opinion

Do you remember the 21st night of September? I do, oh so vividly. And it will be one I cherish for a long time.A few weeks ago, I was blessed to have one of the most black, queer, rejuvenating weekends in sunny Los Angeles with my longtime college best friends. I left work early and made the short, but traffic filled, journey from San Diego as I prepared to see two of my favs: Blood Orange, and my queen, Beyoncé.(I should also take the time to let my devoted Beyhive siblings know that this article is not about Beysus, so you can put down the Twitter fingers.)My little heart could not be more excited as my friend Jordan and I drove up to The Greek Theatre to bask in all that is Dev Hynes. The whole car ride I was overwhelmed with nostalgia, thinking about San Francisco college memories. My sophomore year of school was painted with Tumblr photoshoots, cheap vodka and Blood Orange’s Cupid Deluxe album. To say that I was an uber fan of Hynes would be an understatement.Everything was beautiful and nothing could hurt. I cried my heart out to old favorites, such as "Champagne Coast," and danced my small booty (tiny, but mighty), to the new album, Negro Swan. Now, more than ever, Hynes’ new project resonated with me tremendously. Negro Swan truly captured the heartache that comes with being ostracized while simultaneously narrating a journey of leaning into your blackness.As much joy as I received from the spiritual experience of the concert, as I left the gates of the venue it began to feel like an episode of the Twilight Zone. We made our way to the merch table to purchase the airbrush style t-shirt that said “Negro” on the front with hearts. My credit card was ready and I had to have it. With my luck, I got the last one — which put me at odds.Confused, my friend Jordan questioned, “How does a shirt with the word 'negro' sell out to a theater that was not filled with negroes?”As we left, I looked around and gasped as I saw so many white concert goers leave proudly with their negro shirts in hand, off to enjoy the rest of their Friday night.I felt hot. I felt flustered. I felt mad. I left trying to process why I was so upset. How did I all the sudden go from feeling so appreciated and validated, to feeling like a spectacle.Blood Orange makes amazing music to be cherished by all, and in no way will I ever negate that. However, unless you have ever been called any variation of the word “negro,” what are you doing with that damn shirt?In the past few years, there have been so many conversations surrounding art consumption, appropriation and appreciation. With all the dialogue, it seems as if some just don’t care and can’t accept that some things are just not for you. Even with the folks in social circles who think of themselves as socially aware, liberal and not like “those white people,” we still see these harmful acts perpetuated.As Solange said, “You want to be the teacher, don’t want to go to school. Don’t want to do the dishes, just want to eat the...

Bette Midler really did it with this one. Whew, chile.How many times are we going to witness the Pumkin Spice Gang use the plight of black people for their marketing endeavors? As a woman, believe me, I very well support our rights. But as a woman of color, I will not support the attempts of white women using us in an attempt to gain awareness toward feminism. Recently, Bette tweeted a statement stating that women were the "N" word of the world. No Bette. Just no. I guarantee you that you have never in your life witnessed nor experienced what "N words" go through or have endured. As a matter of fact, keep us out of your mouth. I will bet you money that you would never take our place. This statement and idea alone erases the atrocities commited against people of color. To the feminist movement, particularly the white feminist movement, us sisters would love to be on your side and stand with you. Many of us do. But how many times are you going to use us as a crutch? Throughout history, do you realize that you have never gone through what any of us have? Do you know what it's really like to be called a name that dates back to when we were being raped, lynched and sold like property? We get skipped over for job interviews due to the sounding of our names. We get labeled as angry and unworthy of love. Even some of our own men have turned on us in favor of you. I know that you do not know what any of that feels like. I have tried to be very careful in generalizing the feminist movement. I only wish women would understand that we have to do it the right way. We all want our fair share, equal opportunities and the recognition we deserve. We just cannot continue to disrespect others in the process. This includes men, and minorities. We do not want the world to believe that our movement is anti-male. Nor do we want to push away an entire group of people who have our backs. Males invest in us too, and for those who have put away their egotistical, priviliged way of thinking, they are also our worthy comrades. I support anyone fighting for their rights. As a woman, I want to see us win. Racism, sexism and class elitism is not all the same. The Civil Rights Movement is not equal to the LGBT fight. We have to remember that every movement is it's own. We do not want to undermine or destroy it by participating in any form of appropriation that can be damaging to our causes. White feminism is starting to become a growing threat to black women and people of color in general. So please, for a moment, decolonize your thinking....

