Newspaper Page Text
*
BLACK TWITTER ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH
TIFFANY PENNAMON
WORLD AND LOCAL ASSOCIATE EDITOR
TPENNAMO@SCMAIL.SPELMAN.EDU
The influence that “Black Twitter,” a large collection
of African American tweeters, has over the social sphere
can range from comical to enlightening. This month’s topic -
Black History Month!
Black History Month became a national month of
celebrating our cultural history in the early 1920s. Deemed
“Negro History Week” in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson,
it commemorated the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and
Frederick Douglass. Over the 20th century, the celebration
of our history expanded from just a week to a month-long
celebration.
Black Twitter’s discussion of Black History Month started with
Google's home page displaying Harriet Tubman holding a
lantern. The image turned from a symbol of Tubman’s guiding
light to a parody of her doing the “Nae Nae” dance saying,
"HUAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" The image circulated around Twitter,
COONTERING
KADIJAH NDOYE
WORLD AND LOCAL EDITOR
KNDOYE@SCMAIL.SPELMAN.EDU
On February 6, an intimate discussion on the nature of
bisexuality as taboo in both queer and heterosexual commu
nities was held in the Women’s Center located on Spelman’s
campus. The event, hosted by Afrekete ,an organization
in support of lesbians, bisexuals, gays, transgenders, queer,
questioning women, and allies in the AUC , served as an inti
mate discussion where women shared personal experiences
and listened to the experiences of others. A multitude of
styles, personalities, and experiences, transformed the space
into a nurturing environment.
The first task in the discussion was to define bisexual
ity and biphobia. From the groups discussion, bisexuality is
romantic and or sexual attraction to both males and females.
Even so, the attraction to both males and females does not
receiving both retweets and comments shaming the image.
"It’s always interesting to log onto Twitter and see my
peers exchange information about our history. It shows that
Black History Month still matters to us,” said Danielle Moody, a
junior at Spelman College.
In addition to Twitter, Instagram users uploaded im
ages of influential Black leaders, quotations, and symbols of
our history using the hashtag #BlackHistoryMonth. The Bloody
Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.,even hosted
an Instagram photo challenge titled “Bla'Q' Mystery Photo
Challenge” to increase student’s awareness of African Ameri
can leadership and presence. The object of the challenge
was to see how many “Negro legends” could be identified
through posters on campus.
While some users utilized the free expression of their
opinions by social media for positivity and awareness, others
mocked the national month of cultural celebration.
On a national level. Black History Month is a contro
versial subject itself. Shared by the Huffington Post’s “Black
Voices” Twitter account, Carondelet High School in Concord,
California, decided to serve a “Black History Month cafete-
mean there is an equal attraction to both sexes. Biphobia is
a fear, dislike, or withdrawing from bisexual people as well as
the creation of stereotypes to justify the discrimination. Some
stereotypes hint that bisexuals are greedy for having an at
traction to both sexes, that bisexuality is part of a transition
towards homosexuality, and that bisexuals are promiscuous
and untrustworthy partners.
One of the more crucial discussions related to the
difference between gender and sex. Janet Mock, a transad
vocate and author of Redefining Realness, in the well-known
interview with Piers Morgan Live, addresses the difference
between gender and sex. While Piers Morgan sensational
ized her experience with having male sexual organs, but
understanding that she is a female, Mock combatted this
using social media and talking with Piers Morgan to clarify
the important distinction between sexual organs and socially-
constructed gender experiences.
Understanding the difference between gender and
sex is a fundamental part of being an ally and participant
ria special of watermelon, fried chicken and cornbread...
[sparking] outrage among community members who are
denouncing the menu as a celebration of Black stereotypes,
not history.”
Some ask why is Black History Month celebrated in
February, the shortest month of the year? Others ask why do
we only get one month? Astute critic of Black History Month,
actor Morgan Freeman, said: “I don’t want a Black history
month. Black history is American history.” Essentially, African
Americans and the African Diaspora have built the founda
tion that is now America. Without the hard labor and toils of
our ancestors, America would not be the country that it is
today.
