be nappy

Whether I choose to wear it short or long

My beautiful roots are very strong

The world tried to steal my joy

But see my hair caught wind of the ploy

It locked up and made the system dread

These powerful locs flowing from my head

I got good hair, I got Afrikan in my family

Kinky and curly, I’m happy to be nappy

Born in the cradle of civilization

The beauty of my hair is lost in this nation

Tender headed and flinching

Combs popping and scalp itching

My hair is as strong as my history

For deep inside these tangled roots lies a mystery

Everyday I wake up to the revolution

My first step in the morning is to thank God for evolution

I gotta have music bumping first thing in my ear

Nesta’s usually my first choice, he soothes my fear

See a Black man in America is a dangerous gig

Often times they want to kill you if you aren’t doing their jig

Off to the plantation I go

Capitalism has me bound to this show

I can feel the man on my back

I hope he know one day I am going to pay him back

At work, but freedom is on my mind

Sitting here constantly watching the time

Finally the clock strikes freedom

Off the plantation I return to the kingdom

Now it’s time for me to starting learning

Feeling starved all day my mind is yearning

Reading, writing, and seeking truth

That is what is taking up the days of my youth

Finally I lie in the imitation of death

Hoping that this won’t be my last breath

I say a quick respect to the ones that have passed me on

Peace, love, and unity keep me strong.

This is just a day in my story

A quick window into this beautiful journey.

Novocain going straight to the Black brain

Drowning in propaganda has us going insane

Hiding the injustice that they inflict every day

Sometimes I feel like the I’m only that has something to say


Numbing our minds so we don’t feel the pain

The knife was 12inches in back

Now we cheering cause they inched it back


The more things change the more they stay the same

Distracting us with their materials

Only they are benefiting from those residuals


Crippling the people leaving them lame

A person can’t fight what they don’t feel

The only way to heal is to deal

Accidential RacistLadies (and Gents) Don’t Love Cool J’s New Song

Amanda McKnightStaff Writer

N.C. State’s own Dr. Blair Kelley,

a professor in the History

Department, (@profblmKelley

on Twitter) was featured in the online

Podcast “This Week In Blackness” and

offered her opinion on the new song,

“Accidential Racist.”

If you have recently been on a hiatus

from TV, Internet, and magazines you

have probably missed last week’s newest

entry into the “You Tried and Failed” Hall

of Fame. Award winning country star

Brad Paisley released his ninth album

Wheelhouse on April 9th. The album

includes a song featuring veteran rapper,

LL Cool J, entitled “Accidental Racist” and

that is where things begin to go wrong.

The song was written with good

intentions. Paisley and LL Cool J did an

interview with ABC News defending their

song and they seem to have their hearts

in the right place. Yet they go about this

completely wrong. The song chronicles “

a white man comin’ from the Southland,”

and a hip hopper “living in the hood,” as

they struggle to understand each other’s

views on race relations. For example in this

line Paisley says,

“I’m proud of where I’m from but not

everything we’ve done

And it ain’t like you and me can re-write

history

Our generation didn’t start this nation

And we’re still paying for the mistakes

That a bunch of folks made long before

we came”

Here Paisley makes a valid claim that

we hear quite a bit. Some white people feel

like they should not be blamed for what

was done in the past to minorities, in this

case black people, and that is very fair.

No one should blame white people born

100 years after slavery for their ancestor’s

mistakes. The problem comes when you

ask people to forget the past and accept a

system that is still unfair and unequal to

the descendants of those enslaved people.

If black people were still not socially

and economically suffering from the

effects of being enslaved then maybe we

could accept this notion. But that is not

the case. To actually get past an issue

takes acknowledgement of the problems,

a solution, and then we can move on.

America is in a place right now where

people do not want to acknowledge

the adverse effects that slavery and

institutional racism has had on this

country. This whole song sounds like an

ode to Paisley’s own “white guilt” but that

is a whole other topic.

With songs like, “I Need Love”,

“Momma Said Knock You Out”, and

“Headsprung”, LL Cool J has not always

been the rapper that the black community

goes to when looking for “conscious” lyrics

and in my opinion it should stay that way.

About three minutes into the song you

hear, “Dear Mr. Whiteman I wish you

understood...” and that is when the song

takes a turn for the even worse. Cool J’s

verses are all saying that we should agree

not to judge one another based upon

appearance. That is a very fair desire. We

hear of incidents all of the time of a black

person “fitting the description” and being

judged but the way he goes about his

comparisons are very problematic.

In the middle of Paisley singing the

chorus we hit some of Cool J’s ad-libs

and he says, “If you don’t judge my gold

chains, I’ll forget the iron chains.” Now

this is interesting because why Mr. Cool J

believes that a comparison of some cheap

jewelry and the significance of the chains

that our ancestors were forced to wear

is appalling. Rappers, basketball players

and regular people on the street can wear

whatever jewelry they want but iron chains

were forced and a part of institutional

slavery. When you make unequivocal

comparison like that it does exactly

what this song is trying to do, lessen the

significance of racial issues.

This song is a problem because it

clumsily addresses an issue that cannot be

fixed by some country song no matter how

good its intentions. Reducing what racism

is and how it affects all of us, black, white,

brown, yellow or whatever down to just

the appearance of a confederate flag or do-

rag sets up back 60 years.

There has been a lot of talk about

this song and whether or not it is helpful

or hurtful to the progression of racial

tensions in this country.

Despite the backlash, LL Cool J and

Brad Paisley stand by this song. Like

anything there are multiple sides to fall

on and it is up to you to make your own

opinion.

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