Being free is being able to release the chains of your past. It’s so important to recognize what those chains are that hold you back from being the truest representation of yourself. A lot of the time, the chains that are holding us back from our greatness are chains that have been imposed on us by others. A lot of the time, we are blinded by the fact that these chains exist because we are so used to lugging them around. When we aren’t able to pay attention to the small components and pieces of language that people can impose upon us, we don’t recognize it as us being bound by what they project onto us. These chains, however, are self-imposed, because we are allowed to pick and choose what we allow to hold us back.The thing about it though is that no one has ever explicitly taught us that.Yes, we can ignore or refute when someone completely steps out of line with us and it doesn’t align with our own personal truth. But, what about when certain actions that happen to us trigger us to become paralyzed and completely forget about who we are and what actually matters to us at our core? When we are frozen and forget to realize who and what our true selves are? There are sometimes experiences that we all go through that hinder us from being able to loosen ourselves from what is holding us back; the reason why we stay underwater, drowning and confused, is because no one ever has taught us how to heal and move past the traumas that we have experienced.Now, I’m not about to sit here and act like I’ve been paying attention to the news like a hawk. I know bits and pieces about what’s going on in regards to our political climate. But there has been a reason why I have taken somewhat of a step back from social media and all of the hysterics that have been going on:I can’t believe this is the world that I am living in, and this is the reality of the country that I call home.I identify with those brave souls who have spoken out and spoken up for those who have had to remain voiceless, and I haven’t completely worked through my own trauma and mindset when it comes to these situations.Even though I have a background in international studies and took political science courses (and I should be more well-versed and into these topics), they legit take me to a lower frequency than where I want to be.With that said, I want to focus on number two right now. I salute those that have come forth to speak about their experiences with assault and standing up against those that have done wrong by them. As someone who has experienced being sexually assaulted by men three times over the course of my life, I never realized how much it has affected me in my adulthood, and also the importance of releasing that trauma and lovingly letting that bulls**t go. The idea of freedom from those chains has been something that has haunted me my whole life.They have made me believe that I’m not worthy enough to be with someone because I’m only looked at as a playtoy.They have made me believe that I am only someone that is looked at as having something pure, and that purity is something that is wanted to be taken from me regularly by strangers.They have made me somewhat unable to feel like I can connect with someone on a sexual level and actually sustain that level of sexual fervor with them. I mean, I 'm a scorpio, and you would think that by what society says about scorpios I would be out here sucking and f**king, but that’s not the case.I actually have been traumatized by all those assault experiences, and have never had the ability to confront those that have violated me in a variety of ways.And I never will truly have the opportunity to. I figured just erasing them from my life was the best way, or legitimately not being able to contact these people, because I don’t know where they are and I can’t verbalize to them the impact they have had on me as an adult.These are reasons why I respect any person who can speak about their sexual trauma and actually have the balls to confront those that have wronged them. Those that can actually own the fact that they have been a victim of being violated, and own the fact that they will not let that person keep them bound by their potential self-hatred or confusion when it comes to thinking about and loving who they are.Those experiences in my life completely changed how I view every relationship I have and make me second guess who I let into my life in any way — I always feel like people want something from me, and that’s not fair to everyone. Yes, my past helps shape my current and then bleeds into my future, but it’s also something that I can’t hang over everyone’s head. One thing that I have learned through all of those experiences is that when my vibration was completely not on the frequency it is now, I was blind and naive, and I still don’t blame myself for that. I blame the other person for seeing someone who was pure and doe-eyed. And even though my words may have said one thing, the people who were responsible for said assaults were facing their own demons that they obviously forced onto me.I can’t do anything but lovingly release them and that trauma from my life. Now, I’m not saying I’m healed in any way just because I’m writing this. I’m still working through this and my truth, like many survivors of assault do. I’m just at a place right now where I refuse to continue to be silent about it and act like it didn’t happen, or believe I’m weak because of it.Yes, I’m a victim of repeated sexual assaults. Yes, it has had an affect on how I live day to day and how I show up regularly in my relationships. Yes, I have had to learn the hard way compared to others in some instances, but I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. And I lovingly release the hate and the anger I’ve had towards those that have hurt me physically, mentally and emotionally. There is no gain in hanging onto dead weight. It takes a wise person to realize that and move on accordingly. I’m choosing to do that, and I salute and support all those that are still enduring that battle.It takes a warrior to fight for their dreams, and not let boulders block blessings. I choose to be, and have always been, a warrior. I free myself from feeling like anything less than.I encourage you to release the chains that have held you back, love.Release the chains of feeling like your body isn’t good enough for someone else, that your status may make you feel like you’re less than someone else. Release the chains that have held you back from allowing yourself to be magic, that have held you back from telling you that your greatness isn’t good enough.Let me be the first to tell you that you are a star. You are light. You are magic. You are revolutionary. Step out onto the stage, and don’t let anything hold you back from what you deserve, b*tch.You’re fighting the good fight. Continue to do such.Amen....

