•

May 28, 1999

By Phil Kasieck.i ers could get oriented with the veterans Onyx Staff for the purpose of training camp in July. "lt's so differentfrom college in the at­ Andre Dixon was always a fan favor­ mosphere", Dixon said about his time ite at Northeastern footballgames. His at mini-camp. He described the relation­ cheering section was usually seated ships with the players and coaches as around midfielci, and wassignified by aprimary reason it was different. his fans yelling "Dre" instead of" Hey!'' Dixon likes playing for the Packers during part o:tRock' N Roll Part JI when and Ray Rhodes. 1'he Packers have a it was played. These days, the native great history and are once againa mong o.tPhiladelphia bas a few more fans, the NFL's elite teams.Dixon shares the thoug h most of 1he ne\v ones view of many NFL followers that the probablyare no\vhere near Boston. Packers are a greatorganization. adding 'Jine Green Bay Packers signed he tha~ "it 's nice to be ab le to win a comerback as a free agentafter he \Vent championshipright a\vay·•. Rhodes had undraft.ed during the NFL. Draft last coached the Philadelphia Eagles, \Vhom month. Dixon \Vasathree-year starter in Dixon isa die~bard fan of, the past four the defensive backfield for the Huskies, seaso ns befor e becomin g the helpinganchor the secondary from its suceesso rto Mike Holmgren. Dixon days as a young unit l\vo seasons ago. fee ls like he can relate to him and A bout a month ago, Dixon \Vaspres ent hisdefensive backs coach on many lev­ at the Packers' mini-camp.usually held els and on topics not neeessarilyreiated shortly after tl1e NFL Draft to bring in to football. new players (draftpio.ksand undrafted Dixon has had a great support sys­ free agents) and get them acquainted tem besides his friends ,vhowere present with theveterans on the team. He de­ at his home games. His agent is former scribed it as a productive time where Andre Dixon[ph otoored it:SportsInf ormation heleamed a lot, and where the ne\vcom- See DIXON, Page 2 Black on Black Find/ part in a three par/ series Frosh Returoing? By Jamila Hill Onyx Staff norance about each other plays a major role in how ,veinteraet. Unity and diversity have become "Tbey can often be strained because major themes in America in the past few they are either uninformed relationshjps years. The nation is becoming 1.ess bi­ Oli relationships that are misinfom1ed,'1 racial and more multi-racial. said Dr. Hord. Presiden1C linton has introduced dia­ "17here are these partially coueot his­ logues discussing race, And colleges torical memories about what one group and universities have sought better has done to another African group," he ways to bridge the racialdivide. said. While differences exist among the Among the types of information that races, there are also differences within is going around is tha~bJa ckAmeriicans individual races. are lazy and tnat blacks from other coun­ Black Northeastern students feel tries do not understand racism. There that these difference strain relationships are also more cosmetic stereotypes. between black Americans and blacks "I know a lot of A mean-Americans from other countries. w~o think that blacks from elsewhere "The relationship is rocky. There's view themselves as better than them," a feeling of separatism," said Duane said James Francois, middler, psychol­ Irby, sophomore, business manage­ ogy major. Freshmen Ujima Soholal"5O lass of 1998-99 standing for group shot ment major. "When blacks come over here, (photo credit: John 0 . O' Bryant African-American histituteJ •~For example, if l'm Haitian and he's they're usually warned about blacks target freshman minority students for Haitian, it's mad love. But if I'm Haitian By AndJ\'edean,./Francois from the US. Some blacks have called admissions to NU. These roal"'l'lms in- and you're not, then it's different,'' he me poisoned because I've been •Ameri• elude the Ujima Scholars Program and said. canized,' said Miohele Ayudo Tun There is a new sound on Huntington Irby continued that this is only Ogunba, freshman psychology major. Avenue, and that sound is the face of See FROSH~ Page 2 "natural'' because it "depends on who "l1here's also this misconception the future. The class of 2003 has en­ you feel comfortable around." That tnat once you come to America, you tered the college scene, and has been a comfort level can cut across country beco.me rich," she said. major force on Northeastern 's campus. What's Inside .. . 1 freshmen can be seen at cultural meet­ ties. 1Phese 'uninformedr' or "misin­ Young, Gifted, & Black ...... 2 Cultural differences, however, are formed" relationships can be corrected. ings (CS0, LASO, NBSA, etc.). at the Expressions ...... 3 -4 not the only things that create tension "We need to look at what it means to gym , or even getting wild at parties. among bJacks. be black from anywhere ... tne US, the 'Fhe new set of minority students share EditoFials...... 5 Accordingt o Dr. Frederick Lee Hord, Caribbean, Europe,'' said Dr. Hord. many things in . It Was Written ...... 6 director ofBlack Studies at Knox Col1- "lf you change the leveJ of informa­ For many of the freshmen North­ BlackFiction ...... 7 lege and president of the National As­ tion, you can change the understand­ eastern was among their top choices TrackBy Track ...... 8 sociation of Black Cultural Centers, ig- ing," he said. because there are several programs that

