“The concept of identity is a complex one, shaped by individual characteristics, family dynamics, historical factors and social and political contexts.” The above quote comes from “The Complexity of Identity: ‘Who Am I?’” written by Beverly Daniel Tatum. In this passage, she talks about the multiple individual characteristics (which can be interpreted into identities) we have that shape us as…
July 11, 2018
Sometimes, we live our lives without knowing our purpose or reaching our potential. This creates a feeling of emptiness, which leads to an unhappy life. This thought is often overlooked, but now is the time to explore the process of reaching our true selves. Do you know your potential? If so, are you trying to reach it? First,…
July 11, 2018
This past summer, Jay-Z released his 13th album, “4:44” and gave us all a clear view on ways we can build wealth in a system that isn’t particularly for us. His lyrics brought awareness to an issue that has affected the black community for decades: financial stability. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the average wealth for white families is…
Hey! Hi. Hello! Yo! Wassup!? These are all common greetings that we hear from day to day. A couple of these greetings probably wouldn’t be used in emails to professors, but why not? It’s most likely because professors generally don’t use AAVE. What’s that? Well, African American Vernacular English, or AAVE, is a form of english dialects prominently used by…
July 11, 2018
Photos by Candace Sanders I fear that I have wasted too much time not loving or wholly accepting myself. I have spent too many years dishonoring my pieces, sometimes knowingly, other times with an unconscious mind that was not aware of the damage it would cause my soul. In attempt to please everyone else, I found myself at the kitchen…
July 11, 2018
Graphic by Alex Tharnish Growing up, I never imagined I would find pop culture and politics merging as one. I always thought it was politicians’ responsibility to influence American citizens on what they should believe in or stand up for. I also never thought I would see the day I would contemplate an Oprah or Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson…
Prior to the 1950s, the first appearances of black women in entertainment were in minstrel shows that featured white male actors portraying stereotypical black female roles. George Christy was one of the first women impersonators who portrayed Lucy Long, a flirtatious mulatto woman. These shows, which began in the 19th century, depicted black women as either the “coal black mammy” or…
July 10, 2018
Here we are, 20 and some change. Still trying to find our “ism,” our “thing,” our place in the world. Ourselves. As a soon-to-be graduate, I’m finally entering the stage in life where I won’t identify as a student. That’s right. After years of instructional education, I will no longer be confined to the somewhat cage-like structure of a classroom.…
July 10, 2018
Going to college is already a complex and rigorous journey for students. From understanding how to receive the most financial aid, to balancing a social life with academics, it can be overbearing for anyone. For some students, however, the journey is even more complicated for reasons out of their control: their race. If someone identifies as African American or black,…
July 10, 2018
Jordin Manning, 20, They/Them Jordin is a third year sophomore at Kent State University studying psychology. They identify as Non-Binary & Sapphic and uses they/them pronouns. I chose Jordin for this interview because they have worked in the LGBTQ community since coming to Kent State. Altogether, Jordin has had positions in Threads, an organization that focuses on the intersection…