He Said WHAT?!?

By: Georgia Trevor

 

 

 

 

“Pop a lot of pain pills.

Bout to put rims on my skateboard wheels.

Beat that pussy up like Emmett Till. Yeah”

 

            These are the lyrics that famous rapper, Dwayne “Lil Wayne” Carter decided to use in his verse for rapper Future’s song titled “Karate Chop Remix” This is what has sparked chaos and controversy over the world. Makes me wonder when freedom of speech has its limits. Given Mr. Carter has a daughter just around that age, you’d think he’d put more thought to his lyrical decisions. Above all of this, IT’S BLACK HISTORY MONTH! If this is a salute then we don’t want it! It’s a disgrace to our race because people are reciting it and continuing to support rappers like him that have nothing better to talk about but nonsense! I got a chance to have a very brief chat with Roger Suggs, better known as the rapper Vigalantee is an emcee, speaker, and social activist based in Kansas City, Kansas and he had so much to say about this topic. Matter of fact, if you follow this link, http://youtu.be/xPLEQO-4CD4 you can get the full interview he had on YouTube.

 

“We’re losing our culture, trying to be like everybody else when at a time everyone wanted to be like us, especially when it came to hip-hop.” -Vigalantee

 

Black history was established to give incite and celebrate African Americans that made a difference and fought for what we as African Americans now have. Freedom, Equality, Peace, Unfair justice, inventions, accomplishments, books; everything we have can be trailed back to those who couldn’t imagine having what we now have.

 

“We’ve got to start educating our kids about the history so they don’t make the mistakes as Wayne did.”-Vigalantee

 

We’ve all heard of the story about a boy named Emmett Till. If not, let me give you a brief background. Emmett Louis Till (July 25, 1941 – August 28, 1955) was an African-American boy who was murdered in Mississippi at the age of 14 after reportedly flirting with a white woman. Till was from Chicago, Illinois, visiting his relatives in the Mississippi Delta region when he spoke to 21-year-old Carolyn Bryant, the married proprietor of a small grocery store. Several nights later, Bryant's husband Roy and his half-brother J. W. Milam arrived at Till's great-uncle's house where they took Till, transported him to a barn, beat him and gouged out one of his eyes, before shooting him through the head and disposing of his body in the Tallahatchie River, weighting it with a 70-pound (32 kg) cotton gin fan tied around his neck with barbed wire. His body was discovered and retrieved from the river three days later. He was beaten so badly, his own mother who raised him on her own couldn’t recognize him.

 

Tragic.

 

This was a major controversy around the world to how unjust this world truly was and that equality had yet to reach the hearts of many hateful racists. It showed that the system of progression still had ways to go for a better US.

 

 “When it comes to a black issue, nobody cares…we’re doing this to ourselves. It’s ridiculous.”-Vigalantee

 

The reality of it all is that if people of African American heritage don’t value and covet the history that gives them the ability to live so freely in a country so hell bent on keeping them oppressed, why would rappers as Wayne? Who will respect a race of people who does not respect themselves?

 

 

            

Eat My Words Drink My Passion

 

By: Georgia Trevor

 

Roses are red, violets are blue, if you weren’t at the Open Mic Night at Avila, the person that missed out was you! That’s right, Avila Univwersity's Black Student Union Committee held Open Mic night March 20^th which was the date reset due to all of the terrible weather and boy was it worth the wait!

“It was very entertaining! Elijah who was one of the poets really stuck out to me. He was the host of the whole event and through his poem gave a phenomenal story. There was one that was like a cliff hanger where you held onto it until the end to figure out the whole story. I would love to see this again. Even the campus security staff worker recited, It was great!” said student, Shakaila Wright.

Poetry is a form of expressing who you are and in many ways lets people see you and hear your story. It’s a gateway to escape whatever you may be dealing with and an awesome way to open eyes of others to what they may have been too blind to see.

I see poetry as a way to express what I can’t say just flat out. It sometimes even tells me what I was feeling without realizing it. I feel like nowadays, rap is commercial and people are really sleeping on poetry as a raw form of rap. Fake poets want the passion but not the pain.

Host of the event, Elijah Ming really had a nice, intimate turn out and hopes to try again sometime in May and to continue on with it next year. “More people interested in the committee would be nice too,” he says. “I wish more talent came out but regardless, it was very nice. A nice amount of people came out and enjoyed themselves.”

“One of the poems recited called Jalapeño Peppers was very deep. It even touched a girl in the audience. It was very emotional. I hope we have more Open Mic Nights; it was a great experience and opportunity.” Student, Ricki Dunigan explained.

Look out for the next Open Mic Night and don’t hesitate to sign up if you’re a fellow poet that wants to share with others what’s on your mind and in your heart!