• • The Onyx lnformeJr, Friday, May 28, 1999, Page 2

B,ookstore on heels By Tamika Cameron Annual Step Show giving the Nortb­ Onyx Staff eastern community an opportunity to Ever been riding through Dudley look at his selection. (n addition1 the)' Square on yot1r -.vay to that 9: 15 and also donate book s to the African­ saw a miniature bookstore on wheels? American Institute and to after-school Black Books is stationed \Vhere buses programs. l 9, 2.3, and 28 stop. The cart is an ex­ However, con11nunity support var­ tension of a larger black-owned and ies. J\Jst like any other business, there operated b11siness called B!aGk li­ are the customers \Vho refuse to buy a brary~ " Kevin Fisher and Lloyd Heart book. from anY'vhere else and those are partners in tbe eompany that's idea who prefer to go son1ewhere else based • originated from a friend's Northeast­ on prices. ern l!Jniversity dorm room, "Pr,ice are competitive but every The Black li bralJ' is a comn1unity month we' re having some sort of sale," based book selle!7i n Roxbury special­ Fisher, sai.d. izing in African-American literature They are not in a rush to open a ranging from kids to adult fiction and store, especially with the history of in­ non-fiction. The cart is located in the dependent book sellers going out of center of a large African,-American business. In the future they hope rto commuter population. The excellent have another cart located at Roxbury location provides for convenience and Crossing as a wa:y lo eentinue ser,v,ic­ exposure to their target market. ing the community. "'Fhe thing we should str;ive for, is ~ heil7 web site is having something in the community," ,vww.blacklibrary.com that ,vay you can Fisher said. still ¥ie\Vt he sel.ection of literature and You may have seen Fisher at the also make purchases on-line. How Much Do You Know? - a Lesson in History bloody rebellion hegu11. By October He ,vas also un1ong the penple '"ho 3 I. li e u1as UJJp1'ehendetl c1nd 0111Vo ­ A. This Afric an co uple bought out uurlv as I 51 7. Ir gave e.rclusive right surveyed the /a11dthat tire nc1tio11:,; ve1nber I I. he ,vas hung. Jf'l,o ~-v,1., their indenture,/ servitude in / 62-1. Bv to part icipa1ion in the slave: trade c:upiral u•us to ht• builr on. IYho was Ile? the earl_v 1650s the)' 01vned a 250- ,,,;,1,th e s,,an ish. JYhttl lVUS thf! llt11'1C he ? H. Thi.,, runalVaJ' slave escc1ped to acr L' p lot o_f /c1nd i 11 Northampton o 1·th e grunt? F During the A,nerican Revolution. Pl,ila,Jelphi,1 by heing 1nc1iled in a Count)~ 11rg inic1 H'ith hoth hlack and D In the 18th cent11ry1• this blc,ck 111u11 this British co1111na11der proclainred box. Who was Ire? "'h1te 1ervant.\. il'ho u•ere dav. 11,•as a SllCL'ess_ful caterer a fld ")'Ster rhar sle,ves n•hu lt1Ji their rehclli11g I. In I 848, this ,narri ed COllJJle es­ B. Ju I 50 I. tl1c governor of Hi~pa11ol house v,1•11er in Rho,le l.\la11d i,f'h<> 1nus ters and ;oined the Briti .vh caped fronz slaver;'. The i\'i(e clis­ ,,•a.~ forl>1dtle11fron, 1n1por ting .lf.fri­ \11tts he ? u·uu/J btt set free. guis e,I herse (f and as an i11valicl cans exc,1pr for Iberian christiuni=ed £ . In the I 8th cent11r_11 in lvlarylc,n

