Sigma Newsbeat
February 14, 2006
Volume 1, Issue 2
Edited by Xavier Horton
Special Interest
Articles:
• Founder’s Week Note from editor
Highlights
Although this is a
• Poet’s Lounge
Valentine’s Day Edition,
this issue contains more
• Valentine’s Day than just a celebration of a
Shout Outs holiday. In this issue, we
have items ranging from
Valentine’s Day shout-
outs to pressing cultural
issues. So with that in
mind, enjoy yourself and
we hope to continue to
bring you all quality work.
Thank you for your time.
--Xavier Horton
,
On the Inside:
As things change 2
Poet’s Lounge 3 As thing change, thought remains the same…by Bro. Langston Wilkins
Aids Awareness 4
Sometimes I question "How to save Black America" "Talented Tenth" idea was
Founder’s Week 5 whether or not I should tone town hall meeting, of which I used as a catalyst for
down my severe cynicism. have been to a hundred. discussion. Dubois'
Valentine’s Day Shout How is it helping me? How is They allow the "future contended that the top ten
it helping the world? Is it professional" to step away percent of Blacks (the
Outs 6 alienating me from my from their natural capitalistic educated, wealthy, a high
community? existence and be self- class) should be the ones to
righteous for a night. They lead the rest of the dumb,
These questions often spring also provide "the new Black deaf, and blind 90%.
up in my mind, but then I radicals" a platform to
realize that I have not made expose their rhetoric as the Dubois' philosophy has been
myself cynical. The world street corners and churches adopted by many Blacks and
gave birth to my cynicism. I of the 60s have been still thrives today. I however,
try to look for the good in all, replaced by the university have a major problem with
but I am constantly lecture hall in the new the idea. I have never felt
disappointed with what I see. millennium. that I was better than anyone
because of my education nor
I recently went to a forum This particular forum have I ever felt that I was
that I thought was going to centered around the elite more of a leader than anyone
be about the Black elite (or (educated) Black's obligation because of my education. I
bourgeois Negros). However, to be a servant to their do not see an inherent value
the forum turned into another community. W.E.B. Dubois' in education. That is, I don't
Sigma Newsbeat Page 2 of 6
As things change continued….
measure a man based on his progressive thought. We ideas and put them into
education. Formal education constantly attempt to action. We don't have to
does not add anything to a recreate our past successes, simply rely on the Black
person's humanity. In my and we fail to realize that we cannon of intellectual
eyes, the only difference are in a new day and time. thought. We all have the
between a doctor and a The ways of King, Garvey, power to change the world.
janitor is their type of and X may not be effective in At the aforementioned forum,
occupation. One does not 2006. rather than argue about
deserve any more respect who's ideas were right or
than the other. I feel, like Black awareness of wrong, we should have went
Tolstoy, that the power of contemporary thought rarely to East Austin and put our
God is in all of us. Therefore, lies outside the likes of words into action. It is as if
we all have the ability to lead. Cornell West and Michael we rather dwell on the past
The top ten percent do not Eric Dyson. Not to take than attempt to change the
have the sole responsibility anything away from those present and future. This
of leadership; it should be individuals, but there are seems illogical to me.
spread throughout the whole many other social critics out
of Black America. there. Todd Boyd, bell hooks, I, too, am at fault. I am full of
Getting back to my main and even the much maligned thoughts and ideas, but I
“Dubois' philosophy has point, DuBois' "The Souls of (rightfully so) John McHorter never do anything with them.
been adopted by many Black Folk" debuted over a each provide their own It is now my goal to find a
hundred years ago and the outlook on Black life but are way to effectively put my
Blacks and still thrives problems he addressed still greatly overlooked buy this thoughts into action. I must
today” remain. That means that generation. find my niche. It must be said
either his solutions were not that that there are people out
instituted correctly, were not What I am calling for is new there on the grind actually
receptive, or were simply thought and new ACTION. I doing things to progress the
ineffective. Either way, to am tired of discussing what Black community. I sincerely
attempt to rely solely on pre- Booker T. Washington said commend them. I just wish
Black renaissance ideas for in 1872 and singing "We more of us would do the
solutions is ridiculous. Black Shall Overcome." I want same.