In a recent study from Pew Research, the data shows that "black men are less religious than black women, but are still highly religious compared with men and women from other racial/ethnic groups." The study conducted surveyed 35,000 Americans across the nation and "... determined levels of religious belief based on answers to four questions: frequency of prayer, belief in God, attendance at religious services and importance of religion in their lives."While it's no surprise that many African Americans are still connected to their faith, what was intriguing was that only 41 percent of the millennial black population shared the same values as their parents. In fact, the research concluded that around 18 percent of the population now consider themselves atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.” So, the question must be asked: Are young black Americans losing their faith in God? In a recent interview with life coach Dan Miller, who specifically works with young black adults, he said:"Many of my clients have become disconnected with their family culture as our society continues to grow more independent every year. Now, more than ever, I am seeing so many young adults focusing on either just having fun or making money and success. So many of them see famous people on Instagram touting their celebrity lifestyle, and so they want that, too. Whereas back in the '60s and '70s when their parents were growing up, there was no social media (or major media for that mater) and the family community was the cornerstone of their life. But with so many kids these days being raised by single parents who mostly work, that family community, which was also strongly bound to the church, has all but dissipated."While some may argue that it's good that so many young black Americans are interested in becoming successful, others are concerned that their values may be misplaced, and that focusing so much of their energy on acquisition and status will eventually lead to emotional and psychological challenges when they get older. Very often, people who spend so much time on their exterior lives do not invest in their “inner well-being" and then find themselves lost and unhappy even when they have it all.In a recent article from Inc, "Why So Many Successful People Are Still Unhappy," the author interviews Raj Raghunathan, a University of Texas at Austin business professor who noted that many young people are determining their happiness and success level by comparing themselves to other people, which drives them to want what they have only to find themselves not happy when they get it.Raghunathan is quoted as saying:"When you don't need to compare yourself to other people, you gravitate towards things that you instinctively enjoy doing, and you're good at, and if you just focus on that for a long enough time, then chances are very, very high that you're going to progress towards mastery anyway, and the fame and the power and the money and everything will come as a byproduct, rather than something that you chase directly in trying to be superior to other people,"This leads me to my theory that because so many black millennials are being raised by social media rather than their parents and community (which includes the church), many could be losing their connection to their faith in something higher than themselves and, instead, putting their faith into material things. And because they have lost connection to something "higher," they may be also losing their connection to their own authentic...