Untitled Maxine Crawford This Batter Females foJTmany generations spent most of their time being sorry fori lloe Banda standing up for themselves ... But not me!!!! As a woman of the 90's, soon to be the queen of the new century, I'm going Initially, curiosity in my mind ofTth .e vision to start standing up foF myself ... Of true beauty possessed by this here entity Because I'm not sorry!!! l'lad to rol] my tints down so I could observe I' m not sorry because I roJI my eyes every time a guys says, "What's op This spectaele of intellect and thighs got me girl?!'' or "Hey you, yellow chick!!'' I'm licking my lips, hungry as hell You see, I demand respect and if a man I look at those eyes; they look at me in brown eanrt approach me like a gentleman sh.ould, 1 frown, but all sne does is smile he doesn't desel'Vemy time or consideration1 My clouds clear up, jade-stalk is flying now I'm not sorry because I won't allow myself to become a estopida pendeja She speaks ,vith confidence in her tone that gets played by the same man all the time. I can condone her nice white teeth I think You see, I would rather keep my virginity Without deceit her voice resonates in my mind than have some simple man control me by Spice all up in her, one can perceive it Besieged are those that she's not feelin' like that my emotions. Off the bat, mesmerized to the 3"' power I'm not sorry because 1 know that what I want and won't settle for 2ndbest. In circadian, she's in me every half-our You see, Jirather get mf education, which Strategically seated so I can view movements is # l to me, instead of sitting at home Components are there, proportions straight waiting for LOVE to knock at my door! Her demeanor is the bait, it's gonna get you I'm not sorry because I \Von't allo\.Vmyself to be sweet talked by every In slow moti.on I see her swing from side to side gold-tooth'! perm having, job need.in', man who still lives with his mother, I could watoh them pants move all night yet old enough to be my father, who has S kids with 5 different women. But, that,s not the point, I want every bite You see, I DON'T need a man to validate Head on proper, the way she carries he.rself me! And if he is all the world can offer, I hear myself, what, trying to be a super-thug Drunk from this style, like a drug from this lust then I'd rather be alone! Not yet, d0n't make me bust, a 00uple mare lines I g0t I'm not sorry because I won't laugh or tum red when I get called a I'm high off this pine, time to make her feel it chicken head or a bitch. This picture is my optimum platinum card You see, I won't stay quiet like a \Voman A hard swipe for that purchase of trust should or be told tha~s peaking up is Throw youJiother s 0ut, the gust blows you this way unattractive• . In the dark this bright resonance involuntarily says I' m not sorry because I won't let you keep me oppressed, distressed, or in Come to me player, it's your tum to bat a dress. You see, I don't feel that a \VOman has to be in a dress to to be feminine and I don't care that my definition of femininity doesn't match yours! I'm not sorry because I won't \.Vaitt o be rescued by a knight in shiningannor. You see, instead of hiding or crying, I would irather fight to save my own life.You see, I'm just not sorry anymore! Redefining of a Black Woman I \.VOn't allo\.Vyou to refer to me as a 2nd class citizen! Deidre DeGraffenreid & Kathy L. I won't do,vn.,play my intelligence to satisfy your male ego! I won' t-dhrow my life away so I eauld lay up in some man is amts! Ain't I A Woman? And... Didn ' t my loins give birth I DON'1f CARE HOW SPRING FRESH YOUR CLOTHES ARE OR IF YOUR To the Goddess Isis? FOOD IS WARM! Wasn't I always I always the one The days of ,vomen apologizing for being themselves are done! To save you in a oFisis? Get over it!!! Nurturing your children as I neglected my own. Was I to be considered Lower than dirt because of my skintone? Why was J always portrayed As unattractive or thickset? Jason's Song With my hair tied back With a scarf or fishnet? Jamila Hill Tl110 Haiku 's For the Siete 's 1 Kne,.v (and Knolv, the ledge) Ain't l A Woman? For many year a lot of Maurice ArcheJi Talking feet People, ha¥e know me as Cipner.ing The Mammy, Aunt Jemima Sounds On the cover of pancake boxes and Real Touch As kitchen decorates. What's really real is, Toe, heel when your words are limited Hittin ' hard Ain't I A Woman? but actions tell all. Tryin' During the early J 900's Reachin' 1 have been seen as a For rhythms Dark individual, who al\vays Beats Had a bright smile on IDheMagic Number GonveFSin' My face for days? Speakm' lfthey only kne\V Words Ain't I A Woman? Hip-Hop takes seven spaces Of the mind Who has lost many important people in my all 7's I'm repin'. Of the soul Ljfe, whu have either been s0ld OFkilled . In the feet Can you or any of you Tell me that I, that 1, that I am not a Woman!!!!!! Lost and Fou,nd Words Pos-sessPower Black Brother with a Untitled Khalid Hill Josef Soren Future Melisa Rivera K. Kerbanalli T11oughts of Neglect Plague the mind, Our words possess Destination: Nowhere The heart of a soul Power to bless, I'm feelin' you What a wonderful day, "forgotten" in time. Or curse I' m feelin' you don't you agree? A plethora begets wonder And \~bat's worse, I'm feelin' you my young, black look at the sun shining through your Questians of "Why?" ~i ll dreams. brotl1er witl1 a future. window, Receiving no answers For it seems that the language I'm feelin' your joy come on sleepy head .. • Confusion one finds. That you and I choose to use When you enter the doors of the \vith weather so nice we shouldn't Can determine if another brother or university waste any time Useless interrogations sister I'm feelin' your pride: lets go out and play, Yea of little faith Might win or lose. "Yeah I defied the odds, I'm here." you know, play the same game that we The answer is right here I'm feelin' you when you make it all always play In front of your face For it is \Vords that articulate knowl­ the way to graduation, Yet rather than seek edge \valking down the street headed no where, any \Vhere, somewhere And gi~e up thy feet Regardless of which college Grinning from ear to ear with the making plans to go all over the world Thou walketh in defeat You or I did or did not attend diplama in your hand. talking about the places we' 11go and Eternal in sleep. To get the point across Laughing and reminiscing 1 all the things that we' ll see And to declare who s boss About the good and the wrong, all of the plans we invent - just you Mine eyes have seen darkness To spread truth The chicks and the fellas, A vulgar world - forced lo weep And set free. The parties and the books. and me Stories of cruelty but then we reach our final destina­ tion, whatever that may be Struggles of the meek But you see I'm feelin' you my young, black Uncomprehendable Lies are also found within brother with a future. and \Veco me to an akward halt knov,ing that we are now stopped by Blood from white sheets To the chagrin of us all Affirmative Action bangs over your time A marathon of.running For each of us has indeed taken the head like a noose. we must go back to our lives now But death often cheats fall Some sneer and hate your verry One time or another existence all those plans now erased •.. memories lost in time Recline thine eyes Because some brother made a false You get in the schools they apply and just like the last time; just like every Offer unto me call the jobs they desire, time Pain an.d destruction Which we chose to heed Because of the very element I lust And proceed without caution just like the next time after. • • One needeth not see Yielding undeserved trust play tune 1s up now . . One act of faith Feeling obligated by the words I'm feelin' you have we run out of time again or this time has time caught up with us? A lifetime of ease I must tell you that words do have I'm feelin you back to reality, each of us now on our Shall be given to thee power I'm feelin' you my young, black own time, two very different times If - I AM - thou must meet brother with a future. I bear witness that they do break I'm feelin' your thick, nappy fro' until the next time .. . hmmm ... The aloud r exclaim bones Which your wear proudly, the next time the things that keeps us coming together is that silent Your will I beseech Playing the dozens Tallinn' about "power to the people" promise of next time, but never And boldly confess And dropping Jones and "right on brother man. " "Christ died for me!" lcnowing when next Talking about her cousin's phone I'm feelin' your chest swellin' up \Vith ,. I once was lost, but not I'm never rings time will be pride . . some time found The thing I'm saying At the progress made in the l1berat1on Was blind but now I see. As l move towards an end of folk. some other time another time to play Is that words can defend I'm feelin' you brother Malcom, Evers - 1998 Or fend off a cough and King. and travel to distant places in our Or sneeze "God bless." I'm feelin your dejectedness minds that we say we will go to the next time They're the ground on which we stand In having to pick which of us The forum in which our existence Could get some educati.on so when is next time? The Description lands While the rest of us work in the and when we get to ne,xt time why do Whefuer a demand we waste it taking about the next K. KerbanalJi factories time? Aeomman d Supportin' families. Or simply an and which connects two are we scared that we' ll run out of Describe her. I'm feelin' time? Black. phrases. I'm feelin' you no, No look closer I'm feel'in you young, black brother Words continue to leave me as­ we are sacred of nothing, Dark skin, short nappy fro' with a future. tounded we defy time, and proceed to \York on Is that all you really see? I' m feelin' your women ' s pain. And sometimes even in dazes our own time I guess. How would you describe In watchin' you being shipped to fight I tell you stopping it when we are with each her? their war, off in Nam other Words do have power Where some of you sow your oats and The ability to transcend time travelers is wJ1at we are She has high cheekbones, have slit eye children. Seconds together it is our time Thick arched eyebrows I'm feelin' you Minutes scared of nothing .. . except maybe of Small, but defined nose When you realize that ale' Uncle Sam And hours reality 'rhick full Hps always in a smile has Jeft you in the c0ld. Eternity but regardless we continue to step A complexion \Vhich some men, time , defy time, totally ignore and unlike you, would cherish as the cup In the span of one word I•m fee lin' you That's what you heard refuse to recognize time of coffee on a winter morning. I'm feelin' you Word I'm feel in· your slick, greasy conk because once we acknowledge this social constraint that we know as Coffee strong, not weak slip J' m fee[in' you fine brother in the zoot And in the beginning was the Word • time OnJy enhanced by a slip of sugar. SUit. And God said let there be then we \vill be forced lo realize that No, you only see what you think is I'm feelin' you Brother Langston its no longer the obvious. And Jesus spoke Hughes and Cab Calloway. our time Black. And the storm was stilled. I'm feelin' the blues and the creative no longer will we be tl1e stoppers of Dark skin, souls in the Marlem Renaissance. time but now the ones \Vl10 are Short nappy fro, Your determination for self expres­ stopped by time African nose and lips. sion in music, poetry and dance Is that all you really see? Brother Ellington and Basie, gave us but time \Yill continue and until the end of time Can't you see that this black is full inspirati0n. of beauty? there will always be a next I'm feelin' you young, black brother TIME \Vith a future . • The Onyx Informer, Frid ,ay, May 28, 1999, Page 5 The Onyx Informer Since 1972 Editors ln Chief Jamila Hill Kerrita McClaughlyn Managing Editor Eric Esteves Business Manager Jamila Hill Photo Editor Ofu;istine Dela Cueva Public Relations Kerrita McClaugblyn The Onyx Informer is published once a month except during the months of De­ cember and June. Opinions expressed in "Speaking Out" are not necessarily those of The Onyx Informer. Editorial

