The student news site of Sacramento State University

Black History Month 2021

February 10, 2021

Officially established in 1976, Black History Month, formerly known as “Negro Week,” is an annual tradition during the month of February that highlights and educates Americans about important milestones within the African American community and culture, as well as infamous historic moments that shaped who the Black community is today.

During the month of February, The State Hornet will highlight coverage of Black History Month on this page to celebrate coverage of Black subjects we have done in the past year as well as coverage that we will continue to do throughout the next few weeks. We realize how important this coverage is to the Sac State community, and we are dedicated to bringing you continued coverage of Black History on our website and social media platforms.

A sign encouraging people to wear a mask can be seen outside the Health and Wellness center near The WELL Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. The Department of Student Health and Wellness on campus alerted the community of an ongoing statewide COVID-19 surge.
The COVID-19 surge: what you need to know
The Department of Student Health, Counseling and Wellness advises caution be taken as COVID-19 cases rise
Analah Wallace, Staffer • September 25, 2023
Sac State’s Department of Student Health, Counseling and Wellness strongly suggests taking precaution amid COVID-19 case increase.
Mask mandate is lifted, but not for everyone
Mask mandate is lifted, but not for everyone
Isaiah Mercado April 28, 2022
The mask mandate was lifted for almost everyone at Sac State, but not for some. Two centers on campus are still required to wear them. See who they are and why the mandate persists for them:
Wendy Le, a third year computer science major (left), and Elisha Singh, a first year psychology major (right) walk down the stairs of the Student Union, on Thursday, March 10. Sacramento State President Robert S. Nelsen announced via mass email to students that masks can come down beginning Friday, March 18. (Photo by Kamelia Varasteh)
Masks off: Sac State’s face covering mandate will be lifted after March 18
Kamelia Varasteh March 12, 2022

President Robert S. Nelsen announced via a SacSend on Thursday afternoon that the school-wide mask mandate will be lifted on the majority of Sacramento State’s campus and at the downtown location after March 18. “It means that the university has...

Therese Gatchalian, a third-year pre-nursing major, sits near the library benches on Friday, Feb 18. Gatchalian said she agrees with the campuss continued requirement to wear masks indoors and feels that masks protect students when social distancing in classrooms is impossible. (Photo by Priscilla Garcia-Pargas)
Sac State students comment on county and campus mask mandates
Priscilla Garcia-Pargas March 4, 2022

California’s Department of Public Health announced that Sacramento’s indoor mask mandate would be lifted for vaccinated people on Feb. 16.  In response, Sacramento State President Robert Nelsen released a SacSend email saying the university will...

Volunteers distribute grocery items at the St. Paul Church of God-Christ Food Distribution Center in Sacramento on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Students can expect the university to send out applications in March as more information on the program is released. (Photo by Laura De la Garza Garcia)
Sacramento State included in College Corps $10,000 pilot program for students
Program set to launch in March
Laura De la Garza Garcia February 26, 2022

Sacramento State has joined several other California colleges and universities in a community service program that will award $10,000 to selected students for 450 hours of community service while allowing them to earn college credit and get resume-building...

Sacramento State University President Robert Nelsen addresses students in the University Union about COVID-19 policies on campus on Sept. 3, 2020. In his address on Jan. 21, 2022, Nelsen discussed continuing COVID-related issues and plans to change the culture of the campus to fight systemic racism.
Nelsen’s 2022 Spring Address: Anti-Racism, COVID and a “Healing Campus”
Odin Rasco January 22, 2022
Sacramento State University’s President Nelsen gave his Spring Address Friday, covering COVID, anti-racism, graduation rates, and more.
An empty view of tables near the Riverfront Center at Sacramento State on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. The State Hornet spoke with Vice President of Student Affairs Ed Mills and Provost Steve Perez to answer questions about the COVID-19 protocols and percentage of in-person classes in spring 2022.
FAQ: What to know about Sac State’s spring 2022 classes, COVID-19 protocols
Dominique Williams December 13, 2021
The State Hornet spoke with Vice President of Student Affairs Ed Mills and Provost Steve Perez to answer questions about the COVID-19 protocols and percentage of in-person classes in spring 2022. Here’s what you need to know:
Sacramento State students with exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccine requirement test for COVID-19 at the testing site in parking structure III across from The WELL on Sept. 30, 2021. All Sac State students are able to test at the site using their OneCard.
Sac State no requiere a sus estudiantes reportar exámenes positivos de COVID-19 tomados fuera del campus
96% de estudiantes accedendo el campus están completamente vacunados
Dominique Williams and Erick Salgado November 7, 2021

To read the English version click here   Sacramento State no requiere que sus estudiantes notifiquen a la universidad si salen positivos de COVID-19 en los exámenes mandatorios tomados  fuera de la escuela, según los Servicios de Consejería...

Sacramento State students with exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccine requirement test for COVID-19 at the testing site in parking structure III across from The WELL on Sept. 30, 2021. All Sac State students are able to test at the site using their OneCard.
Sac State students not required to report positive off campus COVID-19 tests
96% of students accessing campus are fully vaccinated
Dominique Williams November 1, 2021
Sacramento State students are recommended, but not required, to notify the university if they test positive for COVID-19 off campus or outside of the campus’ mandatory testing.
FILE PHOTO: Catherine Nigro, registered nurse for the Student Health Center, prepares for the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to be distributed to students and faculty in the Brown Bag room in the Union on Jan. 28, 2021. Sac State Vice President of Student Affairs Ed Mills said that professors have “not yet” been emailed a list of their students who missed the COVID-19 vaccine certification deadline.
Sac State struggles to deny campus access to students who missed vaccination deadline
Camryn Dadey, news editor • September 16, 2021
While 2,206 Sacramento State students have still failed to certify their COVID-19 vaccination status and are denied access to campus, Sac State Vice President of Student Affairs Ed Mills told The State Hornet that professors have “not yet” been emailed a list of their students who were now denied access to campus.
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News

A common theme between the interviewees is a culture of self-hate, where people in the Black community degrade their own or are judgmental of each other, said Sac State kinesiology major Nafia Thompson.