Beyoncé and Jay-Z have risen  their way to the level of the music-industry elite by continuing to raise the bar high. The work that they put out individually and together have both solidified not only the strength of their relationship as husband and wife, but their power and influence as artists and brands.Since the on-brand surprise release of Everything Is Love, fans worldwide have gotten the chance to see an elevated Beyoncé and Jay-Z. We've seen them redefine rollouts, reimagine promotion (or lack thereof), but most importantly, the Carters have reinvented themselves artistically, and the On The Run II tour has been a beautiful live-telling of their stories pre- and post-nuptials.Their latest work is a nine-track open book that scribes their journey both in and out of the public eye. What makes Everything Is Love so great beyond its candidness and wide-eyed gaze into the world of the  legendary double glow-up is its musicality. Mr. and Mrs. Carter exchange bars and quips on every song, incorporating jazzy brass instrumentals while also taking us back to hip-hop's roots, with raw productions that  leave us dazzled and dizzy and vocals only Beyoncé herself could provide.Fans were definitely spoiled and teased with the music video for “Apes**t”, which was one of the most powerful visual statements both Beyoncé and Jay-Z have ever made in their careers. But some of us (read: me) can't help but feel like, with such an iconic album of brilliantly laid tracks, why aren’t there more music videos from it?Not to fear — some of us in the Hive (read: me) have gone as far as imagining a few possible video concepts for each song on Everything Is Love, sans “Apes**t,” of course. So Bey and Jay, if you're reading this — it is not too late! 👀1.) "Summer”Source: YouTube |Universal Music Group The album walks us right into the Cool & Dre production, with snares sharp and rhythmic, vocals soulful and airy and bars poetic and edgy. If there's any scene that  comes vividly to the brain, it's that of a smoke-filled speakeasy, with songbird Bey crooning about her desire to "drown in the depths of you." The focus, in the form of a spotlight, remains on Bey, as she  focuses on a lax Jay-Z. He' sits poised in the back of the dimly-lit room at the bar, casually sipping Wray & Nephew rum. Surprise — they're in Jamaica.Though the room is filled with sounds of hips swaying, only a few bodies that are  sprinkled about the room follow the vocal lead in movement. Others are paralyzed by the music, only willing to  nod their heads along with the beat as they pay special attention to the singer.2.) “Boss”Source: YouTube | Universal Music GroupBey returns to lead this track, which is for sure a calm flex. Continuing the HBeyCU theme, this video would feature a storyline about Beyoncé as the college dance team captain and Jay-Z  the school rebel, following them as they geared up for a homecoming game.The video would take us all across campus life, as t the Carters engaged  in typical student activities like going to class, taking exams, dining hall rendezvous and dorm parties. The main event, the homecoming game, would take place on a large football field, with  coveted BΔK Greek lettering at its center.The ending horn section would usher us in a dance break by Bey and her crew, followed by some bonus bars by Mr. Carter himself.3.) “Nice” Source: YouTube | Universal Music Group The light and rhythmic sounds of “Nice” gives the track a vibe that’s  equal parts swag and class. So naturally, this video would be all about flossing. The corresponding visuals would consist of high-fashion brands and vibrant colors, with a set design that’s similar to the one used in Bey’s “Upgrade U.” Perhaps legendary video director Hype Williams would be willing to take this project on.4.) “713”Source: YouTube | Universal Music GroupThe Snoop and Dr. Dre-inspired track recalls the laid back OG vibes that came with West Coast rap. The signature keys make their way from the 213 (Los Angeles’ area code) to the 713 (Houston’s area code), where Beyoncé fiercely reps her hometown.  It would be cool for the video to blend the elements of hip-hop culture that make the West Coast and South so distinctly unique. Shot in black and white, as Bey sings "ain't no way to stop this love; ain't no space if everything is love," images of the couple in these locations would appear juxtaposed with b-roll of other notable hip-hop and R&B artists from these regions. 5.) “Friends” Source: YouTube | Universal Music Group This trap ballad serves as an ode to the deep history of the well-established and tight-knit connections the Carters have made, and  its lyrical seriousness would be illustrated via its visuals. Exclusive footage of Beyoncé and Jay-Z would play in a montage, to give us a look into their private, invite-only soirées.With shots of flowing champagne, celebrities and decadent jewelry galore, this video would showcase black excellence within the entertainment industry. It would be powerful to have a scene with  Beyoncé and Jay-Z in a room filled with some of their most famous friends at a black-tie event — from Diddy, to Oprah, to Ava DuVernay. The camera could provide piecemeal glimpses of the star-studded space, while jumping between imagery designed to signify  opulence and wealth.6.) “Heard About Us”Source: YouTube | Universal Music GroupAs this video opens, viewers would see a bird's-eye view of a Porsche convertible, as it cruised down an empty Pacific Coast Highway. Cameras would then zoom in, capturing Beyoncé's luscious, golden locks gleaming in the California sun from the passenger’s seat. With Jay in the driver's seat, a smiling Bey extends her arms to greet rays of sunshine, creating