Tykeem Banini – Pipe Dream

Black Student Union hosts ‘HBINGCU’

Tykeem Banini — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 05:07:46 +0000

Ending with a standing ovation, the Black Student Union’s (BSU) annual fashion show kicked off Homecoming Weekend on Friday. Showcasing black student pride, the show featured various multicultural designers and models that displayed a variety of styles, including streetwear, athleisure and business casual.

This year’s show was titled “HBINGCU,” and followed the story of a typical homecoming weekend at a historically black university. The story was divided into different parts of the day as models got ready to enjoy the weekend, and scenes included a pep rally, a halftime show and a football game. The Mandela Room in the University Union, where the event was held, was decorated with vivid green lights and an abundance of multicultural organization banners, which showcased unity.

The opening scene, titled “Wake Up,” showed models beginning their day and getting ready for homecoming events. Models wore pajama pants and silk loungewear designed by Tiamat Fontes as they struck a fierce pose for the camera.

Another scene was dedicated to women of color in business. All of the pieces, which ranged from pantsuits to skirts, were designed by Simone Sullivan, catering to the business casual side of women’s fashion. Although the clothing was meant for a professional environment, many of the pieces were versatile and could be used for nightly outings. Models confidently walked down the runway ready to take on the day, giving women of color a spotlight that deviated from the sexualized images often seen in pop culture.

The halftime show featured performances from Binghamton University’s X-Fact’r Step Team as they engaged in a hard-hitting step battle and the Black Dance Repertoire, which engaged the audience with dances inspired by majorette dancers and featuring music by Beyoncé. In addition to the dancers, a marching band comprised of kids and teenagers from Brooklyn United Music & Arts also performed, breaking into high-energy dances and stick tricks throughout the show.

The high energy from the marching band was contagious and as the night progressed, the audience became invested in the models’ every move.

The football scene featured an all-male cast of color going head-to-head. The clothing in this scene was designed by Jarret Dines and Austin Johnson from their brand Epok. Models sported blue and red tracksuits and athletic shorts as they performed stunts. The segment created a sense of camaraderie and black boy joy as smiles were brought to audiences’ faces.

The closing of the show conveyed the show’s main message. Titled “The Culture,” the last scene demonstrated that even with having descent from Africa in common, we as a community are composed of multifaceted individuals. In this scene, models were able to express their own personalities, walking the runway under different categories. The models got a chance to showcase themselves as opposed to clothing. This scene also catered to the different ethnic identities within the African diaspora for Latinx, African and Caribbean students.

Although we go to a predominantly white Institution, this year’s BSU fashion show reminded all of us that no matter what, we should be proud of our melanated skin. Our community is filled with many talented and multidimensional individuals. We are leaders, creators, artists, game-changers and the future. We will continue to progress and grow as long as we unite and support one another.

Joel Velasco/PRISM Photography Editor

Black Dance Repertoire presents ‘Outbreak’

Tykeem Banini — Mon, 13 May 2019 21:48:15 +0000

On May 3, the Black Dance Repertoire (BDR) hosted its 27th annual Exposé to a packed house in the American Legion Post No. 80, in the Downtown Binghamton area.

Created in 1985, BDR is a performance group that showcases six forms of dance in the genres of hip-hop, modern, African, jazz, Latin and reggae. The group can be seen providing entertainment at various events over the span of a whole school year, but its fall show and annual Exposé is an opportunity for the collective to demonstrate the versatility in talent held by the organization.

Practicing since February, BDR worked every night before the event up until the days leading up to the Exposé. Ahjah Renee Adams, president of BDR and a junior majoring in comparative literature, said she sees practicing as a way to make everything performance-ready.

“We practice every day, even on the weekends, Sunday through Friday,” Adams said. “Usually, Exposé practice will end a little past 3 [a.m.].”

Seen as the time to work on any movements that need refining, practicing for the performance group is taken very seriously.

“Everything has to be sharp and perfect since there is just a few of us on stage,” Adams said. “It’s best to show the cleanest — we want everyone to look their best.”

This year’s Exposé was titled Outbreak and it followed a group of dance teams that lost practice spaces at their school to dance in due to an outbreak of asbestos. In an attempt to solve their issue of a lack of space, the dance teams submit their choreographies to a competition with a chance to win a new dance studio.

Each dance team in the show represented one of the six genres BDR performs. The show culminated in each of the six genre-themed dance teams working together to do a final dance that would help them win the competition and obtain the space they all need.

Each performance during the Exposé encompassed diverse movements varying from sharp to elegant. Dance styles such as Afrobeat and reggae had very precise and even acrobatic movements, whereas styles like Latin and modern were very fluid and free.

In addition to the contrasting movements within each dance set, the formations during every performance creatively led into grandiose transitions. The high energy demonstrated in even the smallest details of the showcase by the dancers transferred to the crowd, which progressively became more lively with the end of every dance.

Nana Appiah, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, was a fan of the effort by the performers and the various styles of dancing.

“They’re really enthusiastic — you can tell by the looks on their faces that they’re excited to go out there,” Appiah said. “They’re out here showing me all types of dances. I might try to take some of these new moves and try it out for myself because they’re showing me some cool stuff.”

Serving captivating dance moves is not the only thing BDR provides to the Binghamton University community. The organization also functions as a family for anyone who is a lover or performer of dance, and not just the six genres usually focused on by the organization.

“We love dancing — you don’t have to be the best dancer, you just have to be comfortable in your body to move,” Adams said. “BDR is like a second family, we’re all different majors and we’re all different years and we come together every day, Monday through Friday, to practice, and we share one passion together.”

