Hey fam,

I cannot believe October is already here. I want to start off this letter by personally thanking all of you who have kept up with us this year. It has been an interesting few months and I can honestly say that it has been a pleasure to report on the happenings of minority communities at NC State. In this issue, we touch on some problems that are extremely pertinent to our community.

Voting is an opportunity to help decide who represents our community and our needs. In a time where intolerance is high and the benefits of diversity are constantly being debated, voting is a way to ensure that our ideas and concerns are represented at the table. I hope that you will take advantage of the voting guide we’ve provided you with.

Take some time to read about the interpersonal violence discussed in our issue this week. To ignore conversations of domestic violence and sexual assault is to ignore the voices of so many of our people. A leading cause of death for black women aged 15-35 is intimate partner and domestic violence. Black women are most likely to be abused by our own black men. These conversations are long overdue. There is no black liberation ahead if we continue to ignore the hurt of those who have been wronged within our own community.

Even in the face of injustices, we must make sure to examine how we as a community can better ourselves. It is time for us to analyze our privilege and make sure that you use that same privilege to dismantle systems of oppression. In our fight to move forward we have to ensure that we are not holding ourselves back.

That being said, the Nubian Message exists to be a voice for all marginalized groups on campus. I wholeheartedly welcome guest columns, letters to the editor and all questions and concerns. If you feel the need to reach out, the Nubian staff is always here to listen. Feel free to email us at [email protected] if there is something you’d like to see us explore.

Nothing but love,

Steph