a sense of nostalgia for their previous “03 Bonnie & Clyde” music video. Visuals would follow the theme of high-brow California living, featuring lavish beach homes, private shores, all-white attire, private jets and so on.7.) “Black Effect”Source: YouTube | Universal Music GroupThis anthemic melody would take us right back to Jamaica, highlighting aspects of the island’s rich culture, while also putting a face to the mysterious voice heard defining unconditional love at the start of the track.On the run and isolated from the world, viewers would get a very intimate look at Bey and Jay in  their pursuit of freedom. Viewers would witness as Bey and Jay riding the infamous motorcycle adorned with the skull of a long-horned bull  — the same bike used in promotional materials for the On The Run II tour that pays homage to the 1973 Senegalese film Touki Bouki. As they outrun police and wind  through dirt-filled roads and back alleys, Jay would brag about how he's "good on any MLK Boulevard," and cameras would continue to follow the fictionalized story of their lives as outlaws.8.) “LoveHappy”Source: YouTube | Universal Music GroupThough candid in its lyrical content, the execution of “LoveHappy” still offers up a playful banter. Bey and Jay’s way of going toe-to-toe on the track is structured just like a rap battle, and the production has the street edge that only classic East Coast hip-hop can deliver.As the birthplace of both Jay-Z and hip-hop itself, this video would be set in New York City on the rooftop of a Brooklyn apartment complex. Visual metaphors for the varying levels of chaos that can plague any major city and ultimately threaten the community’s prosperity as a whole would be juxtaposed against imagery surrounding the domestic turbulence that can negatively impact a small family unit. Though the final resolve for any conflict featured in this video would remain ambiguous, the audience would be reminded of beauty’s potential to still blossom in the aftermath of destruction, as footage would depict the Carter’s initiating a celebration in the streets.It's safe to say that fans of the Carters have been spoiled by their past visual albums; the artistry behind their lyrics is only further enhanced by the carefully crafted cinematic imagery. Although demanding a complete video anthology to accompany the album's release may seem presumptuous, Bey and Jay are accustomed to setting the bar high, defying expectations and making their own rules. That said, we may never get these videos — but one can...

As celebrated as it is to be the first black [fill in the blank], I have no interest in ever holding this title. It is 2018. Being black is wonderful. I love every day of it. However, as a college professor, I cringe when I have a student tell me I am his or her “first black science professor,” or even worse, his or her “first black professor.”Last semester I sat in a bathroom stall collecting my thoughts as I stared pensively at a roll of one-ply toilet paper. A 20-something-year-old student told me I was his first black teacher in his life. His entire life. Not part of his life or the adult half of his life, but within his whole human existence a black teacher never graced his educational experience. He said he was so surprised to see me. He asked his mom (I kid you not) if he ever had a black teacher in elementary school. She said, based on where he went to school, no.Let’s jump back to STEM (Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics) instructors. As an anatomy and physiology, biology and sometimes environmental science professor, black and brown folks can be limited. You may see us cleaning the labs, taking out the trash and spit-shining the whiteboards in the science classrooms, but it’s rare to see us holding the pointer and standing behind the podium. Don’t shoot the messenger, I just work here.Some quick stats are as follows:- According to PEW research, black persons and Hispanic/Latino persons make up over 25 percent of the U.S. population, but around 1 percent of STEM professionals- PEW and other sources attribute the gap, not to black and brown kids' lack of interests in STEM, nor is it linked to deficiencies in intellectual aptitude, but to access to quality STEM programs and discriminatory hiring.I can attest to some of this. I have always been curious about science. Always. For as long as I can remember, I loved science. My high school, however, could not afford (did not prioritize?) one microscope. My parents let me get science equipment, science textbooks, science VHS tapes and later DVDs for Christmas or my birthday. I was one of four other black students in my class campaigning for science equipment (and better instructors), but the B-word (budget) was always slapping us in the face.To add, as recent as last year, I had a colleague tap me on my shoulder (yes, touch my body) while I was using a copier and ask, “Do you work here?” She also asked to “see my ID.” I’m clearly wearing business dress clothes and copying my exams, and you need ID to get in the building and office. She was white. I was polite and said I did work there, but didn't bother to give her ID. It is already blatantly obvious in meetings when you are the only black person, but to have a “colleague” (more like a trifling ... let me stop) put her hands on you and question your existence is a lot for a work day.In conclusion, I’m over being the “first black” or “only black” or “token black.” I just want to do my job, serve my students and my community. I want to pursue my passions and be great. I want to be challenged by my subject matters and my interests, not by my gender or color of my skin. In essence, I suppose I want too...