We shouldn’t support Tekashi 6ix9ine

Tykeem Banini — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 03:12:46 +0000

Recently, Brooklyn rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine was arrested and is now facing federal charges of racketeering. He could also face life in prison. Racketeering is a part of a bigger charge of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO). RICO is organized crime and encompasses a variety of other crimes within one charge. Some crimes included within RICO is kidnapping, homicide, extortion, and witness tampering. RICO as a charge was established to target the mafia’s criminal tendencies. Unlike the mafia, the one thing sadly involved in Tekashi 6ix9ine’s operations is clout chasing. A clout chaser could be defined as someone who associates themselves with certain people to gain popularity.

Now, while I will say I have consumed 6ix9ine’s work and find some of his music to be really good at getting me through my weekly workouts, as far as the actual substance of his work, there is none. And sure, people can make the argument that not all hip-hop has to have substance — that some music is just for fun and should be treated as such — what those same people forget is that 6ix9ine uses the same voice inflections and even steals flows from other rappers. How could the “King of New York” be someone whose identity as an artist is someone who screams the way other people rhyme?

Besides being known for having multiple charges within the legal system and screaming on all of his songs, 6ix9ine is also known for accusing people of clout chasing. With all of the beefs he has had with other hip-hop artists and personalities, such as YG and Ebro Darden, at the root of them is clout chasing. 6ix9ine feels that the reason many of those people made negative comments about his career is that they don’t like that he is succeeding, and that they envy him. And while that could be the truth for most of these situations, one undeniable realization about 6ix9ine’s story is that in reality, he might be the biggest clout chaser in hip-hop currently.

As stated earlier, 6ix9ine has compiled numerous charges, with his racketeering charge offering him the greatest number of years possible in prison. There is no proof currently that he has played a part in any of the operations by the Nine Tr3y Gangsters, but what drew 6ix9ine into this case was his affiliation. Kifano “Shotti” Jordan, 6ix9ine’s former manager who is also on trial, is a member of the Nine Tr3y Gangsters. 6ix9ine is also documented in videos — such as his breakout hit “Gummo” and the Billboard-charting “Kooda” — wearing red bandanas and all-red clothing. Sure, this could be because he likes the color red, but that is not the case. 6ix9ine used to claim that he was a member of the Nine Tr3y Bloods. This is where his clout chasing began. Prior to receiving his sentence, 6ix9ine had denounced his affiliation with the Nine Tr3y Bloods during an interview with the Breakfast Club, in which he stated that Tr3way doesn’t actually exist and that it was something he created. Yet, Tr3way is the nickname for the Nine Tr3y Gangsters. Why would he state this during his interview?

It is because he is finally understanding that his affiliation has gone too far. This affiliation had led him to a path he cannot come back from. See, by maintaining his affiliation with the Nine Tr3y Bloods, Tekashi 6ix9ine would be able to use the image of a gang member to promote his music. Now within hip-hop, one archetype that can be found in many artists is the thug archetype. Tekashi 6ix9ine was trying to portray that archetype to gain popularity, even though he never really lived that life. This can be dangerous due to his fan base. Tekashi’s fan base is made up of mostly very young and impressionable minds. If they view this image and Tekashi’s actions, they will normalize these things and think it is OK to do what he did. But it isn’t. Claiming a gang you do not belong to is not safe. Trolling people on the internet as Tekashi did is not safe. If we should learn anything from Tekashi facing 32 years to life in prison, it’s that while it may seem fun, clout chasing can lead to real consequences. But I guess, in the words of Shotti, “We don’t fold, we don’t bend, we don’t break, it’s Tr3way,” right?

Educational Opportunity Program pushes students to prosper

Tykeem Banini — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 01:54:19 +0000

This past October, Binghamton University’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) celebrated its 50th anniversary during the University’s Homecoming. Officially recognized by SUNY in 1968, EOP provides students from low-income backgrounds a chance to fulfill their academic potential through the use of resources. EOP’s pre-college transition program, academic counseling and tutoring, among other resources, have played a part in the success of many EOP students for 50 years. And with a retention rate of 98 percent, which is higher than the University’s, EOP students are taking advantage of the resources they are receiving from the program.

Providing students with the resources they need to succeed has always been EOP’s way of doing things. An example is Vanessa Young, a senior academic counselor for EOP. Young graduated from EOP when it was called the Transitional Year Program, and saw the program as many students do now — a way to attend college with financial and academic assistance.

“Without EOP I would not have been able to attend college,” Young wrote in an email. “My family did not have the finances to pay for college … The support I received as a student at Binghamton was amazing! It was the EOP staff who made the difference for me. The counselors were role models and provided sound advisement. The tutoring I received was wonderful as well as the recognition for my academic achievement.”

Young’s story is one that can be found among many EOP students over its 50 years, but even with some students sharing a similar background, there is no EOP student archetype. There are many distinct things that EOP students bring to BU’s campus. Karima Legette, interim director of EOP at BU, said that diversity is one of these aspects, along with providing another way of thinking.

“They are asking questions that other people may just accept to be the truth and because of our experiences being raised differently, we just have a different mindset, so we’re going to ask different questions,” Legette said. “And I think the University as a whole needs to welcome that intellectual curiosity. There are different ways to understand the knowledge base that exists, and I think our students are the ones that ask questions on that knowledge base.”

Prince Wireko/Contributing Photographer
EOP honors alumni and donors at its annual EOP Banquet.