America is severely lacking everyone to take their own
BLACK HISTORY IS EVERYDAY
Page 3 of 6 Sigma Newsbeat
Poet’s Lounge….
Myself by Xavier Horton
It’s a trip how I don't understand myself....
Who gone know you like you right.
Yet everyday the faculties that make up who I am tend to
get more complicated
People say you have to look with in yourself the
answers...
Well damn when I look w/ in myself I get more confused
Hard as it may seem to believe my life use to be simple.
Sleep.
Eat.
School.
Work.
Family.
Friends.
And all that other normal ish that regular people do.
But all that changed when I met you.
You were the turning point in my life.
The peak.
The climax.
I've seen a million faces in my time but yours sticks out in
my mind cloudin' the former thoughts that once occupied
my mind.
To tell u the truth I don't know what it is about you that
draws me into you.
Is it your smile?
Your voice?
Your body?
Your attitude?
The way you carry yourself?
And even after naming all that I still don't know what is.
And the more I try to simplify my life by learning more
about u the more I complicate my life.....
Well if that is how its gotta be.....
Then I wanna be confused.
POET’S LOUNGE
I want my life to be complicated.
And as mixed up as my life has become you'd think I
IF YOU GOT SOME FIRE TO SPIT IN THE POET’S
would give up.
LOUNGE SEND SUBMISSIONS TO:
My life is an incomplete puzzle with pieces mixed up on
the table, but I don't give a damn cus you are the piece
YUNGSTA2G2@MAIL.UTEXAS.EDU
that completes the puzzle.
Or at least that is what I'd like to believe.
And even if u are the piece that doesn't fit I don't care I
wanna try and make it fit.
After all that being said I'm still confused.
Its a trip how I don't understand myself.....
But I don't wanna understand myself if I can't understand
everything about you.......
Sigma Newsbeat Page 4 of 6
Getting intimate w/ AIDS….by Bro. Jackie McCardell Jr.
I have to limit this to a page, Heavenly, in the sense I the same. There would be no
so bear with me as I will mean, does not mean a Jihad. And if your religion
squeeze a lot into this page. paradise in heaven, but more was taken away, because it
Simply stated…I have found so, things that is abstract, but is materialistic, that personal
a new but most peculiar is granted from a higher relationship forged between
perspective with HIV. HIV power. For example, you and God could not be
awareness as you know it education and talent; these shaken.
probably does not mean a two can not be taken away
thing to me now and by people. It can only be To this, I finally say,
“wrapping it up” just seems taken away by God or that there is not only doom
like a trendy statement. whatever higher power you and gloom when it comes to
Although I am HIV negative, I believe. I know my talents. HIV. There is promise,
have lived with HIV. I have I’m learning from more than learning, and a God-given
hugged it, drunk after it, just an academic education. perspective. I can not lie, I
walked with it, talked with it, All my knowledge and talents cry sometimes. I cry a lot. I
and dined with it. And yet, I can not be taken away by no talk to counseling to deal with
am HIV negative. man and, for some reason, this issue and learn how, as
when you are intimate with a relative of someone with
When I found out HIV, you begin to look at this virus, to deal with this
that the closest of my these things and gain a situation. But I am now a
relatives have contracted the different perspective on life. man of purpose. I go to
virus, all I could think about school to acquire my
was the doom and gloom of We, as college academic knowledge. I pray
the situation. They would call students and human beings, and cry often to God to gain
me for comfort, and it was indulge ourselves in such my personal relationship with
hard for me to pretend that trivial matters. We surround Jesus, God, and the Holy
everything was “A” okay, but ourselves in the pageantry of Spirit. I pray to keep me in
I did and I would talk with my materialistic things that can good relationship with my
frat to calm me down. It is a be taken away ever so girlfriend. I pray and talk to
hard situation to understand. easily. Even something as my family, because they are
I have come to realize that I static as a tattoo or brand now ever so precious to me. I
probably would never could be taken away. But focus on my screenplays,
understand why my relative what of the soul? What of our gaining leverage in the
contracted such a disease knowledge obtained, entertainment industry. I can
when there are more knowledge being acquired, honestly say that I’m going to
promiscuous people that we and knowledge to be succeed in the film industry
know first and. And yet acquired? It is sad that no because I asked God,
through all this despair I have one begins to think about through his will, to make me
gained a sense of clarity. these things until something a success in the film industry.