Seeing Bill Cosby’s mugshot struck me. I thought, “Damn. He really did do it.” I felt myself sink a little because the upstanding man and amazing husband and father he played on The Cosby Show was now, to me, a tainted figure. In my eyes, the man behind Mr. Huxtable was no longer perfect. The man behind Fat Albert and Little Bill had single-handedly destroyed what would have been an amazing and powerful legacy — all because of some women. Ain’t that something?Back in 2005, Andrea Constand filed a civil suit against William “Bill” H. Cosby, Jr. in which she cited that he gave her “herbal” pills to ease her anxiety, and then engaged in “inappropriate touching”; he “touched her breasts, rubbed his penis on her hand and digitally penetrated” her. Not long after that was released, Tamara Green came forward with a similar story. Then numerous Jane Doe witnesses are mentioned in court papers. Numerous women with all the similar, if not damn-near identical, stories all accusing this once beloved man of drugging and raping them.I initially called bulls**t because, you know, here we have a wonderful black man, with such a positive impact, being brought down by all of these women with no physical proof or evidence. But back in July 2015, he admitted to it. When asked by Andrea Constand’s attorney, Dolores Troiani, if he planned on using the Quaaludes for young women that he wanted to have sex with, he responded, “yes.” He willingly admitted to his intent, and that’s where he put the nail in his coffin, and when everything changed.It’s OK to be sad about the skewed image of Mr. Huxtable, all while feeling no sympathy for Mr. Cosby. It’s totally OK because Mr. Huxtable was an amazing character, and Mr. Cosby did, unfortunately, do terrible things. It’s also OK to feel conflicted because your views of this man have now changed and warped your memory of him dancing on the stairs with The Cosby Show family. It’s totally OK, but it’s not OK to stand up for him, make excuses for him, try to justify his actions and/or say that it’s all false. 10 times out of nine, there’s truth to these accusations and he’s doing the time his actions earned.And for those that continue to deny this issue and keep bringing up white people that have done (and are still doing) the same thing, I see you and I totally get it. White America hardly ever faces any consequences unless there’s a bunch of white money involved (looking at you, Bernie Madoff). Brock Turner only got six months in jail. Carolyn Bryant Donham lied on Emmett Till, which led to him being murdered, and she’s still free. George Zimmerman’s punk behind is out here threatening people after he murdered Trayvon Martin in cold blood, and he's free. There are so many more of us that have been abused, murdered, framed and ruined by white people, and their livelihoods are still intact. I totally understand it all. The anger, outrage and heartache, but you have to remember that wrong is wrong. Whether the person committing the crime is white or black, wrong is wrong.My heart doesn’t necessarily feel for Camille Cosby because a deep part of me feels that she knew what was going on all along, but that’s another story. For those of you that are somehow mourning the loss of the beloved Mr. Huxtable, I feel for you. But you gotta let it go. And for those of you that are still denying that there’s any truth in this, fix it...