EOP students work just as hard as general admission students and provide a new way of thinking for the University. They do not just fill a quota, but add new perspectives on the educational system they are a part of, as well as the world at large. This progressive way of thinking is embodied within the program. On campus, EOP can be seen as an innovator with the EOP Campos Robeson Tutorial Center, which is a center for students to come together and engage academically and socially.

“In addition, we have added to the innovation of the campus as we have historically served as a model for numerous initiatives and other programs that came to life at Binghamton,” Josue Quinones, ‘12, a graduate of EOP at BU and a current EOP academic counselor, wrote in an email. “We also have student groups with their roots starting in EOP, which demonstrates the fostered leadership and advocacy for social justice.”

Many multicultural groups such as the Latin American Student Union and the Black Student Union have roots within the EOP program. Both were started by EOP students and continue to be led by EOP students. EOP fosters leadership within its students, which is demonstrated by Aminata Jaiteh, the president of BU’s NAACP chapter and a senior majoring in sociology. Jaiteh attended the Binghamton Enrichment Program (BEP) the summer before she embarked on her journey at BU, where she received a sample of what life would be like as a student here. And by taking classes, she also had a chance to interact with leaders on campus and understand what leadership means to her.

“We had peer counselors assigned to us from day one that are there to answer any questions we have,” Jaiteh said. “They have also been immersed in the Binghamton community and are already in organizations, so you’re directed to where you might feel most comfortable in the beginning … Because of EOP, I was introduced to a lot of different organizations, and I don’t think I would have found those organizations as easily if I wasn’t an EOP student because I have regular admission students who weren’t even aware that those organizations exist.”

EOP has helped Jaiteh, as well as many other students, find their place on the BU campus. Being a part of EOP allows students to gain the resources they didn’t have before while attending high school. As education inequality continues to be an issue, opportunity programs like EOP are a necessity to help level the playing field and bridge the gap. For 50 years now, and 50 years later, EOP will be here to help each and every student reach their full potential during and after college.

As EOP academic counselor Akeem Samuels would say: “Once EOP, always EOP.”

Voices of Binghamton: Jerry Toussaint, SA President

Tykeem Banini — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 01:29:51 +0000

Jerry Toussaint is currently the president of the Student Association (SA), the president of Kappa Alpha Psi and a senior majoring in philosophy, politics and law at Binghamton University. Toussaint was a former intern and chief of staff under former Student Association (SA) President Jermel McClure, ‘18.

What made you run for SA president?

It’s interesting because I always wanted to be in a leadership position, but I didn’t know I wanted to be SA president, at least at first. Initially, during my sophomore year, I ran to be vice president for multicultural affairs. I lost that race to Joshua Gonzalez, ‘18. But when I lost, I just realized that there was a reason it happened. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and once I lost, it just told me that, “Hey, this may not be necessarily the position for you. Maybe there’s something else out there.” And that’s where I sort of turned to the president position. What really pushed me was the idea of setting an example for a lot of other young minority men and women who attend BU and feel as though they don’t belong. As someone who came into BU and just struggled initially with finding themselves and how they could fit in, I really wanted to be in a position where I could help others and show them if I can do it, you can, too. [I wanted] to be in that position where I can have all the resources of the SA at my disposal to help those students who actually need that development and need that reassurance that they’re here for a reason and that they’re not just lucky, especially with Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) kids and the notion that EOP kids aren’t smart or they’re a product of affirmative action. I just really wanted to go against that and be something that the younger students could look up to.

When you had those feelings of not belonging, what did you do to make BU feel like home?

Initially, I found a mentor. I feel like that’s one of the most important things for anyone just coming into college, but especially for young minorities who just feel very lost — someone who’s been through a lot of the things you are going through as a young freshman. I found my mentor at the end of my freshman year. He was former Vice President for Academic Affairs Raul Cepin, ’18. I asked him to be my mentor, and then at the beginning of my sophomore year, Raul connected me to Jermel, who was vice president for multicultural affairs at the time, and because of that connection, I became an intern in Jermel’s office. So he was already plugging me in different places, just trying to get me to excel within myself. And Jermel really liked the fact that I connected with him early, so he made me his head intern that year. I gained a lot of experience that year, and the year after, when Jermel became SA president, I went along with him and became chief of staff. So with two years of experience within the SA, I was aware of how the office worked, the different resources that were provided and what can really be done with the right person in charge.

Being that you’re the second black male SA president, what does that mean to you?

As far as being the second black president, I think it just means a lot, especially within our political climate. Some would argue that Trump was elected due to ‘whitelash.’ [After] eight years of Obama, people just grew tired of it, and they retaliated by electing Trump. I feel that, just in the scope of our campus — this microcosm society that we have in BU — it means a lot as far as the students seeing me as someone who’s adequate. They’re seeing beyond race. I mean, it’s always about race, but they’re seeing beyond that to some extent and just seeing me as someone who can adequately lead them. That just personally means a lot to me — that the students believed in me and they showed that through their votes, which I really appreciated. It also means a lot in the sense that it says Jermel wasn’t lucky; this wasn’t luck. We’re here as black students, we’re here to stay and we’re here for a reason. We deserve to be here and we’re showing that through the different positions each of us are in.

How will you advocate for students of color with your position?

As far as how to go about representing black students, I’m always looking to help young, black leaders in any way I can. I have been to BU over the summer multiple times to speak during orientation sessions. I also came during BU Enrichment Program (BEP) weekend and had a barbershop talk with some of BEP ‘18, answering a lot of their questions that they had. [I even gave] them some of my contact information, and some of them contact me on the side with any personal advice they may need. I just try to be an asset to them however I can, whether that’s just being a mentor or providing them with leadership opportunities.