Retention

Retention has always been a thorn in Northeastern 's side. The school bas no problem recruiting minorities but seems unable or unwilling to fix the problems that cause them to leave. Have you ever left the office of the bursar~ financial aid or registrars feeling FACT: The Onyx Inf orn1er is the student like you've just been bent over and proverbially. .... This is Northeastern 's problem with retention. NU does not offer minority newspaper representing the Blaok culture at students the fmancial help that is most always the cause of its retention prob,.. Northeastern University )ems. I'm sure we all could ftll volumes on bursar blocks, cries to financial aid counselors or transferring in senior year (if your lucky enough to make it tbat far). FA:CT: 'rhe Onyx n.eeds active membership to If academia was the cause for poor reteoti.on among all students, I would gladly side with the university in saying that it isn't their fault. BUT, too many of us have continue as an entity at N ortheastem made the Dean's list time after time and still see no scholarship forthcoming. If good grades can't get you any money and if you have already prostituted all your future earnings to borrow exorbitant loan amounts, what else can you do? FACT: No one can tell our story better than Everyone can remember the number of people that looked like them that came in with their freshman class. Mow may of those people are still here? Can you we can even count them on one hand? This is a huge sign and should be a loud wake-up call to Northeastern. The minority students that are here, want to be here. Give Whether your major is journalism, graphic design, business, or any other us the chance to. major offered at Northeastern, The Onyx Informer is calling you! We need Disillusionment among minorities at Northeastern is rampant. NU to many ' people 10 help with editorial, design, business affairs, and many other things. students, is the unexpected STD you never thought you would catch and can't get If you can help, please contact The Onyx Informer. Remembei:, The Onyx rid of. Your are caught in the violent cycle of coming to school, owing the school Informer is your newspapei:1 your voice, so let it be heard loud and clear. money) being blocked by the bursar, can't pay the bill, can't transfer until you pay the bill, stay on permanent coop and not making enough money to pay your bill Jamila Hill or Kerrita and live, and ultimately becoming a college drop-out. CONTACT: This cycle is unnecessary. For a school that prides itself on diversity, this is a MoClaughlyn and leave us your name, number, crying shame. Diversity cannot be achieved without at least the presence of mi­ norities. A stable minority population cannot be sustained without retention. emai1 acld1~ess, and area of interest. Retention cannot be achieved without adequate financial aid. This simple for­ mula needs to reach Nortbeastem's ears. Apathy is rampant among students on campus although we cannot afford it. The Onyx Informer Students need to make their problems and voices heard. We must jo in together an demand more aid, demand the right to be here! 430 Cw-ry Student Center If our presence is necessary to Color the landscape, pay us for the privilege. A 36Q Huntington Ave black face in a college brochure or guidebook speaks volumes. If a picture is worth a thousand words, we are due our just rewards. We did absorb the capital­ Boston , MA 02115 istic principles this university lives by. Phone: (617) 373-2250 Much love, li'he Editors Fax: (617) 373-2694

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow Introducing: The Onyx Informer Online This is our final issue for the year. We would like to thank our staff for the bard \VOrkth ey've put io and the sacrifices they've made. lt took a lot to get The l1he staff' of the Onyx Informer is pleased to announce the launeb of our new Onyx back on campus1 but we hope that we will continue to serve you for a long Internet web site. The web address is www.dac.neu.edu/onyx. time. We look forward publishing more often next year, \Vith an enhanced staff the site \Viii officially open the last week of May 1999. and special features. Visitors to the web site will discover a sampling of articles from tne most We encourage you to join The Onyx and make your voice heard. We are the recent issues (including this one). An archive of past issue-s will also be estab­ only ones who can tell our stories. Our presence must be felt on this campus. lished. - Our next issue \Vill be our freshmen issue, making its debut in September 1999. Eventually, those readers who wish to subscribe will be able to do so using the Thank you for coming out and supporting us, and reading The Onyx Informer. onlioe subscription form. Have a great summer!! 'Phe web site contains detailed information about tl1e publication, including its editorial focus, the paper 's circulation, an editorial calendar of special fea­ tures and events, advertising rates, and key personnel. Visitors to the site '-Vil1be able to send comments and questions to the editors Make Your Voice Heard and staff. I In the future, links to other student organizations will be established, as well Send Letters to The Editors as to other media groups and similar minority-owned publications. The Onyx Informer I 360 Huntington Ave Please oheok out the following web sites: . I ( NBSA- \VWW.dac.neu.edu/nbsa 430 Curry Student Center ( CSO - \VWw.dac.neu.edu/cso Boston, Ma 02115 ( BESS - www.coe.neu.edu/Groups/BESS ( LASO- www.dac.neu.edu/laso Call 373-2250 ( HSU - W'-V\v.dac.neu.edu/hsu

Send Letters and Opinion Pieces ' Visit us at: www.dac.neu/edu/onyx The Onyx Informer, Friday, May 28, 1999, Page 6

Jubilee Why Do They Condemn It Some,times We Kerrita McClaughly,n Ebony Laf razier