You’re early to your eight a.m. college class, signaling that it's either the first day of school, or you took one of those super necessary afternoon naps the day before. You sit in the black and you start to see students shuffling in with their coffee and laptops. One kid enters with his music blaring unnecessarily loud, a group of girls walk in discussing their summer break and that one student that's always lost walks in and realizes he’s in the wrong class. Finally, the professor steps in and the door closes. You look around and slightly sink in your seat, suddenly realizing you’re the only black student.This is a common experience at most PWIs, and I know how it feels. Although I have been quite fortunate to have at least three other black students with me, there was still a sense of, "Is this all of us?" Black Student Unions, African Student Unions and all other diasporic unity groups help to relieve that feeling, but can never really substitute simply having people that look like you in your classroom.At times, I wish I had continued trying to pursue Morehouse College, but the cost of attending was not something I could afford. The aid package was not horrific, but it was still not the best and I wasn't given a scholarship to help offset costs. But I believe these things can change for future potential HBCU students.If the HBCU alumni gave back a little bit more to the institutions they love (maybe $10, $15 or $20 dollars a month), this could probably result in helping current and future students. My other suggestion would be that businesses and people who lease the schools' likeness for apparel could give at least 10 to 15 percent of their proceeds to the respective schools. If you’re making money off the North Carolina A&T State University logo, then the school should definitely be getting a percentage.My last suggestion is investing in the HBCU students' creativity and skills. There are many students on these campuses who are incredibly resourceful and extremely talented. Some of them do hair, some give haircuts and others create apparel. HBCUs could give promos to support these endeavors or, if possible, do what other universities have done and open up a barbershop and salon on campus so that the money made from their business can be split between the college and them. This will enable more aid and scholarships for the students.I, like many black students out there, would love to have attended an HBCU, but financially, it was not feasible. Fortunately it is a new day and we can all start looking for solutions. Maybe our children will have a better shot than us. It is not an easy fix and it will not be done tomorrow, but surely, one...

There is much to be said about Kanye West. No, like, there is actually a lot to say about Kanye West. But as of now, his most recent off-the-air SNL stunt is getting a lot of buzz. When it comes to West, much of what he is says is usually written off because he often tends to speak “incoherently” or “ramble,” and like most of the pseudo intellectual elites who hide behind Twitter, they use this as a way to totally discredit his message.West has advocated for Trump and he has time and time again been given a platform to explain his reasoning. Whether you agree or disagree, he still provided it. His most recent Saturday Night Live rant is like no other because we might have gotten a really in-depth look at how he feels about the Democratic Party.West spoke about his frustration with the condition of being a black man in America, something that only a black man can understand.“Black man in America, supposed to keep what you’re feeling inside right now … democrats, you know it's like the plan they did, to take fathers out of the home and put them on welfare,” West said. It seems as though the artist has been doing some research and is probably speaking on the Crime Bill that was passed during the Clinton White House. Although his argument Is probably loose ended and might be slightly misinformed, we still have to understand that it is coming from a genuine place of frustration, and he is completely entitled to his political views.African Americans are probably the only voting demographic that has to answer questions or provide reasons as to why their political allegiance resides in a certain place other than democrat. The black race, as well all know, does not operate monolithically, and the sooner that we all understand and respect that, the stronger we can all be.As it relates to West, there is no real convincing him at this point — he is solely stuck in his ways and he will continue to support the president of the free world. Whether you agree or disagree is inconsequential at this point. In fact, it is doing you more harm than good. Kanye West can serve as a great example that we can all coexist with our differencing political views while within the black...

News recently broke of Beyoncé's ex-drummer, Kimberly Thompson, filing a restraining order against the Lemonade singer after her alleged use of "extreme witchcraft."  Among all the rumors and gossip I have ever heard before about Mrs. Carter, this is by far the most interesting. Thompson accused Beyoncé of some pretty bizarre acts, including “magic spells of sexual molestation,” tapping her phones and "murdering" her kitten.While these allegations have yet to be confirmed as true, it is cool to think that my fave isn't above casting a few spells to be petty. Though this scandal, in particular, is rather peculiar, this isn't the first time a celebrity of high stature has become the focus of similar gossip. (Remember all those Illuminati conspiracy theories?)In short, this is nothing unheard of.Now I've been in the Hive since before the Hive had a name, which means I know a lot about my fave. However, since Beyoncé is so infamously tight-lipped, I can't help but think what other stunts or scandals she could find herself in that would ever make me love her any less. But here's a few to think about: 1. SELL US OLD MUSIC.I'd still buy it.2. STEAL CHRISTMAS.I don't need Christmas anyway, Queen!3. GO BALD.Me when Lemonade dropped.4. STEAL THE 'MONA LISA.'Look at her — she's plotting.5. RUN FOR PRESIDENT.Source: TumblrResume on fleek!6. JUMP OFF A BUILDING — AGAIN.Because clearly she can fly.7. RETIREHell nah! Beyoncé is here to stay.......