PRISM has edited this interview for length and clarity.

Behind the lens of Heman Armstrong

Tykeem Banini — Fri, 11 May 2018 01:39:37 +0000

Before being behind the camera, Heman Armstrong wanted to be in front of it. Now a senior majoring in cinema, Armstrong has taken his craft to the next level, filming an array of visuals that showcase a broad range of content. Filming everything from a unity Greek life horror film for the multicultural sorority and fraternity expo, to a campaign video for the new SA President, Jerry Toussaint.

Armstrong has created a variety of videos in his short time here. But he didn’t always know cinema was his passion. Growing up, he had always enjoyed working with cameras. When he was in elementary school, Armstrong would make slideshows with photos and videos he took of his family members. He presented them during family events.

It wasn’t until late middle school that he finally figured out that cinema was his future. During that time he attended a film camp and made a film with his younger cousins.

“All elementary [school], I wanted to be a computer engineer,” he said. “Sixth grade: ‘I want to be a computer engineer,’ seventh grade: ‘I want to be a computer engineer.’ Now that seventh-grade summer, going into eighth grade, is when I went to the program.”

When he first came to Binghamton University as a transfer student, he declared a cinema major, but received some backlash from his family. They were nervous about him venturing into this industry because of how competitive it was.

“They were taken back by it, not too much, but they didn’t think that [I] was going to study cinema in college,” he said. “They’re supporting it still, but they’re just like it’s a hit or miss.”

Even with obstacles he still remains confident in his ability to be a successful filmmaker.

“It’s a risk that I am willing to take,” he said.

Armstrong enjoys making films that include high-fashion clothing, but he also enjoys editorial films, films that showcase fashion alongside dialogue and a story line. Videos such as “Wolves” by Kanye West, which is also a Balmain Campaign, is among the videos that inspire Armstrong.

“Have you ever seen the Kanye West video ‘Wolves’? You see how artistic that is? Like with the fashion and the Balmain? That’s what I wanna get into,” he said. “But I wanna incorporate in it dialogue and stories along with the fashion. Right now, I am doing videos like how the ‘Wolves’ video is but just my own twist to it.”

Armstrong also has a plan to garner an audience similar to that of “Wolves” through using reality television to develop a following. Armstrong said he was casted earlier this year for the MTV show “Are You The One?” but had to decline because he wanted to finish his studies. He is confident, though, that if he can get cast onto another reality TV show he can find an audience to build his brand.

“That’s when you get your audience views, then after I was gonna create my own type of film for exposure, so it’s like I am gonna create an independent film,” he said. “All the audience from the TV show will automatically come and watch my film just because of the fact that I am on that TV show, then I’m going to enter into different film festivals.”

Even with a blueprint for how he is going to obtain his success, there are some aspects of his craft that Armstrong thinks he has to work on. Dealing with different personalities sometimes makes him feel overwhelmed.

“I always struggled with that, but I want to improve that,” he said. “I can cut people from my film because I’m mad at them, and maybe that person does have a bad attitude, but they give great work. So I have to know how to articulate myself a specific way and maneuver in a proper way to construct something epic.”

Off the court with Imani Watkins

Tykeem Banini — Wed, 09 May 2018 21:57:42 +0000

Before becoming Binghamton University’s all-time scoring leader with 2,125 points, before becoming a two-time Eastern College Athletic Conference All-Star and before graduating with the school’s record for three-point field goals, Imani Watkins was an average student who didn’t necessarily have college on her mind.

“My mom went to a two-year university, my father played at a Division II [school] for two years, so … [going to a four-year school] just wasn’t really a thing,” said Watkins, who is now a senior majoring in sociology. “I always got good grades, I was always doing really well in school, it was just never a thought. And then I got into basketball.”

Watkins didn’t always play basketball. Growing up, the North Carolina native enjoyed playing and watching football, but after getting hurt in seventh grade, she stopped playing football. Then the summer between seventh and eighth grade, she traded in her cleats for basketball sneakers.

As she began her journey playing basketball, Watkins learned quickly that basketball could be a way to gain new experiences, causing her to take the game seriously. During the summer before her freshman year of high school, Watkins would work out with her dad, go to high school workouts and then to an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) practice every day.

“I didn’t take driver’s ed in high school because I refused to miss AAU practice … because in North Carolina, driver’s ed is after school for like two weeks and I refused to miss AAU practice [for two weeks],” she said.

Watkins became extremely committed to becoming a better player. Taking time off was not an option and being the best she could be was always her focus. Though she took on a large commitment, the pressure never seemed to phase her.

“It’s just noise at the end of the day,” Watkins said. “You can’t allow what’s said outside those floor lines to dictate how you practice and how you compete.”

While she hardly faced challenges on the court, she did face challenges with being a part of a new environment like Binghamton University.

“It was definitely a culture shock, coming from a predominately black inner-city high school,” she said.

While this presented a challenge different than any she had experienced before, Watkins believed attending a school like BU helped her in the long run, making her a more well-rounded person.

“It definitely helped me understand how to deal with different kinds of people but still be myself,” she said.

By following one of her passions, Watkins learned that she is strong enough to do anything and continues to use what the game of basketball has taught her about herself.

“There is not a thing that I can think of that at this point in my life I wouldn’t be able to do,” Watkins said. “When you look at the odds and everything that said that I shouldn’t be here and everything that said none of this should be possible, and to look at my stat sheet from fall 2014 to now. You tell me what I can’t do. At the end of the day, it’s understanding that it does not matter what the odds are, it doesn’t matter who’s for you or who’s against you, as long as you 100 percent believe in yourself and you are surrounded by people who believe in you, you’ll be successful.”

