By: Kourtney Webb
Dating today for many people seems like an endless road to no where fast. Research shows more people are focusing increasingly more on career and self success and less interested in dating and getting married. In order to combat the dating blues More people are turning to social media as a way to meet potential partners. Using the internet to flirt, research potential partners, and check up on old flames have all become more common in recent years. 15 percent of social media users have asked someone out on a date according to the Pew Research Center. Summer Hudson, from Florida, met her husband on the social networking app Instagram, after commenting on one of his posts. She says social media could be a great outlet for a real connection because it gives you a different way to interact with people you already know you have things in common with. “If you are at least able to be honest about who you are and find someone honest about about who they are, I think it could be a great tool to find a potential match,” said Hudson. People put almost every aspect of their lives online for the world to see. Vacation pictures, engagement announcements, and even new born babies make it onto the timelines of followers. The study done by the Pew Research Center proved that many people also live out their relationships through social networking sites. 45 percent of users post pictures of dates and details about their partners. Thanks to social media, others can learn almost anything about someone’s life just by looking at their profile. Psychologist Richard Pounds, from Montclair, New Jersey said relationships that begin online can become successful due to the simple fact that the couple already knows things about each other. “I’m talking about mutually understanding intimacy, I am not talking about sex. But about people being vulnerable and getting to know each other, expressing their feelings and really understanding each other on a deeper level other than the physical.” “People that begin talking online rather than in a traditional face to face meeting get to open up more and just talk, without the fear of having it turn into a one-night stand.” Couples who meet on social media sites are more likely to be satisfied with their marriages than those who meet in other ways. Jenna Ortiz, a hair stylist, from Arizona conversed with her boyfriend for two years on Facebook before they met in person. Facebook connections may scare a few people who watch the popular television show Catfish, which documents the online romances of couples that more times than not go awry. But Ortiz says there are a lot of people that have had positive experiences meeting online. Not everyone pretends to be something they’re not. “I feel like because me and my boyfriend followed each other we knew things about each other already, we had a lot in common. So we knew that off the bat we had things to talk about. When you meet people in person you know nothing about them,” said Ortiz. Studies show more people tend to feel closer to their spouse or partner thanks to technology. Earlier research found that people who were married between the years 2005 and 2012 who met through social networks, were more satisfied with their relationships than those who first met face to face, reports Live Science. Summer Hudson said love can be found online and she and her husband are proof. “The advantage to being on social media for him and I was that we relied solely on communication. It wasn’t about the physical aspect of our relationship. We had to make it work because we liked talking to each other.” “So we actually got to know one another’s personality first, which made it our relationship even better. We know now, especially being married that our communication is amazing.” Researchers at the National Academy of Sciences said virtual meetings are becoming more common as a third of married couples who have met online tend to be happier in relationships than couples who met offline. By: Kourtney Webb
Seventeen-year-old actress, Amandla Stenberg known for her role as Rue in “The Hunger Games” has launched a new comic book franchise titled “Niobe: She is Life.” The comic follows the adventures of a black female warrior, Niobe Ayutami, a half human half elf teenager. The official synopsis released by Stranger Comics, describes the comic book as a coming of age tale that takes Niobe to her limits and beyond. Niobe Ayutami is an orphaned wild elf teenager and would-be savior of the vast and volatile fantasy world of Asunda. She is running from a past where the Devil himself would see her damned… toward an epic future that patiently waits for her to bind nations against the hordes of hell. The comic was published by Los Angeles based Stranger Comics. The company is all too familiar with black warriors, as they produce and distribute narratives about experiences of people of color. “I actively pursue a diverse range of creators. I may be mixed, but I am not a young, black, teenaged woman, so it would have been idiotic and morally insensitive of me to not team up with someone who could really engage with Niobe’s soul and state of being,” said Stranger Comics CEO, Sebastian A. Jones in an interview with the Huffington Post. Stenberg is a big advocate for diversity and the Black community. She was named Time’s “30 Most Influential Teens of 2015.” Among the top listers were Malia Obama, 17, who as President Obama’s daughter, has become a cultural icon, and Zendaya Coleman who created her own shoe line at only 19. Stenberg’s focus lately has been to bring the challenges and the negative views black women face to the forefront. In a post to Twitter, Stenberg outlined her views on how black women go unnoticed in the fight for black lives. “Black features are beautiful. Black women are not. White women are paragons of virtue and desire. Black women are objects of fetishism and brutality,” Stenberg wrote in her tweet. “While white women are praised for altering