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WEEK OF 10/16-10/23
CAMPUS
NEWS
STAFF
MANAGEMENT
Darren W. Martin Jr.
Editor-in-Chief
Jared Loggins
Managing Editor
Cabral Clements
TigerTV Executive Producer
Ahmad Barber
Chief Layout Editor
Will Shelton
Chief Copy Editor
Jamal Lewis
New Media Director
Michael Martin
Assoc. New Media Director
EDITORS
James Parker
Campus News Editor
Dawnn Anderson
Assoc. Campus News Editor
Maya Whitfield
Features Editor
Nebiyu Fitta
Features Assoc. Editor
Moriba Cummings
A&E Editor
David Parker
Opinions Editor
/
ART THAT
JAMES PARKER
CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR
JAMESJR.PARKER@GMAIL.COM
A former Clark-Atlanta student spent
23 years in prison for a crime he did not com
mit. Robert Clark was wrongfully convicted of
rape, robbery, and kidnapping in 1982 but was
not exonerated until 2005.
Clarence Harrison was also released
from prison after serving 17 years in prison, even
though he was given a life sentence plus 40
years.
Now friends, Clark and Harrison were
both released because of staff at the Inno
cence Project who work to exonerate wrong
fully convicted prisoners through DNA testing.
The Georgia chapter of the national organiza
tion recently teamed up with two musicians to
produce an album about Harrison's story.
Life Sentence: I Am an Innocent Man
is the recently released album that documents
Harrison's personal and legal struggles since his
imprisonment. Song topics range from justice
and love to oatmeal pies and trucks.
One of the most cathartic songs for
Harrison depicts the last time he saw his mother
alive as she cried when the jury found him guilty
of all charges. While imprisoned he wasn't
allowed to attend his mother’s funeral but he
said the song entitled “My Mama's Face” has
helped him cope.
An excerpt from that song reads, “I
was sitting in prison when they told me she had
passed. Seems like dying is the only thing that
lasts.” It goes on to explain Harrison's emotions
during the trial and his desire for his mother to
know that he was eventually exonerated.
Some lyrics were able to articulate
even Harrison's most perplexing thoughts. After
learning of his mother's death, his prison guards
let other inmates out of their cells to play card
games with him all night and into the next
morning.
In describing these events and the
song they inspired, Harrison said, "Even the
system showed a little bit of care for me." Com
plicated Mercy reveals the inner conflict that
ensues when guards “lock you in a cell and
then offer you kindness in the middle of your
hell,” as the lyrics state.
Harrison credits his songwriter as being
able to articulate his story better than can.
Melanie Hammet is not only one of his guitarist
and songwriters but she is currently the mayor
pro tern of Pine Lake, Georgia.
Hammet said all lyrics were taken di
rectly out of conversation she had with Harrison
while he described his experiences and emo
tions.
She and guitarist Ben Holst performed
six selections from the album at a fundraising
event for the Innocence Project last month.
Audience members mimicked the feelings
expressed during the performance - laughing
as Harrison revealed his love for oatmeal pies
through song and some tearfully listening to his
confessions of hopelessness and anger.
Attendee LaDonna Williams explained
the impact the album had on her. "It really
opened my eyes to the issue and made me
face the problems in our justice systems,” said
Williams who has attended several of Harrison's
events.
Williams’ favorite moment of the
evening was watching Harrison dance and
sing along to the song Zoom Zoom Warn Warn
which was the common name used for items
bought from the prison commissary. The lyrics
discuss the bartering system used in jail and em
phasizes Harrison's appreciation for fried Oreos,
coffee, and candy.
The crowd's reactions to songs con
cerning Harrison’s love for his wife were equally
memorable. Yvonne Harrison worked three jobs
to help finance his exoneration and became
his personal chauffeur when he was released.
“I didn’t go anywhere without her, be
cause I was scared I wouldn't have a reliable
alibi,” said Harrison. The song dedicated to his
wife described her persistence even when Har
rison tried to distance himself from her while he
was incarcerated as well as the joy and friend
ship she offered him during that harsh period.
Near the end of the fundraiser, Har
rison, his wife, and guests chanted one song’s
mantra, "Do not assume you know who’s guilty.
Do not assume the truth was heard."
Students interested in continuing the
fight for the truth can find information for volun
teering or donating at the Georgia Innocence
Project website, www.ga-innocenceproject.
org.
OUR VISION
A LETTER FROM
THE E-I-C
Notable African-American intellect
W.E.B. Dubois asserted in his famous address
to the Chicago Chapter of the NAACP in 1926
that, “all Art is propaganda, and ever must
be, despite the wailings of the purist.”
“On the need for art to function as
agitation, protest and advance the cause of
the race,” Du Bois insisted. He believed that
black folk had an obligation to tell their stories
through art, whether in the form of intellectu-
alism, writing, or illustrations. For Du Bois, this
was cultural preservation. This preservation is
important, especially considering the present
state Of black colleges in the sea of higher
education.