A weekend in the life of the VPMA

Tykeem Banini — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 02:09:02 +0000

According to Josh Gonzalez, the Student Association vice president for multicultural affairs (VPMA) and a senior on a 3+2 fast track to a M.S. in geography, his role is often misunderstood.

“People think that it’s just that you handle all the racist and problematic incidents that happen on campus and run the [Intercultural Awareness Committee] and just sit in the office,” he said. “But it’s so much more than that. For me personally, I wanted to be a VPMA that people can trust and feel comfortable going to at all times.”

During the weekend of March 23 through 25, PRISM caught up with Gonzalez, the self-proclaimed “flyest” VPMA, to get the true meaning of what his position entails. We shadowed Gonzalez as he attended a series of multicultural events.

The first event was the African Student Organization’s (ASO) Fashion Show. This year’s theme was based off the 1988 hit film, “Coming to America,” a story about a prince from Zamunda, a fictional African country, who flees his home in search of real love. The fashion show featured a rendition of the movie through skits all while displaying fashion from designers who incorporated African cultural elements into their clothing. Taking place in the Mandela Room in the University Union, roughly 250 students were in attendance.

The event was a lively celebration of African culture. The room was so packed that many audience members — including Gonzalez — weren’t able to get a seat. Sporting Balenciaga Triple S Trainer sneakers, a Burberry sweater and Marc Jacobs earrings, Gonzalez stood in awe of the fashion on display.

“I’m a fashion lover, so ASO definitely was my favorite,” Gonzalez said. “I was in love with the whole show. It was the best show since my sophomore year. I think Fatima [Kane, president of ASO and a senior majoring in political science] did a great job. Amazing, amazing job. It was high-energy, it was dope and all the attractions were crazy — and plus, my outfit was crazy.”

Gonzalez’s cultural experience continued on Saturday night with Barrio Fiesta. Hosted by the Philippine-American League (PAL), Barrio Fiesta happens every spring semester. The show celebrates Philippine culture while telling a story using various art forms, from skits to traditional Philippine dances. As the U.S. national anthem was sung, Gonzalez took a political stance by taking seat for the duration of the performance, honoring Colin Kapernick’s movement to protest police brutality and racial inequality.

“As long as this country continues to perpetuate the very evils it swears it does not stand for, I will not stand for a hypocritical message,” Gonzalez wrote in an email. “This country does not give liberty and justice for all, and until it does, I will not stand for the anthem.”

Through it all, Gonzalez was fascinated with the show as he continuously commented how entranced he was by PAL’s creativity in presenting Philippine culture.

“[My] favorite part of Barrio was when they tackled DACA and ICE,” he wrote in an email. “People tend to think it’s just Latinos getting deported, when the dismantling of DACA and other programs effects all minority groups.”

The weekend came to a close on Sunday with Japan Night, hosted by the Binghamton University Japanese Association (BUJA). A showcase of Japanese culture, the show was composed of musical performances, choreographed fight scenes and a video story chronicling a fictional story of the club’s president, Toshihiro Yatomi, a senior majoring in business administration, and his journey to Japan Night.

“I loved the e-board’s dance,” he wrote in an email. “They were so hyped up and looked like they were having fun it was great.”

Although Gonzalez enjoyed the evening, it was clear that the event-packed weekend was taking a toll on him. Slouched in his chair, Gonzalez’s eyes lowered and though he wasn’t asleep, it was obvious that he needed rest.

“It’s difficult being on the fast track, being a 3+2 student, while being the VPMA because sometimes I find it hard to concentrate on my own work,” Gonzalez said. “A lot of students actually forget that I’m a student. Sometimes you advocate for student groups, you do a lot of things for students but they don’t really know. It’s not necessarily your fault or their fault. But you do it for the love of the culture and the community even if the culture and community don’t see that.”

Q&A with the VPMA

Tykeem Banini — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 02:08:43 +0000

We followed up with Joshua Gonzalez, the Student Association vice president for multicultural affairs (VPMA) and a senior majoring in geography, after an event-packed weekend to gain more perspective on his position.

PRISM: What are you proud of that you’ve accomplished as VPMA?

Joshua Gonzalez: The initial thing that I’m proud of is that I was able to hire such a good team and create positions for the office. One problem with the office before was that it had no structure, and I gave it structure. I added a programming coordinator, liaison to PRISM, an external officer, a treasurer, public relations chair and three interns. I don’t even like to call them my assistants or anything, but more like my team members because we’re a team here. I like to let them lead sometimes, have their own projects — when they need help, I help them when they ask. I always tell them I’m a resource for them if they need anything. I have members of my office attend other office and committee meetings for me. I think it’s actually humanly impossible for one VPMA to go to all these meetings.

P: What do you wish that you did more as VPMA?

JG: I wish that I was able to focus on my mental health campaign. I wanted to encourage the administration to get more money to get diverse resources in the [University Counseling Center]. I am working on it now and I’m going to hand off to [incoming VPMA Andy Jean-Baptiste, a junior double-majoring in economics and philosophy, politics and law]. Unfortunately I had to focus on the VPMA council getting people into committees.

P: What have you learned as VPMA?

JG: I’ve learned better mentoring skills, how to raise stronger leaders, how to conduct conflict management and not just conflict resolution. I learned how to be a better public speaker, be more careful with my words and more inclusive with my language. I also learned that this position is hard and it can sometimes feel unfair.

P: How do you de-stress?

