Black Women in Medicine: New Student Organization Aims in Bringing Future Black Medical Professionals Together at UMass

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By: Elienishka Ramos Torres AMHERST – Many new student groups are forming at the University of Massachusetts, and among them is Black Women in Medicine. The group, which began its formation in early Spring 2020, has a mission in fostering community among pre-medical Black female students at UMass.  Black Women in Medicine President Attiya Nurse, a junior majoring in biology and nutrition, said that the group started as a cool idea between friends, “I talked to [the other e-board members] after one class we all had together and we agreed that this would be something great to bring to the

A Letter from the Editor-In-Chief: Say their Names

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By Brie Thompson-Bristol I never forget that I’m a person of color, but I especially never forget that I am a black person.  The police brutality against persons of color has never ceased. One of the police’s first purposes was to be a watchman for slaves. However, now they have evolved to the extreme. They have evolved to the point where it is “unnatural” for BiPOC people to drive or walk back alone from an event. 

Advocacy: Your new Neighborhood Watch Program

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By: Brie Bristol The public has no choice but to accept activists who march for the Black Lives Matter movement as their new neighborhood watchmen – who campaign for human rights when the government fails to. 

Flaws N All

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By: Léa G. Rohrbasser This poem was inspired by my desire to emphasize the point that nobody is perfect; it is impossible to be, and in-fact inhuman, to be “perfect”. Society has so many standards and expectations made for us to follow, but the truth is that these “rules” are all literally made up. We are all imperfectly perfect. It was important for me to use the letter “N” in the title “Flaws N All”, because in this form of reading “N” can have several interpretations; one being “Flaws and All”, another being “Flaws in All”… again reiterating the point

The Challenges of Being Biracial: A Column

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By Jordyn Kamara The most frequently asked question I get is, “so what are you?”  But it’s much more than appearing half white, and half black. My identity traces back to where my family originates:  Portugal, Germany, Ireland, Africa, and Trinidad. Navigating this world as a person of “mixed-race” is fascinating to say the least. However, understanding where I belong in this world, continues to be difficult. Identity crises are very common among people of mixed race. Throughout my life I felt as though I never fit in fully with my white friends or black friends. 

Bias-Incidents are on the rise (again) at UMass, and students aren’t satisfied with the university’s response.

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By Tristan Smith The shouts of derogatory names could be heard from the rooftops. Nazi Swastikas have been  drawn on the whiteboards. Racist and homophobic slurs have been engraved onto the communal bathroom walls. Signs that proclaimed: “Black Lives Matter,” were stripped down and torn to pieces.  At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, many can attest that hate has been a trend on campus for years. According to the UMass Amherst bias-incident report page, there have been approximately 42 reported hate-incited incidents on campus over the past two years. Recently, two have occurred since the start of the new academic

A Job to Die For

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By Nat Luftman, Alice Troop, and James Cordero Being a Residential Assistant (RA) or a Peer Mentor (PM) at UMass Amherst is a true honor. In our roles as the Residential Life staff who support students living on campus, we have built meaningful relationships with dozens of residents and have fostered various living-learning communities. Thanks to our status as unionized workers, we are able to collectively bargain for dignified working conditions and wages. 

Trustee Woolridge: It’s Time for UMass to Live Up to Its Promise

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By: UMass Amherst Racial Justice Coalition Recently, Victor Woolridge, a member and former Chair of the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees, wrote an article calling upon America to acknowledge its history of anti-black racism and take concrete steps to achieve racial justice. We, a group of UMass students advocating for racial justice, wish to comment on Woolridge’s message. One of the few Black members of the Board of Trustees, Woolridge is, to our knowledge, the only member of the Board to publicly write about the need for systemic change following the death of George Floyd. Overall, we commend Trustee

What Does Black Excellence Mean to You? (Vox-Pop)

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By: Steven Turner-Parker Ubuntu means “I am because we are.” As black history month comes to a close, Black student organizations had many events on this campus that embodied Ubuntu community elements and showcased what black excellence looks like. With that said, I decided to find some of these fantastic people on this campus to ask them an important question: What does black excellence mean to you?

Natural Hair Stories-Part Three

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by Desire’ Jackson-Crosby and Cynthia Ntinunu What is hair? Is it just a follicle on the top of one’s head? Or is it a piece of you that evokes certain feelings? The natural hair journey is a unique experience for anyone who goes through it. For some it’s a straightforward journey and for others there’s a lot to unpack. This project allowed 11 people to relive and share their natural hair journeys-from their struggles to their triumphs. Below are the last three people for the natural hair stories series. Lora-Kenie Deronville One might suspect that the hair that grows from

GIRLS: Yung Baby Tate’s Anthem for Every Woman

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By Lucia Solorzano Yung Baby Tate is an impressive rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer based out of Atlanta, Georgia. Her newest album, GIRLS (released on Feb. 5), celebrates the different angles of her own womanhood and self in an empowering, fun, and expressive way. In her self-produced album, Yung Baby Tate’s sound is unique and bouncy, matching her vibrant and impeccable fashion style. The album features other talented rappers and singers including Bbymutha, Killumanti, Mulatto, Kari Faux, and Baby Rose.

Racism and Rape: A Revolutionary Side to UMass

By: Elienishka Ramos Torres Everyday when I walk around campus, I see lamp posts with banners on them. ‘BE REVOLUTIONARY’ is what’s written on them in big, bold text.  I read these banners and remember all the reasons why UMass does the opposite of what they push to their students. This logo has never been about what UMass has stepped up to do, but about everything students have done against the challenges they face here.  I was a freshman still attending different club meetings, still trying to figure out the bus system, and deciding my favorite dining hall. But all

NAACP’s ‘Be Revolutionary’ March in Photos

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By: Tashanna Johnson Photos are from the ‘Be Revolutionary’ march hosted by the UMass Amherst Chapter of the NAACP (National Association of the Advancement of Colored People) on Thursday, October 14 2021. This march took place after a series of racist incidents targeting Black students on campus occurred in September. Racist incidents on campus have been occurring for years.   “In years past on-campus newspaper have had places for black people…. people are putting their bodies and statements out there and their demands… This is how change happens. Change happens with dialogue and being present out here.” Amilcar ShabazzAfro-American Studies

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