Students in the Atlanta University Center are accus
tomed to learning history from the black perspective. With
the infamous course “African Diaspora in the World” at Spel
man College, and various history classes at Morehouse, great
leaders such as Marcus Garvey and Angela Davis become
well-known to students. In what ways do you celebrate Black
History Month, whether it be by social media or personally?
Tweet to @themaroontiger today!
in the LGBTQUIA movement. In addition to gender roles, the
group discussed the acceptability of femme women engag
ing in sexual acts because it arouses the male heterosexual
gaze, lack of support from lesbians, and differences and
similarities between male and female partners.
"It is important for us growing as a community to be
an inclusive community because we express how we want to
be global citizens. We need to be inclusive citizens as well”,
said Kaitlin Crandall, a sophomore Psychology major at Spel
man College.
“it was really good to say the least. I think many
misunderstandings and interpretations were cleared up. It al
lowed me to be more candid about how it affected me...For
some people, they have to label it queer, or bi-, or pan-. I un
derstand why they do it, but I also want them to understand
that it is okay for me to say that I like what I like when I like it”,
said Candace Thornton, a senior Art History major at Spelman
College.
BIPHOBIA FROM THE INSIDE OUT
• POPPING PHENOMENON: ADDRESSING POPGUN CULTURE IN ACADEMIA
MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER SCOTT
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
MAIL.MICHAELSCOn@GMAIL.COM
Most recently, the media has become fascinated
with the phenomenon of pop culture intersecting with aca
demia, particularly in higher learning institutions. Since its
founding in 1967 by Ray Browne, Pop Culture has already es
tablished itself as a legitimate topic of study. By 1977, Popular
Culture offered academic degree programs for Bachelors of
Arts, Masters of Arts, and a Doctor of Philosophy.
Popular Culture has covered various television shows,
movies, and trending fashions that have appeared to be
prevalent throughout history and attained recognition to
be discussed within classroom walls in order to examine its
relevance in society. The Matrix, the Simpsons, Star Wars, and
Mad Men are just some examples of film that have garnered
discussion in colleges. One show in particular became worthy
enough for a collegiate conference.
The University of Chicago presented “Jersey Shore"
Studies, in which students analyzed the popular television
reality show, of young Americans who spent most of their
days drinking, partying, tanning, and shopping. On October
2011, the New York Times published an article in reference to
the conference, questioning its legitimacy in academia. Out
of the top fifty comments, twenty-five disapproved of the
“Jersey Shore”, seventeen approved, and eight comments
believe that “pop culture trends may warrant study in the
future.”
What do you think? Does Popular Culture warrant a
place in academia? Some might say that studying and ana
lyzing pop culture allows one to draw comparisons, to form
new perspectives, and effectively understand more about
past and current cultures and subcultures within society.
However, in contrast, one might argue that the curriculum
of a popular culture course offers no substantial academic
enrichment I to present-day advancements nor deserving of
thought.
Popular Culture Studies "[otters] a unique opportu
nity for scholars to study any and all cultures”, and allows to
opportunity to discover and delve into topics that might be
considered “low brow” or "trivial in scope” that deviate from
“subject areas traditionally thought of as academic.” In fact,
Weeks is a current Ph.D. candidate at Georgia State working
on her dissertation that features the significance of food ways
in Victorian Culture and Literature. She defends her stance
on unorthodox topics, claiming that “researching and analyz
ing popular culture from critical and theoretical perspectives
is crucial” as it allows one to truly discuss “controversial social
issues from an interdisciplinary perspective,” said Sophie
Weeks, an English professor at Morehouse College.
LOOKS LIKE A CELEBRITY?
THINK YOU ARE THE BEST
DRESSED ON CAMPUS?
TAG US YOUR POSTS ON
INSTAGRAM
#CELEBRITYLOOKALIKES
#00TD
(alTHEMAROONTIGER