JG: I do normal things. I play video games — that’s my favorite thing. Me and and my housemates are close, we’ve lived together for years. Back in the day there used to be something called a land party, which is like you’ll sit down and have all your TVs in the living room and then you’ll connect them using a wire, but obviously we have WiFi now. We still call them a land party but we sit down, we put our Xboxes around and our TVs in the living room and just all play video games for a few hours. I like to draw, dance, go out with friends, go to events. I go to counseling.

P: What are a few tips to being a leader on campus?

JG: The first step is learning how to be self-aware. A lot of people don’t know their own faults, so being self-aware is learning where you could do better as a leader and individual. Knowing your own faults and working on them, constantly editing yourself — you’re just one big essay that’s constantly being written. Another point is learning how to sometimes step back from leadership roles, letting other individuals lead as well. That’s how you get more diverse ideas, that’s how you foster a better environment for your team. A third great strategy is to never stop creating, always be creative, always have ideas, be versatile, be a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none.

PRISM has edited this interview for length and clarity.

Barrio Fiesta to come to Osterhout

Tykeem Banini — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 14:56:13 +0000

Join a couple of PALs this Saturday as they tell their story about what kept them together during their time at Binghamton University.

BU’s Philippine-American League (PAL) is hosting its 29th annual Barrio Fiesta this Saturday, March 24. Established in 1989, PAL is an organization that does more than just highlight Philippine culture.

“Our overall goal is to, of course, spread awareness of Filipino culture,” said Jehron Pura-Bryant, PAL’s cultural chair and a senior majoring in integrative neuroscience. “The running thing that we always want to achieve every year when we throw any events is, ‘How do we make this inclusive to everybody?’”

Many students who participate in PAL are not of Filipino descent.

Last year’s theme was Disney’s “Finding Dory,” in which the show took the audience through a story about a young woman trying to find her culture. This year’s theme is based on the American sitcom “Friends,” but also has some references to “High School Musical.” The story for this year’s show is about a group of students in their last year as Bearcats and how despite everything life presents them with, they stick together because of PAL.

PAL tells these stories through the show using skits, dances and singing. Traditional Philippine dances like the Sayaw sa Bangko and the Maglalatik will be performed during the show alongside modern dances like step and hip-hop. PAL Cappella will also be taking the stage, singing both the American and Philippine national anthems before the start of the show. During the show they will sing covers of popular songs.

In addition to the student performances, PAL will also have special musical guest Anna Czarina Yso. Yso is a YouTuber who has gained a following by covering popular songs; her most-viewed cover is “Be Alright” by Justin Bieber, which has over 331,000 views.

Every year during the spring semester, Barrio Fiesta is an experience that’s memorable for everyone involved. This sentiment holds true for James Musngi, publicity chair intern for PAL and a sophomore double-majoring in theatre and English.

“Barrio Fiesta is this wild amalgamation of stress, excitement, discovery, exhaustion, failure, growth, tears, and bonding with people you come to love,” Musngi wrote in an email. “It is the journey of getting to know so many wonderful people and developing and devoting our performance talents together for this huge showcase that you get to have this crazy undefined experience that goes beyond what my words could even say.”

The audition process for the show was open to all students.

“We host two GIMs for Barrio every fall semester and there are dances where we require you to try out for,” Pura-Bryant said. “So for example we have PAL Cappella which is a singing group, you have to try out for that — [for] our more modern pieces we ask you to try out. For the cultural pieces we [leave] that for whoever is interested and since a lot of people usually want to sign up for the non-tryout pieces, it’s on a priority basis.”

Chloe Reandelar, a sophomore majoring in human development, is a dancer and will be performing PAL Moda (modern dance) as well as acting as the main character in the skit, “Princess Pangit,” for this year’s show.

“This show definitely isn’t something extremely regimented in terms of preparation, it’s all about enjoying and learning about Filipino culture as you go,” Reandelar wrote in an email. “I’ve personally never met anyone who’s regretted being a part of Barrio and I can’t wait for more students to join us in the future!”

Presented in the Anderson Center’s Osterhout Theater, “Barrio Fiesta: The One With The Final Lap” will take place Saturday, March 24. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Presale tickets cost $6 and tickets at the door cost $8.

Supporting black businesses

Tykeem Banini — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 12:57:52 +0000

One common self-critique among black people is that we don’t support each other enough, but part of the reason is a lack of knowledge. Here are five black-owned businesses you can support so you can no longer use that excuse.

Sample Industries

Sample Industries is an urban streetwear brand owned by YouTubers BULL1TRC and ToNYD2WiLD. Founded in March 2015, this brand is comparable to more well-known brands such as 10.Deep and Stussy. Each new collection of Sample Industries has a different theme. Most releases are used to honor the location of the sneaker conventions the founding duo attends, but there have been releases with different concepts. This month, Sample Industries released a Black History Month collection. This collection was on the smaller side, featuring only a hoodie and a T-shirt. The hoodie is currently sold out, but you can still buy the T-shirt for $38. The hefty price tag is because of the French terry fabric and the embroidered designs on the front and back of the shirt.

Koils By Nature

Koils By Nature is a brand of natural hair-care products that promotes both hair growth and moisture. Founded by Pamela J. Booker, Koils By Nature’s products are primarily vegan, containing no animal or animal-derived ingredients, and cruelty-free, meaning none of the products were tested on animals. The products are also sulfate-free, paraben-free and silicone-free. Additionally, Koils By Nature also sells products that promote beard growth, like leave-in conditioner, beard combs and drying towels. The brand is primarily sold online, however, it is also available at certain Target locations. It is not sold at the Target in Vestal, New York.