Much has changed since 1926. Amid
an ever-developing moment of sustained
growth and empowerment for African-Ameri
cans, the obligation to tell a story, to preserve
a rich history, remains.
Poetry and prose have been uniquely
important to storytelling. Intellectual thought
and debate challenges ideas. Music and
song reaches the soul. Art diversifies black
folks' stories.
Talent on a variety of fronts engulfs the
AUC. The community thrives with intellectuals
who possess the ability to impact the world
in myriad ways and through various artistic
avenues.
Social activism is at the heart of our in
stitution’s missions. Activism takes many forms,
including art.
This is why The Maroon Tiger dedicated
three weeks of October to showcase all forms
of art. In this edition you will find paintings,
illustrations, photographs, poetry, prose, and
music from students who express their ideas,
their pain, their glee, their frustrations, their
pride, and even their pleasure through art.
The gifts that thrive here are amazing.
We hope that this "propaganda" will inspire
you as it has inspired each member on the MT
team. We would like to welcome you to The
Maroon Tiger's ARTober Special Edition Series.
Darren W. Martin, Jr.
Darrenmartin884@gmail.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Deaira Little
Assoc. Opinions Editor
Kadijah Ndoye
World and Local Editor
Deandre Williams
World and Local Assoc. Editor
Melvin Rhodes
Sports Editor
Jordan Lindsey
Sports Assoc. Editor
Cydney Fisher
Photography Editor
Jalen Law
Photography Assoc. Editor
BUSINESS TEAM
Maurice Goins
PR Director
Devario Reid
Assoc. PR Director
Jerrel Floyd
Advertising Manager
SIGNATURE PRODU
I
kl
A Li
SPREADS THE LOVE
DAWNN ANDERSON
ASSOC. CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR
DAWNNARIANA@GMAIL.COM
Few people find their passion in life at such an early age.
Three childhood friends have managed to do just that by melding
their talents to serve minority communities. In their sophomore year
of college, the members of Signature Production Team have used
their musical talents to raise awareness about autism in the African
American community.
Signature Production Team is comprised of Austin Jacques,
Maya Milan, and Marcus Neither. In an interview with the three
business partners, the Maryland natives shared they formed the
group as a service initiative after meeting in high school. All three
members are musically inclined and come from performance
backgrounds. They produce art as a means of raising funds for dif
ferent service initiatives. All proceeds go to charity.
Austin Jacques, a sophomore music performance major
at Johnson C. Smith, serves as business partner, producer, and
songwriter. Since the origin of the partnership he shared the service
initiative has “definitely been an avenue for me”. Jacques says
studying creative aspects of musical theory have allowed him to
hone his craft and serve his community through art. “We always
give back and want to do something to make an impact in the
community. It is all about being creative and thinking outside the
box.”
Throughout the month of August, the team has invested
their artistic abilities in raising awareness about autism. “We all work
together. With Maya’s voice and our production skills we all work
well together. I have learned that there is power in numbers." Their
work has resulted in a number of positive initiatives that includes
providing funding for speech therapy to children with autism.
Maya Milan, a junior music major at Morgan State Univer
sity, is the singer of Signature Production Team. Milan’s mother, Sim
one Greggs, created All The Love, Inc. which seeks to host events
by fundraising to raise money and promote awareness about Au
tism. The organization also provides small financial grants to help
parents in need, offer support, referral services and advocate for
research that speaks to the minority community. She created the
organization in support of her son Jeremiah Josey, who lives with
autism.
Greggs approached her daughter and her friends to ask if
they could create a theme song for the All The Love Inc.'s website.
The team's response was a signature soundtrack for events. “Mar
cus and I brainstormed ideas one day sitting in the car outside of
my house. Marcus came up with the beat, I sang, and we wrote
the entire song that day”. Milan added that she has known both
Neither and Jacques since age 13.
"A lot of people have been buying the song from ITunes,”
Milan refers to the success of the empowering single All The Love
featuring The Signature Production Team. "We didn't think that the
song would reach this many people. When it turned into a service
project it all happened so fast.” Milan shares that she has been
singing since age 3 and she is an aspiring famous singer. “I want to
do what I love and be recognized for if,” asserted Milan.
Marcus Neither, sophomore Engineering and Applied Phys
ics major, shared that he envisioned Signature Production Team
at an early age, dating back to eighth and ninth grade. “Music,
writing, and production speaks to our passions and what we have
been doing since childhood. Incorporated with that is service,”
said Neither. “We want to give back to people who gave to us,"
he added.
Neither attributes much of his inspiration to Jeremiah Josey,
Milan’s younger brother. "At 14 years old Jeremiah is the published
author of Here's What I Want You To Know." The book talks about
everyday dealings of autism as Josey provides readers with per
sonal life experiences. "He is not the typical case of autism. I met
him about 6 years ago and I get a lost for words just talking about
him," said Neither.
With Purpose Creativity and Passion the members of The
Signature Production Team have perfected their talents to serve
the Black community and a very special cause. It is with high
hopes that these aspiring professionals will continue to strive for
success simultaneously, inspiring others to do the very same.