their bodies, plumping their lips, and tanning their skin, black women are shamed although the same features exist on them naturally. As culture shifts and racial tensions are tested through the vehicle of the Black Lives Matter movement. It’s important to question: Do female black lives matter too?” Stenberg’s comic book character Niobe is a relatable figure to many young women who are on their own journeys to self discovery. “It is important for black women to know that their not only seen as one thing but an entire spectrum, because we are all different. It’s about the goofy ones, the shy ones, the strong ones, every woman has a right to be represented in the media,” said Sophia Davis, 20, a York College economics major. “Niobe: She is Life” is available for sale online through your local comic book supplier. “I think what has made me an influential teen has just been being myself and using my voice and my platform to communicate my ideas … and not being afraid to be myself despite the challenges and limitations that black girls face,” said Stenberg in an interview with People magazine. By: Kourtney Webb
The music industry has been lusted over by so many musicians looking to take their talents to the next level. For York College Nursing major, Alex Theodule, 20, music has been a creative outlet for expressing his thoughts. Instead of being on the mic in front of a packed house, Alex wants to be the man behind the music. “I want to produce tracks for all genres of music. Pop, Rock, Hip Hop, it doesn’t matter. Anyone that listens to music will have one of my tracks in their playlist,” said Alex. Theodule found his passion for music when he was a child, seeing his cousin make beats on fruity loops, a digital audio software for music production. He was inspired by anything and everything to create something beautiful, a piece of art you could listen to and could make you feel something. “From there I learned how to play the piano, drums, base, and guitar,” said Theodule. York College is filled with many talented musicians. This is reflected in the talent shows York College has throughout the school year. Alex plans to collaborate with the numerous rappers and singers in York. Professional music production is a dream for many, but a reality for few. Breaking into the music industry is tough and the competition is even tougher. Alex is not afraid of not making it because his passion for music runs deep. He won’t be swayed from pursuing a life in music by the naysayers or his competitors. Part of his drive is the motivation he gets from his parents. Julien and Marie Theodule have been the type of parents to support his dream no matter what. “My mom actually bought me my first keyboard,” said Alex. He could make as much noise as he wanted. The only condition they had was to have the music turned down by 11. Everything he creates, down to his label’s name, is made up of a well thought out conscious decision that represents him. Alex started his own label 3 years ago called ADOTMUSIC. “The A stands for my name. I used the ‘dot’ because I thought it looked better than just a period (after all image is everything) and music is because I feel like I’m not just an artist/producer/singer/songwriter/rapper, I’m all those things. I am music.” Alex began rapping, singing and writing for the beats he produced as a way to reach a broader audience. “Around my freshmen year of high school I started putting beats on my sound cloud. My reception wasn’t that great, my cumulative plays from 2009 to 2014 was just a little over one thousand.” Said Alex. He adds, “people didn’t take to my beats I think not because they were bad or amateur, but because they couldn’t tell where I was going with my beats. They couldn’t see the potential in the beats, so I showed them. I stated writing lyrics for my beats.” Alex now has more than 75k cumulative plays on his Soundcloud. “I will be a professional producer, I just have to wait my turn.” Alex has already started sending out his music to potential collaborators like Fetty Wap, Chris Brown, and Pro Era in hopes to jump start his career. In the meantime, Alex is focusing on collaborating with local artists. He has been influenced by Ashley Henry, an upcoming artist from Queens, who goes by the stage name Ashen. At only 17, she has the skill and professionalism as someone twice her age said Alex. Her genre of choice in music is old school hip/hop and R&B. “Alex motivates me to always be better, and try new things in music I’ve never done before. He’s very determined, he’s always bringing new ideas for us to work on, said Henry” They continue to work together because her gift was something he wanted to work with and his talents appealed to her. “Overall we motivate each other,” said Henry. Alex said her skills in music surpasses even his, though she has only been doing it for a short period of time. “She’s so talented. She could be great one day. She has an old school Hip Hop and R&B vibe and I think she could be like an Aaliyah one day,” said Theodule. A studio is as important to a music producer as a camera is to a director. But for a college student on a budget buying professional equipment can seem like a mortgage payment. Alex took a job as a janitor determined to have the best equipment he could buy. “I paid for all the equipment out of pocket, aside from the base amp I received as payment for a wedding I did,” said Theodule. He sets himself apart from the crowd by constantly revamping himself, not only through music but by being influenced by the world around him. Alex speaks several languages including Creole, Spanish, French, and is learning Japanese and Korean. “I’m influenced by different cultures and speaking the language helps me connect better,” he said. By: Kourtney Webb Being a curly hair girl in a straight hair world can be difficult. But more and more women have gone against society’s standards of beauty to embrace their natural coils. As women are rejoicing over their