 

 

Can You Feel it in The Air

 

It’s right about that time where couples are being formed or dropping off like flies. It’s either love or hate; no in between! It’s either Cupid hit ya or the naked guy missed ya!!

Yup, I’m talking about Valentine’s Day.

When it comes to our generation, I feel rapper, Drake said it best, “We live in a generation of not being in love and not being together…” I’m not anti-love but it’s not the main focus of my young life. Since I’ve been given the opportunity to entertain my mind with thoughts of this “lovely” day, I’m thinking hearts, flowers, stuffed animals, kisses and lovey dovey talk. I BLAME MY GENDER!

Love is patient, love is kind. Love is slowly LOSING YOUR MIND!

Love isn’t a word that should be taken lightly and though you should show your partner your adoration and care all year round, this day is specifically set to give you the green light to shower them and let them know that though you may not show it every day, it doesn’t go unnoticed.

They say it’s better to love than never have loved at all. . .

 

This is how I feel about love and how it is for me at this current point:

 

Love Don’t Bother Me

                                                  Shoo! Get on! Leave me alone, love.

                                       You’re no good for me; I’ve witnessed what you’re capable of.

I’ve seen the way you’ve worked your magic.

I also see what happens once the sparks stop flying; a sight that’s tragic.

Love, don’t bother me!

Don’t come close, please!

Don’t sneak up from behind and attack.

I gave into you once, so wherever you came from, go back.

I’m not ready to feel everything I used to feel.

I’m perfectly fine staying on earth, at least it’s real.

I know what to expect in reality.

I hate how I wasn’t prepared for heart technicalities.

I didn’t know that you weren’t to last forever.

I didn’t know that he and I weren’t to stay together.

Ironic how you can be so heartless.

Not caring the state you left me in; depressed, restless and a hopeless mess.

How come you couldn’t have finished it how you started?

How could you just leave me; departed?

Love, don’t bother me!

Clever how you clouded my mind and blinded me from the signs.

Signs to where I should have cautioned or been more alert.

At least then I could’ve shielded myself from the inevitable hurt.

Do you know how many tears I shed?

Are you aware of the many sleepless nights I was forced to replay the memories over and over in my head?

I never asked for you to come into my world.

Putting me in the category of being one more broken hearted girl.

You really have discouraged me from looking for it.

I don’t mind it finding me cause I’m not looking for shit!

Damn, I loved the thought of being in love.

I wanted to be in that love and being loved club.

Love, don’t bother me!

I’m through with the games, can’t you see?

My foolish heart has given up; it’s had enough.

When a heart is broken, the body and mind is fragile and weak.

Leaving me to pick it up, piece by piece.

Tears that I cry are wasted and useless.

The mind knew what the ignorant heart didn’t; now I’m stuck by my lonesome looking stupid, so good riddens.

Flee! Leave me! Geeze!

I’m cool, my heart is at ease.

So don’t come round here asking for one more last chance.

I’ve been there, done that, man.

Please, just leave me be.

Please…

Love, don’t bother me!

 

Watch the video below to see how I envision a perfect Valentine’s Day with a significant other and how it differs with a guy’s point of view with my fellow Talon friend, Travis. ENJOY!

12.12.12 "BEST DAY EVER!"

By: Georgia Trevor

So once again, I’ve gotten the awesome-est chance to experience another year where all of the numbers are the same. Since I won’t get to see a day like this happen until another million kajillion years from now, I have documented my day basically summed up. The significance for this date differs from person to person. For me, it was truly a memorable day that I got the joy of documenting on video. Hope you can catch my sarcasm throughout my whole video! Enjoy J

Let Me Introduce Our Pres...2012!

By: Georgia Trevor

November 6, 2012. The day all of America has been waiting for finally arrived. Who won???
President Barack Obama won yet another term to fix what the previous President (not saying any names, *cough* Bush) has caused.
President Obama's reelection campaign took Ohio and thus the election shortly after 8:13 p.m., NBC News reported.

Being a first time voter and seeing that my vote made a difference in my COUNTY (since MO decided to be majority Romney), I felt part of something huge and it feels good to know my vote counted towards something as huge as this!

I for one am not surprised by his win but at the time I was sweating bullets because the numbers were not in my favor on the news channels.
Many rejoiced while others didn't take the loss quite well.

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST!

I'm a sore winner at times.
To be cordial, Romney gave Barack great competition and together I'm sure they can negotiate some ideas for how OBAMA can better America and have us see his vision for a better Us as one.
YES WE CAN...CHANGE...Obama's our Man!

MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHAT???

By: Georgia Trevor

Bullying ENDS NOW

By Georgia Trevor

Bullying is a form of aggressive behavior that is intentional, hurtful, physical, psychological, and/or threatening and persistent. There is an imbalance of strength; power and dominance. The problem occurs when this is a continuous situation that doesn’t stop as generations evolve. Bullying hurts and worst instance, it kills.

