21 Most Influential Books for Black College Students in 2019
From Zora Neale Hurston to Ta-Nehsis Coates, we’re highlighting an updated list of the 21 influential books to your must-read list today.
Ladies’ Choice: Unpacking Double Standards in the Hip Hop Industry
As 2018 reigns as “The Year of the Woman,” the saying stays true in today’s climate for female rap. After a decade of Nicki Minaj as the sole survivor for female rappers, more women have been occupying the space. Bronx rapper Cardi B has a hot streak in the hip-hop industry, earning the achievement of being the first woman in hip hop to have three number one songs on the…
No Limits: Living Beyond Expectation
Stereotypes have been intertwined in the Black community for over 150 years. Although the Black community has worked hard over the years to silence racist stereotypes, we have in turn created expectations for ourselves that directly contradict them. In the past, Black people were mocked in minstrel shows in the 1800s for their features and assumed stupidity. As decades passed, it was a way for white people to characterize African…
Ten Art Niggas to Fall in Love With from Afar
In the art world, black people are being seen for their worth for the first time in a long time. There’s an outpouring of wonderfully unique and talented artists consuming my Instagram feed and throughout pop culture. While an artist’s look isn’t necessarily important to their craft, some of the artists below are serving lewks and my list of internet crushes has risen exponentially. Here are some the most swoon-worthy:…
The Complexity of Identity
“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 an individual. When asking the question, of “Who Am I?,”…
Pillars of Potential
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, understand we are human. We were created for a purpose,…
How to Secure the Bag
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 seven times higher than the average wealth for black families.…
What’s the Word? AAVE & the Evolution of Language
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 black people in the United States. Popularly known as Ebonics,…
Ode to My Soul: A Psalm of Praise for My Pieces
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 counter subtracting my truths and measuring in the right amount…
Pop Politics: The Role of Public Figures in Political Activism
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 presidential run. The presence of public figures becoming vocal in…