tragic takes place in our It might not be to the
This may be strange lives. We can look at this standard of man, but I will be
to say, but because of the even on the religious front. successful. I know this is
virus being present within my Muslims would swear by their starting to sound like a
“But what of the soul?”
family, my brothers and I can religions. Catholics would Gospel page, but it is just a
now call ourselves “Men of swear by theirs. With this new perspective because of
purpose.” One of my frat virus came a new this virus. You may think of
brothers used to use that perspective on this sacred HIV Awareness, but I now
statement a lot and, quite issue. I can honestly say that have an HIV Perspective.
frankly, I thought he was just it does not matter which
trying to be deep in thought. religion you are in. What
However, I now understand matters is establishing a
that that particular statement personal relationship with
speaks volumes. Being a whoever your God is. If you
man of purpose is when you gain a personal relationship
stop viewing things through with your God, I hate to tell
materialistic eyes and try to you, but you would find that
attain things “Heavenly.” they are very much one in
Page 5 of 6 Sigma Newsbeat
Thanks your support…..Founder’s Week 2006
.
Kickin’ it with the kids at Mt. Zion
BLUE n WHITE FAM
What up cuz? FIRM representin’.
Deeply immersed in the January Issue of the
Sigma Newsbeat.
You shoulda saw the white people when we came in THREE FOR THE FOUNDERS
that deep…
VALENTINE’S DAY SHOUT OUTS….
Mu Rho Chapter of It's only been four months, but I'd like to send a Shout Out to
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity I've enjoyed every minute of it. my sister, Tamber Fite. Have a I’m sendin’ love out to
Inc. Thanks for putting up with my Happy Valentine's Day. everybody that
craziness, Happy Valentine's
Day Dehdee. ~Farley Fite II
supports my frat in
1 University Station A6220
SOC #142
the things we try to
Austin, TX 78741 ~Brande do around campus
I want to give a shout out to
Brittany Darett., Natasha and the community.
E-MAIL: I would like to make a shout Floyd., Wunmie Bakare., Allen Thank ya’ll for the
out to the ladies of Alpha I. and Alma Rodriguez. I want
Yungsta2g2@mail.utexas.edu
Lambda Omega Christian to thank all five of them for
love ya’ll give us.
Sorority, Inc. and also to Toni, being my Valentine. Much
Odochi, Tynisha, Jocelyn, Ejiro, love! ~Xavier Horton
Chelsey, Dannyaal, and
Kristina! ~Nakita Loving Chapter President
~Ashely Gordon
I want to shout out to my
cousin, Glennisha aka Nisha.
"Keep ya head up! Happy
Valentines Day!" from Shamyia
aka Shay
Happy Valentine's day Jeremy
Oliver!!! I hope your
Valentine's day is as good as
mine BETTER be. Just wanted
to let you know that I
appreciate you as a person and
We’re on the Web! as a friend. Luv ya!
See us at:
www.utsigmas.com -Your Valentine,
Joanna Daniels
As everyone knows, February 14 is a day set apart from
every other day to celebrate love. It is the day that you go to all the
people that you love and have a crush on and really express how you
feel inside. And being the gentleman that I am as well as Mr.
Romantic, (LOL) I would like to take the time to acknowledge my very
special Valentine for the year 2006. It is my girlfriend Jade Gaut who
attends The University of North Texas in Denton. We have been
through a lot together, and I just want to let her know that I really
appreciate her battling through all my stupidity, problems, and
ignorance. She is a true example of what a real woman is supposed
to be like. She supports me in all my decisions that I make, even
when sometimes she might not agree with them. If I am ever in
trouble, all I need to do is call on her, and I know that she will give me
her 150% all. She is a ride or die chick, and will go to the extreme to
protect anything containing to me. She is my number one, my girl,
and my best friend!!!!
Daddy Loves you For 2006!!!!!!!!!!!