   Did you know that Bully victims are between 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims, according to studies by Yale University?

   According to statistics reported by ABC News, nearly 30 percent of students are either bullies or victims of bullying, and 160,000 kids stay home from school every day because of fear of bullying 

   25% of teachers see nothing wrong with bullying or putdowns and consequently intervene in only 4% of bullying incidents.

   Children and adolescents who bully thrive on controlling or dominating others.  They have often been the victims of physical abuse or bullying themselves.

I’m sure many have heard about the Canadian teenager, Amanda Todd who sadly was bullied so much, it’s reported that she committed suicide. Mind you, before her death, she had tried consuming bleach. She was rushed to the hospital to get it pumped out of her body. When she recovered, nasty remarks on her facebook page about how she should try harder to kill herself or try the same action again because she clearly hadn’t done it right were all over her wall.

I guess my real question is, when will this cycle stop? Why can’t bullying go away as fast as seasonal fashion? Bullying hurts. It leaves scars, whether visibly seen, or not. That doesn’t stop the pain from being any less. Whether it’s physical, verbal, cyber, whatever! It’s hateful and it gets its point across. Being bullied is a silent cry because no one sees it sometimes but those tears are as real as the pain inflicted because of it.

I once was a victim of bullying some odd years ago. It was hurtful, discouraging and it left me feeling alone because no one could relate or cared to understand that I couldn’t just tell the people off. They always came back. From my situation, those very bullies either apologized later on as the years passed and I became my own person WITH A VOICE, or they are actually good buds of mine. Ironic. Though the wounds healed, I still have this strong hate for bullying. It’s always done to those who are different or just can’t stand up for themselves. It’s so unfair!

But what’s happening now is, it’s getting the attention that’s necessary. There’s hotlines, sites and even well-known celebrities speaking on how bullying needs to stop! Positive things like that really have an impact on youth.

“It gets better. It seems hard, you know, I think being different is always gonna be a tough climb. There's always gonna be people that are scared of it. But at the end of the day you give those bullies, those people, that are so ignorant, if you give them the power to affect you, you're letting them win. And they don't deserve that. What you're doing by being yourself is you're keeping it real, and you're being really brave.” -Adam Lambert

Whoever said bullying was cool must not have been!

Sites for encouragement:

www.pacer.org/bullying

www.dig4kids.org/Bully-Prevention

www.lighthouse-services.com/

www.cyberbullyhotline.com

Don’t Be About It, TWEET About It

By: Georgia Trevor

I'd rather," deadpans Philippa Grogan, 16, "give up, like, a kidney than my phone. How did you manage before? Carrier pigeons? Letters? Going round each others' houses on BIKES?" This is an excerpt from the Guardian News online which caught my attention. What the girl said was basically how many teens these days think and strongly feel. Our phones are our lives. Technology has made us anti social in many ways.

Walking Avila University’s campus is pretty much as follows: Students walking, earphones in, phones out either changing the song or on some sort of social network, whether it be Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. This is my generation. This is what happens when technology upgrades and we become a product of being raised by technology.

 This somewhat interests me.

 Did you know that it starts as young as age twelve that kids own a phone? When I was twelve, I was fighting my big brother to get off of the computer so I can PAINT ON OUR COMPUTER SCREEN THINGY MAJIG!

 “I have a phone, Ipod and this house computer might as well be mine. I’m the only one who knows how to work it forreal. I have Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I have a lot to say and all of my friends have one,” Serina Trevor, 8^th grader stated to me, as if it were a no-brainer question I asked.

 According to Guardian News, more than 80% of phone-owning teens also use them to take pictures (and 64% to share those pictures with others). Sixty percent listen to music on them, 46% play games, 32% swap videos and 23% access social networking sites!

 According to Jonathan McKee, author, and president of The Source for Youth Ministry kids declared that teens are now soaking in 10 hours and 45 minutes per day of media in a mere 7 hours and 38 minutes. (This requires multitasking. In other words, they are listening to iTunes while browsing the web, all while the TV is on in the background.)

 Me, myself, I wake up and check my phone as if it were the daily news. I check my texts first, go to Twitter, then Instagram then Facebook. I’m sure to have a couple notifications I NEED to check. This is life. I rather text you than call you or talk to you in person. I usually have nothing to say in person if you’re just a social media “friend.” If you aren’t my parents, family members, best friend or a special someone, there is NO reason for you to call me. This is just how I feel. So to sum it up, media is ruling many other teens’ lives and I’m not ashamed to say mine as well.

 We are the technology generation.

 “We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology.” -Carl Sagan

 Technology has made us anti social in many ways.