The crowd gathered in the street, little faces eating candy and laughing - Just the idea of being motivated to gleeful. rhythmic dance Sometimes we held hands on trains beneath the New glad to be up with grown folks, by the beats. York streets cautiously stealing glances at a rare summer treat! each other., exhausted from the pulse of Congo-Angolan The women huddle in masses, Tuhen words and deep and meaningful lyrics penetrate my ¥uka laced in salsa gossiping and sharing secrets­ soul as it speaks my mindl "Honey! grab me a beer!" my deepest thoughts and most frequent anger. Sometimes we walk Bloque De Oro taking in the sounds a voice bellows from the crowd of Speaks the pain of my people with logic, ,reason and undeni­ of Tiano A-Fri-Ca-no Abuelas explaining why Hairo potbellied men able truth. could not have another water ice. Grit, Grime of Eco­ standing proudly. nomic Oppression of I look on in envy ... J want to j oin the Truly the embodiment of arti, the most meaningful poetry that North Phi-La-Delphia has turned the wrinkles on her Jubilee. I know. caramel skin into valleys. I gradually make my way over to Join the festivities. Why I love this m·usic? Sometimes we pour libations at Murals Immortalizing I had expected to see the Fair - fallen Chicanos attempting to reclaim Cali-For-Nia pony rides, clowns and candy. Why is it better the louder I play it? one barrio at a time with the force, strength, and Instead, The pounding and the noise to beat out or block out the Fearless power of Aztec deities. Old nigga Jim) overwhelming noise in my head. that no good nigga according to The relief. the rush as it pours out the speakers and it seeps Sometimes we confuse each other with our spanglrsh Sheriff Lee, . . and speaks the injustice, and ebonies developed out of oppression in Cibao ,vas swinging, l he outrage and the bitterness from my mind and my soul. sugar plantations and Cotton fields of Tennessee S\Vinging,S\Vinging, speaking about love, nature, and community through from the old country tree. FinalJy the reoiprocjty, the quality, the wisdom and the Marimbas and Tambourines, using the colorful fruits THI S! was the cause for Jubilee. understanding. of repubJica Do-mini-ca-na and the ,varmth of It's that old nigga Jim For me it's that confuma tio.n that 1 always need an.d took for. southern pan fiiied com bred to comfort us during New andl•he's swinging! 11here is someone else who sees with clear sight. England Winters. It's the gun upside the head of my Who aokno"vledges the evils without stutter and hesitation? lover, father, brother! Sometimes we forget we' re Black and Latino It's the red stains on America's It is this music that frees my people, mentally, physically, dieways spiritually. and financially. Sometimes we falJ asleep on each other with It's- the-red-stains-on-An1erica 's l' hat wbieh can provide a way out. syncapated Mambo House heart beats. Riding the DIEWAYS!! four;am Ele thraugh Cabr;ini Green to the South Side It's that nigga Jim s,vinging, Why condemn what can make ghetto pr:isoners rise? of Ohicago seeing the souls of ghost who left the The Jubilee is just beginning! Why quiet truth \.Vhen spoken, and ,vby not learn from life south because they ,vere not gonna share crop No Mo experience shared? If you don' t ,vanf to hear it, do you think we want to live it? Sometimes we eat Kenaypas and Tamaridos from How come we are ignored when \.Vewanna talk to the mayor., Bodagas or to tne governor? next to Jimmy's Friied Catfish store in Adams Morgan that didn't take food stamps, being Why do they see the beauty and the struggle in a rose that couched by a ,voman who bas great great grand babies gro,vs and perseveres and flourishes amongst rubbish, rocks on ho,v to pick greens for Vegetarian stew. and dirt~yet no beauty or positivity can be found in our stars Listening how she picked cotton before the moisture that rise to success o·ut of utter despair? e,,en left the dew.

To recognize the beauty I see and speak of would onlY be to Sometimes we silently admire Fedal, for standing up our benefit, which. in tum would be to the detriment of their to icnperialism, b~inging the ,vrath of Ogun on exiles plans for our demise. in Miami that ,vork Haitian refugees on there sugar plantations until there weak and frail. Wondering Why do they condemn it? if he brought his shr,ine to obatala ,>vihen he slept at the Theresa Hotel. Why: do they want to kill cita nd put an end to it's goodness, like Malcolm, Martin, Huey, Bobby, Stokely and the others? Sometimes we remember that Hip-Hap culture is the physical manifestation of the political frustration They ignore it, as they do our human, civil, and inalienable of African and Boricua youth. Even though ,ve rarely rights. hear lyrics that speak to this truth. But do we ever receive credit where credit is due? Sometimes we forget ,ve be Black and Latino And do we ever receive recognition when appropriate? 111\etruth , the power, and the motivation 0£ words, the Sometimes we be forgetting. intelligence, is what attracts me, and why J love it. For these same reasons, they fear it, therefore condemn it. copyright 1998 Urcel Ray Fields

Nappy head said mi abuela. K. Ker:banallj n You are so lucky to have such My shiny, pin-straight haired pretty curls," said a lady in the Chinese professor said, subway. " I don' t why people straighten their Nappy head,! "I don•t know ,vhat side of the hair, it's so unnecessary. •• Raisin head! family you got that hair from/' A blaek male men d of mine said, '' Doo-doo head! said my mother. "Why don't you straighten you hair, Buck shot head! •~Must be your mother side," you ,vould look so much better." Brillo head! said my father ,vith his curly My friend's dreaded boyfriend said, clumped head. "Kami I love your bushy, curly hair." "Tu tienes pelo malo," my father (Of course my friend has lighl said. "1 Jjke a girl with long, straight brown pin straight hair.) ~·You have good hair, not ooar:se,') hair,," said my Cl'ush. said my Oubana friend. "1 like a gii:1 with natural kinky Go figure. •• You better put some texturizer," hair," said my dreaded admirer.