Flat Out

If you’re known to walk around barefoot with sore feet after wearing heels for too long, you might want to check out this brand. Designed to be comfortable, portable and stylish, Flat Out is a brand of ballet flat-style shoes that have been created to help people who wear heels for extended periods of time. Founded by Dawn Dickinson, the company sells these flats at prices between $30 and $40. The shoes are machine-washable and customers can opt to customize their Flat Outs.

Radical Dreams

Pins are one accessory that seems to never go out of style. Radical Dreams sells pins that represent black culture, including ones that depict pivotal historical figures such as Malcolm X and Ida B. Wells. Radical Dreams also carries pins of pop-culture figures like Marvel’s Black Panther and football player Colin Kaepernick. The brand was developed by Shannon Pringle, a student at Meharry Medical College in Tennessee. All proceeds from the sales go to charitable organizations geared toward supporting the black community, like Black Girls Code, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Houston Coalition for the Homeless.

On Second Thought

Everyone sends texts they didn’t mean to, so why not have the ultimate protection against that? Co-founded by Maci Peterson, a former student at Spelman College, On Second Thought gives users more control over conversations. Unlike other texting apps, On Second Thought users are able to set a time frame in which they can change the content of their text. The app is free in the Google Play Store.

The dos and don’ts of Black History Month

Tykeem Banini — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 23:59:50 +0000

Every year, February is used to honor historical leaders of black culture and celebrate the various heritages within black identity. From wearing traditional clothes to donning certain hairstyles, there are many things black people do to embrace who they are this month. As black people celebrate their culture, there are a few things they shouldn’t have to deal with. PRISM put together a list of what you should and shouldn’t do.

Don’t: Use the N-word if you’re not black

While it’s probably in your favorite hip-hop song, it definitely shouldn’t be in your vocabulary. The word has historically been used by nonblack people to demean black people. For example, white slave owners used the word to disrespect their black slaves, so to now hear white people use it “casually” is unsettling. Since this word has been used against black people, they have the right to reclaim its usage. This is very similar to women and the B-word.

When used in a context between women, it can be used in a lighthearted manner, sometimes even as a term of endearment. But when used in a context between a man and woman the word takes on a different and derogatory meaning. If you think a woman has the right to decide if she doesn’t want the B-word to be used against or around her, then black people have the right to decide if they don’t want the N-word used against or around them. Overwhelmingly, they don’t.

Don’t: Touch someone’s hair

For many people of color, hair is tied to their identity. Eurocentric beauty standards have glorified straight hair, but recently, natural hair has come back in style. All people use hair as a vehicle of self-expression, so randomly touching anyone’s hair can be considered rude. But for people of color it can feel belittling — it can make them feel less than human. It’s obvious that we all have different hair textures, but don’t be weird and just touch someone’s hair because it piques your curiosity. Even if you ask someone first and they agree, chances are, they’re saying yes because they’re too uncomfortable to say no.

Do: Learn the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation

Cultural appropriation is a relatively new concept, but in practice, it has existed since the creation of the United States. But because the term is fairly new, the line between honoring someone’s culture and appropriating it remains blurry for some. Cultural appropriation is when someone takes something that originated in one culture and credits its origin to another culture. An example of this could be sporting cornrows.

This hairstyle is used by black people to maintain and protect their hair, keeping it neat and stylish. While someone like Kim Kardashian can rock cornrows (though they don’t really suit her hair texture), she shouldn’t call them “Bo Derek braids” when she does it. In naming these braids after a white actress who wore them in a movie, Kardashian has totally neglected the true origin of the hairstyle. Respecting a culture requires research. So before you wear a traditional clothing item or a certain hairstyle, understand what it’s really for and decide whether or not you should indulge.

Don’t: Question the existence of Black History Month

Black History Month is meant to honor the contributions of black people to the United States. And while we do learn about black history in schools, it’s covered extremely quickly and without much detail. This month shows that black culture goes past hip-hop music and that black history is more than just slavery and the civil rights movement. Black History Month is really just a small attempt to provide the American people with a perspective that’s different from the status quo.

Do: Stand up against microaggressions

Microaggressions can be tough to catch because you often have to mentally revisit the situation to understand what really happened. For many students of color, however, they’re not hard to recognize. A microaggression is a subtle but offensive comment or action that targets a minority.

It can be used to demean them or the minority group they are a part of. For example, asking a biracial person “What are you?” is a microaggression. But microaggressions aren’t just limited to race. People from other marginalized groups such as people with mental illness or members of the LGBTQ community can also be victims of microaggressions. At first listen, many people may overlook microaggressions made against or around them, but they shouldn’t.

They should use the moment to educate. Explain to whoever made the comment how it made you feel and why it was problematic. Whether or not they knew what they were doing was wrong, calling them out may prevent them from doing it again and can allow them to spread the knowledge to others.

Don’t: Forget these points once the month ends

Humans are creatures of habit, so this may be a little difficult, but we need to generate more safe spaces. It can take an emotional toll on black students to go through some of the things mentioned on this list. So, in order to develop a better and more inclusive environment for all students, let’s try and respect people’s cultures.

Post Malone Doesn’t Respect Hip-hop

Tykeem Banini — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 02:42:36 +0000

Hip-hop as an art form is one of black expression and experience, but this hasn’t stopped nonblack artists from participating. Artist such as the Beastie Boys, House of Pain and Eminem have done this in a way that was respectful of the art form and as a result, they are revered by many hip-hop historians. The same can’t be said for nonblack contemporary hip-hop artist Post Malone — an artist who the Student Association Programming Board (SAPB) brought to campus in the fall.