Read their stories

Bridges was the first Black child to desegregate an elementary school in the south when, in 1960, she attended William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana at six years old, according to the Sacramento MLK Committee.

Read the event recap

Waverly Hampton III said that after moving to Sacramento, the amount of homelessness and litter — and his car being broken into — made him feel like he couldn’t start a family in the city.

Read his profile

The greater Sacramento area experienced an array of activism, including demonstrations from supporters of Black Lives Matter Sacramento and counter-protesters. Activists expressed the need to end racial injustice, while the opposition protested against the idea of defunding the police and in support of then President Trump, as both attempted to find common ground. Photos from the protests

Arts & Entertainment

In the corner of a shopping center on Florin Road is a small thrift shop that looks more like a boutique than anything else. Behind the counter, you would find Passion Bailey, the co-owner of the Hidden Gems thrift store, greeting as you walk in.

About her store

Growing up, Sacramento rapper Evan Odom, who goes by Pyramid Kid, always felt different from his peers. But rather than trying to conform, he decided to be content with standing out.

Read all about Pyramid Kid

Sac State alumnus aims to inspire with his ‘ABAS’ clothing brand

Sacramento State sociology alumnus Farouq Gidado’s father always told him, “If you do something, make sure you do it well or don’t do it at all."

How he made his brand

BAOBAB

The State Hornet’s third edition of Stinger Sounds Sessions features the local band BAOBAB, consisting of Isaiah Guerrero, Kenan Jackson, Greo, Okumoja Best-Wilson, Zehrin Sims, Myles Taylor and Joey Archie.

The mellow sound of live jazz music kicked off the second Sacramento Sankofa Market as customers shopped with and supported local Black entrepreneurs offering fresh produce, skin care products, hot food and more. Scenes from the market

Now over eight months into the pandemic, Xzavion Stevenson said he has still been making music in his home studio. He said he had to balance “survival mode versus creative mode” during the pandemic, even though the situation has given him more material to write about. More on the rapper

Opinion

makenna-roy-square

Makenna Roy

Black culture is not yours to take

From Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian-West to Fergie in the 2000s, white women and celebrities love to take Black culture and use it to their benefit — but they don’t love the Black people who created their styles.

Black women helped shape civil rights; it’s not talked about enough

I began asking myself who my favorite women that I learned about in history classes were. I was unable to think of one.

jordan-parker-square

Jordan Parker

The Rooney Rule has done nothing but fail minority coaches

Another NFL head coach hiring cycle has been completed and once again a qualified minority candidate has been passed up.

The lack of justice for Breonna Taylor is the reality for Black women in America

For this kind of crime, you’d expect that the shooter would receive life in prison. However, in this case the murderer was a cop.

If it wasn’t for John Lewis, I wouldn’t be here today

I paused in a moment of sadness because I knew what he meant to this country. Combine that with the fact that we are still fighting the same fight Lewis helped begin many years ago, and the timing was tragic.

shiavon-chatman-square

Shiavon Chatman

I am not a person of color — I’m Black

It actually doesn’t exist at all. Person of color (POC) is a blanket term for “non-white.” But you can’t lump everyone together because not everyone has the same values and same experiences.

I was raised by a village that didn’t talk about feelings

My therapist asked me why I felt the need to come to her. She said I seemed “normal.”
This is why Black people don’t believe in therapy. She invalidated my feelings. She belittled me.

Black women are dying and biased medical training is the killer

Black women are dying at the hands of everyone because we’re all conditioned to ignore Black pain if the cries are coming from a Black woman.

Podcasts

State Hornet alumna Shiavon Chatman on being a young Black author

Podcast editor Robbie Pierce and opinion editor Magaly Muñoz talk with Shiavon Chatman, a Sacramento State alumna and former State Hornet editor, podcaster and author of the award-winning column “Shiavon’s Jawn.”

Sports writer Jason Gallardo and multimedia reporter Garry Singh talk to Sacramento State alumnus Chimdum Mez, who was recently drafted by the MLS team San Jose Earthquakes after playing professional soccer in Costa Rica.
Mez also makes music in his free time, releasing beats under the label Chimchilla.

Sac State football player goes from concussion to the kitchen

On this episode of Max’s Table, Max talks to Jordan Thomas: a Sac State alumnus, former Hornet football player and current private chef. Chef JT, as he is now known, previews his recipe for jerk seasoning, talks about his dream of owning a high end sports bar and gives some surprising answers to Max’s question about what food he misses eating from his childhood.

Sports

With the pandemic forcing courses to be held virtually this year and the NCAA giving every athlete another year of eligibility whether they have a season in the spring or not, some students have chosen to focus on social justice during this time.

What they're saying

Companies have been forced to close stores or lay off their employees due to the pandemic. However, former Sac State defensive lineman Dariyn Choates has found a way to start his own clothing line ONBS, which stands for “ON BullShit.”

Read the full Q&A

Though more than half of the NFL is Black and a majority of the NBA is made up of Black players, we still have to recognize the experiences and moments that came before the current state in which we live in today.

Three athletes' stories

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