• The Onyx Informer, Friday, May 28, 1999, Page 7

• estimon erce ana I

By Kan1i-Leigb Agard it gleamed ghost-1like, especially in tl1e and spent a blissful seven days. 1 was l·lfV +. It's oeen aboul a month and a Onyx Staff dimmed light of my office. This hann,_ still a virgin at 22. However, one look half since I found out. I'm tel ling you less looking envelope combined with at Desmond and I fell in love, and I this because I'm really sorry. Back in " I received a letter in the Shirley's odd behavior made me shiver, guess ... lust? Well, the Last night, 1 Jamaica, ,vhen ,ve made love that first mail. ll was delivered to my office in despite the warm heat blo,ving from the spent in Jamaica, ,vell you know ,vhat night. l didn't use a condom. It just Ne,v York. For over t,vo month s, I centralized heating system. I remem­ happened ... Heh. l thought we were soul seemed so right at the time. Well, if never attempted to sort through my bered looking at the digital them1ostat. 1nates. After we left Jamaica, Desmond you remember I did withdra,v. So I'm cnail because between all the meetings It blinked 75 degrees. Tite return ad­ and I co ntinu ed corr espo nd ence hoping that maybe well. you' ll be and this big ad pit0h with Pepsi, \.\1110 dress on the enve lope read through the p11one and e-mail. Ho,v­ 0 k ... " had ti1ne to soft through so1nething as •~1Desn1ond Archie eve11,th en l graduated and got this sen~ Doetor Fem , Lco uld not read trivia.I as n,ail? Tbe office assis1a11t, 15 Massachusetts Road, sational job at one of the most presti~ anymore. I was stunned. Sbi11ley knew! Sl'lir;ley. (who happened to be n1y best Atlanta, GA I 0566" gious advertising agencies in New York I got up and tried lo throw the letter friend) joked that f probably ,vas be­ Hmmm , Destnon d. 1 could City. I got so involved with work. that l far a,1-1ay,but it only floated in the air ing reported to creditois becau se it smell his cologne, even now. Envision did not have the time to keep corre­ and almost tauntingly landed on my ,vas so long since I opened any of 1ny his well sculpted caramel-coated body. spo ndence ,vith Desmond . The last desk face up. l ... " mail. So she valiantly volunteered to His thick, long locks that I loved tan­ time I spoke ,vith him, 1 promised that In my profession you hear the task. However, she walked in my gling my ftngers in. -Phose thick, ju icy l would come visit him in Atlanta for stories like this one aU the time. For office ,vith this small white envelope lips that just provoked sensations up and Christmas. You kno,v, next month. Well some reason, this one struck a deep in her band with a staJTtled express ion down m:y pelvis, urging me to ... Oops, anyway, back to the letter. I opened the chord within the depths of my heart. o.n her face. I lookedl at her ouliiously, wait. Let me stop this fantasizing. eaek envelop e and took out a letter. II ·rhe young woman in front of 1ne had yet in1patientlY because r was won­ to tl1e office. Yeah, so I held the enve­ see med rea lly short, so I qu,iokly reallo/ bloss omed into a beautiful dered ,1-1hatwas this silent drama all lope in my hand, recalling that ,veek in scanned through it. My head felt like it young woman. I was her Biology pro­ about. She handed m.e the envelope. I Jamaica about six months ago. Three of was exploding in a thousand pieces. My fessor in her freshman year when she noted that her ordinarily strong cof­ my friends and I ,vent lo Negri l, Ja­ heart beat so fast that I thought it ,vas was a gangly teenager. fee brown co1nplexion appeared pale, maica for our last spring break of se­ going to burst. It read: Not knowing where to tum , as her hands quivered ever so gently nior year. We were about to graduate in "Dear Mercedes, It's been a she flew LoBo ston, the next day and when she handed me the envelope. She 90 days and we thought that ,ve' d bet­ long time since we've spoken. I kno\v came to my office immediately. She mouthed~" I'm so sorry," and quickly, ter go somewhere together before we you have been busy with work. I tried broke the news. She felt that 1 would like a t'rightened mouse, retreate d graduated and moved on with our lives. to call you a lot of time"5,but you were be able to give her good counsel. I told quickiJy,firmly pulling the door behind Desmond was ~he:re co incid ent ally never home. You never:even answered hei; that there was a very good chance l1er. ,virh ti.hr-ee of hi s friend s from my e..,mails. Well~ this seems to be the that she acquired the disease as a re­ I looked down at the envelope Morehouse Coll.ege. 'Fhey \.Vere actu­ only way that 1 can get this information sult of a single act of unprotecled in­ placed in my hand. The whiteness of ally juniors. Naturall:y,ve all hooked up to yoll. Well, I ju st found out that I' m tercou rse.