This past year, Post Malone was one of the hottest artists, breaking Apple’s single-week streaming record with over 25 million streams for his song “rockstar,” featuring 21 Savage. That same song reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Contrary to these great achievements, Post Malone has faced criticism for his perspective on the hip-hop genre as a whole. In an interview with Polish outlet Newonce, Malone stated: “If you’re looking for lyrics, if you’re looking to cry, if you’re looking to think about life, don’t listen to hip-hop,” he said to Newonce. “[W]henever I want to sit down and have a nice cry, I’ll listen to some Bob Dylan. But whenever I’m trying to have a good time and stay in a positive mood, I listen to hip-hop because it’s fun. I think hip-hop is important because it brings people together in a beautiful, happy way. Everybody’s happy.”

In one sense, he is praising hip-hop by essentially calling it happy music, but in doing so he classifies it as one-dimensional. Additionally, the first half of his statement is very telling. Post Malone’s statement that if a person is looking to actually feel something that they shouldn’t listen to hip-hop takes on a deeper meaning when you understand that he makes hip-hop music. While he does perform other genres of music, Malone is widely known for hip-hop songs like “rockstar,” “Congratulations” and “White Iverson.”

This statement exhibits a striking contrast of what is considered good and bad artistry. In this statement, he not only said that black artistry is devoid of emotion, but that it is devoid of emotion in comparison to white artistry. White artists, like Bob Dylan, can evoke feelings but black artists cannot, according to Post Malone. It also shows that he doesn’t relate to hip-hop music as much as it may seem he does, that he hasn’t listened to enough hip-hop and is still not listening to enough hip-hop. Songs such as “Dear Mama” by 2Pac or “I’ll Be Missing You” by Puff Daddy are examples of classic hip-hop songs sure to evoke feelings. Contemporary hip-hop artists also discuss deep subject matter. Songs like “Jocelyn Flores” by XXXTENTACION and “Devastated” by Joey Badass are examples of songs that cover topics such as losing a loved one and fear of failure, respectively.

It is extremely hard to not see his place in hip-hop as anything but cultural appropriation. Post Malone obviously has no knowledge of hip-hop and doesn’t care about the art form as a whole. In a two-minute Twitter video, the rapper has explained his behavior, stating he was drunk during the interview and that he “loves hip-hop.”

“What I was saying was that when I wanna sit down and cry, I sit down and I listen to Boy Dylan and his guitar,” he said in the video. “My last hip-hop album was f— hip-hop. My next hip-hop album is f— hip-hop. I love hip-hop. I make hip-hop. I wanna take this genre and stretch it so far that people who may not listen to it listen to it, and want to listen to the new artists and whatever’s going on.”

This response never addresses his initial claim that you shouldn’t listen to hip-hop to feel something and never asserts that hip-hop is more than happy music. Combining the popularity of hip-hop with his privilege as a white male allows Post Malone to profit off of a genre that he doesn’t truly understand.

By inviting artists like Post Malone for concerts, the SAPB shows an insensitivity toward hip-hop culture, a culture synonymous with black people. Post Malone doesn’t contribute to this culture in any way, so why have him here? The SAPB has made the right decision in the past, inviting artists like Mac Miller (a white rapper who respects hip-hop), Big Sean and J. Cole to perform on campus. Why couldn’t they do the same for the fall concert? For this semester’s Spring Fling, let’s hope they do better.

So Post Malone can get a better understanding of hip-hop, we’ve put together a list of hip-hop songs that will help him “feel something.” If you’d also like to listen, follow PRISM on Spotify.

Tykeem Banini is an undeclared freshman

How Will Hip-hop Help?

Tykeem Banini — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 18:46:27 +0000

There is no question that race relations in America have improved since the times of slavery and the Jim Crow era; however, our country is far from a place of complete comradery. Events such as the white nationalist protest in Charlottesville, the shootings of black men such as Philando Castille by police officers or even derogatory imagery drawn in residential halls here at Binghamton University are all examples of the existing problems in race relations across the country and on our campus. How can we ever get closer to fixing this issue? Through hip-hop.

Earlier this year, according to Forbes, hip-hop/rhythm and blues has become the No. 1 genre in the country, responsible for 25.1 percent of all music consumption in the United States. This means that hip-hop is officially the music that most people in the country are listening to. From the high-energy beats and the catchy lyrics that hip-hop provides, it’s understandable why hip-hop is in the position it is in now.

But these things are not the only reason for hip-hop’s rise to prominence. Since its creation, hip-hop has provided sociopolitical commentary on the United States, and has been an outlet in describing the struggle of the black experience. Talking about topics such as living conditions in their community, drug addiction, relationships with the police and being incarcerated, hip-hop has given the United States a glimpse into what it means to be black.

These glimpses hip-hop provides into black life, combined with hip-hop’s mainstream success, will not completely mend race relations in the United States. But what hip-hop will do is make people of non-marginalized groups think about the issues that impact the black community, and how they can help.

Before hip-hop’s mainstream success, many people would give the genre the wrong type of attention, making it responsible for things such as violence and hypermasculinity. But with this newfound attention for hip-hop, more and more perspectives will be displayed through the genre. Like all music, hip-hop has its bad sides, but the foundation that the genre was built on is that of the black experience and how hard it really is to be black.

Hip-hop’s presence will not be leaving anytime soon. As more and more issues come to light through it, it will continue to make people ask themselves, “What am I really doing to help those who are struggling?”

Tykeem Banini is an undeclared freshman.