healthy tresses, companies and society have no choice but to get on board with the trend of going natural. Black women have been returning to their natural roots and hair companies have responded to this movement by creating more products that cater to the care and styling of afro textured hair. Even the companies that traditionally target people with European hair types are making hair care lines specifically for afro textured hair such as OGX, Garnier Fructis and Pantene. Organic Root Stimulator renamed ORS, Herbal Essence, Dark and Lovely and many other companies are also meeting the demands of curly hair customers. ORS includes more natural ingredients in their lines that are gentle on this hair type such as sulfate free, paraben free, and silicone free products. “Products that are made with more natural ingredients are best for black hair. They keep moisture in and don’t coat the hair. Silicones block out moisture and no one wants a dry looking afro” said Nadia Smith, 25, a cosmetology student from Saint Albans, Queens. With the natural hair movement growing, budding black entrepreneurs are introducing new brands that are constantly popping up. Meanwhile, older more established companies are playing catch up by releasing natural products of their own, according to Empower Magazine. Along with better products, YouTubers, and bloggers have been a crucial part of the movement. For the women just starting their hair journeys YouTube and blogs have provided an abundance of information. From how to big chop (cutting off relaxed ends), to styling a wash and go and everything in between. Natural hair gurus like Taren Guy, Naptural85, Haircrush, and African Export, have been giving naturalistas enough ammo to grow the biggest of fros and healthiest of curls. “Natural hair” is defined as Afro hair that is not chemically altered. This revolution of loving your curls does not only revolve around the African American community, but has spilled over into all communities and cultures. Doves “Love Your Curls” campaign, reminds women and young girls with curls that your hair is beautiful and to never forget it. Dove launched the campaign after conducting a survey of 859 women in the U.S., U.K. and Brazil in September 2014. Only 10 percent of women respondents in the U.S. said they “feel proud” of their curly hair, and only 4 in 10 American girls with curly thought their hair was beautiful. Market research firm, Mintel, estimated that the Black hair business is worth $774 million and relaxer sales are aimed to decrease 45 percent before 2019. Natasha Turner 21, an aviation management student at York College, has been natural for five years. “Trends impact the market a lot. When more women were wearing weaves, relaxers (chemically straightening) and wigs you didn’t have as many products for black hair,” said Turner. The natural hair movement has beauty supply shops seeing less clientele in need of wigs and weaving hair. The owner of Paradise Beauty Supply can vouch for the decline. Paradise Beauty Supply Store has been open for six years but has been struggling to stay afloat for the past year and a half. The beauty supply store sits in a small strip mall on located on the intersection of Hollis Avenue and Francis Lewis Blvd. Owner Walid Mehel is desperate to get business. Promising 20% off discounts on Brazilian weaving hair that has already been marked down. Bright posters and stickers fill the aisles and line the back walls with discount offers on all wigs. “We have all types of hair, we just can’t sell it. Hair use to be a lucrative business, but not anymore,” said Walid Mehel, 36, owner of Paradise Beauty supply. Determined not to be defeated by a fad, Mehel has stocked a section of his store dedicated to those with natural hair out there looking to grow strong healthy hair. Wigs and weaves have not gone completely obsolete among natural women, they are just not being used as their primary hairstyles. Wigs and weaves have become protective styles for the women who want to keep their curls healthy. For different reasons most will resort to protective styling as a way to combat split ends and breakage according to the natural hair blog naturally Curly. Protective styling is a hairstyle that shields the ends of the hair,. It keeps moisture in and protects hair from harsh weather. Low manipulation hairstyles like wigs, weaves and braids, help naturals maintain the length of their hair. And with the threat shrinkage sometimes hiding up to 90% of the actual hair length in some cases, every inch counts. Hair texture and debate seem to mirror each other. A media frenzy surrounded radio personality Don Imus when he referred to the Rutgers University women’s basketball team, which was comprised of eight African-American players, as “nappy headed.” Although more and more women are living a natural lifestyle there is still controversy in accepting natural hair. In August 2014 the U.S military mended their rules on grooming known as AR670-1. Hairstyles like dreadlocks, two-strand twists, and other natural hairstyles were deemed acceptable, and the terms “matted and unkempt was removed from the guidelines. Many consider the change a small step considering the women who are affected by the rule are willing to die for their country. Styles including afros were banned in an effort to “maintain uniformity within a military population,” military officials said in a press release. “I feel beautiful wearing my natural hair, because natural hair is beautiful. Black is beautiful. Healthy hair is beautiful hair,” said Anna Davis, 38, of Jamaica, Queens who has been natural for 13 years. The women in the natural hair movement are giving little girls of color the power to know that kinky/curly hair can mean beautiful. Sophie Brown, 64, a retired history teacher said “It’s time we stop teaching young women that only straight hair is beautiful.” |
Kourtney Webb is a 20-year old journalism student from York College Archives
July 2016
All
|