While my consciousness lingers on concepts of Anything but this Making this sunrise last forever Running Unlimited ¥et I miss stealing you on Sun days Or however long eternity can be maintained Iye0ka Ivie Okoa,vo I:n.to the \Vorlds ,ve used to make together Without being missed Made of love By the lovers that dreamt up ways to contain it All that I see from this resilient distance Running unlimited into sunsets I love the simplicity of just wanting to love you Are embedded in en,otions running unlimited 'Fhrough strean1s ofi tons of In rh)1th111 Into sunsets I wants to love you To the sound of a saxophone Through streams of tons of Or to the voice of James Ingram I wants to l.ove you My belly sings songs of en1pty lullaby illusions Running unJin1ited distance to hold you But you v1on' l Finding me time to help you ju stify I ju st ,vants to love you Must stop me Your attempts to solidify the maybes But you ,von·t "turn fl-omm e And should bez Must stop n1e Can't let me in ...... Or co·uld be a possibility ... . Tum from n1e So r fall But I just wants to love you ... Can't let me in ... And dream of the other women tha.t l can't be And/Or touch you So I fall Because they're not me. Like the wind kisses tl1e wing of a butterfl~ Andi dream Never could be That bi;aves through rose petals and thorn bushes Again.

And even some nonchalant Nubians to tJ1e creation of this tb ought. my addiction Thief In ~he Night up front ,vanna talk shit Why is it that so many of us previ­ Or is my life purely nonfiction and 1 Eric Esteves and proceed smoking ously fought? have to scrounge to provide My asthmatic lungs can't take it for my seed Color Me Bad because I am not a fad But 1 rook on rnhey been there and done that a harrowing decision Lobe made Golar me Black like my complexion '!faking a dramatic pl'unge in a pool of so is this a flashback? and now tl1at i'm narrowing the limits because I am the reflection of those blood, sweat, teai:s, and regrets For what is now so ignored, unna­ to which my natne is played out who fougl1t before my time With a banjo on my knee, tieed, uncherisl1ed - f ormei;ly i now claim clout for those unable to And their spirits are embedded in this a bandage on n,y ,vi;ists, nonperishable even claim residence reflective rhyme sequel and a black bandana ,vrapped 'round Do you see what I'm getting at? resistance is my fourth midcile name I ador, mi amor) no more than the my dome lt's ,vell-near unbearable to witness So i also claim no narnes love 1 have for my people like brother Shakur. i \.viii not be a this state of affairs. not no,v, not here, no ,vay. and no how Take a gander through these peep­ gnome holes, though I can,e here to this planet a thief in But if l do arouse a sensation in your nor a pawn to be played or lured . And you ,vill observe poor souls Do mot be inseeure, for you \.Vi II hear the night vein . worshwping bulletholes my voice He who only whispers lullabies in similar to what cocaine does lo your and whatever the fuck else Jay-Z Taster's choice no longer, fulfills the ears o.f tl1ose euokoo brain adores as his clothes youJTn eeds Utmost respect bestowed upc:>n the before you fricassee it - sunny-side because i am the nicotine high Zulu Nation up f chose to ,vrite scores of militant ,vithout the cream And I ain 't Haitian, Bajan , Jamaican, why don't you stand up prose, unless your dreams are cloudy or Trini and claim no fame ,1-11th n1e of course they' re much stronger than and diluted ,vith inferior notions But if you don't know what this as ,ve chill on picturesque stoops on any old whore's pores that you cannot do it soul-fired-cajun-spiced Negro the sunny-side of the street But, do you really \Vant me to get you and that your 1nind is not SQperior spiri.tuality is that I got in me and i may sleep at ease know,ing that that open? or even as much comparable to You better recognize! 1 am no longer the only thief in the l shout one word., Activism nol1Illal folk Gaze at the light in the rear of your night Someone started choking An abominable denunciation, indeed eye creeping upright The n1f's in the comer who just came This dominating docroination is Because l have to stand up and with gorillas on my back to drink simply stating that we must affirm my right and dilated pupils and get bJunted should know this, look to the denominations who were because I am that thief in the night full-focused on the awaiting eve I ain •~ fucking joking persecuted and gave birth Am I here in greed to feed my need, for i will breathe once again...

• The Onyx Informer, Friday, May 28, 1999, Page 8 •

dididint". This is definitely a dope track Po from their group " Organi zed you should give a good listen to. Konfusionu), so it's good that he's giv­ Album Review Track 7-Anothei: down low cat is Ra ing his fans tracks to hear before his the Rugged Man. He brings a new style fi-rst solo e-t\'fort drops. "Mayor'' is of rhymin to hip-hop. Me's from Long Pharoa h duckin Po~Po beca use he lsland(Suffolk County to be exao~). but snuck in and shot NY city's mayor. 'The By M.aurice Archer joint ealled "Any man". The beat junk­ he's down with the Wu and the whole story is ill. Another non-disappoint­ Onyx Staff ies are dumb nice. Ra'