"A Message from the Editor: To All My Nubian Brothers and Sisters - 'WHAT'S UP?!'"

"A Message from the Editor: To All My Nubian Brothers and Sisters - 'WHAT'S UP?!'"

In this editorial, which appeared in the first issue of The Nubian Message on November 30, 1992, Editor-in-Chief Tony Williamson explained the need for an African American student publication on North Carolina State University's campus. He argued that African American students had historically been misrepresented in other student media. He stated that The Nubian Message, however, would "represent the African-American community totally, truthfully and faithfully," and would be a publication in which "people can learn about different aspects of our culture, as well as find useful information about State's campus."

Williamson's editorial, along with the creation of The Nubian Message more broadly, came after ongoing protests against racism in the Technician, NCSU's first student newspaper. Because NCSU originally would not provide funding for The Nubian Message or permit its staff to use media equipment on campus, the first issue of the paper was published with the help of North Carolina Central University, a historically black college in Durham, NC. It was released in the Talley Student Center on November 30, 1992.

Tony Williamson, Editor-in-Chief

Tony Williamson, "A Message from the Editor: To All My Nubian Brothers and Sisters - 'WHAT'S UP?!'", The Nubian Message 1, no. 1 (November 30, 1992): 15. Digitized by the Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.

1992-11-30

Rose Buchanan

document

To All My Nubian Brothers and Sisters - "WHAT'S UP?!"

By Tony Williamson

I am proud to present to you the first issue of "The Nubian Message," NCSU's first African-American newspaper. It's been a long time coming, but we're finally here and yes, we're here to stay!

Despite the enthusiasm most of us have regarding the publication of this newspaper, there are many people, all from different racial groups, who either do not understand the purpose of this newspaper, or are simply totally against it. Realizing that we can't please everyone (nor will we ever attempt to), I hope that I can reach some of these people by explaining briefly the reasons for creating and the purposes of "The Nubian Message."

As many people know, African-American students across the country have been speaking out against what we feel to be unfair conditions on our campuses. At N.C. State, one of our main concerns has been unfair and unjust media coverage of the African-American community on this campus. As hard as we have tried, our cries for justice have not been heard and our proposed solutions to our media problems have not been accepted thus far. Rather than sit around and wait for some fair coverage by that other paper on campus, "The Nubian Message" has been created to represent the African-American community at NCSU totally, truthfully and faithfully. In doing so, we shall cover every aspect of African-American life at NCSU.

The vision I have for this newspaper, which is shared by everyone involved with it, is ambitious, but not unrealistic. "The Nubian Message" should and will be the media voice for African-Americans at N.C. State. It will be a publication in which people can learn about different aspects of our culture, as well as find useful information about State's campus. With the concentrated efforts of our people, this vision can become a reality very soon.

Finally, it is important that everyone realize that this newspaper is not a racist publication. We are not seeking superiority or segregation; all we want is an equal voice on this campus and with "The Nubian Message," the door is open for us to have that voice.

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