{"id":9740,"date":"2025-03-06T01:44:10","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T05:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/?post_type=project&p=9740"},"modified":"2026-03-04T18:13:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T22:13:05","slug":"black-voices-2025","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/project\/black-voices-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Voices 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

BLACK VOICES OF OHIO STATE<\/h1><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\n
\n

In celebration of Black History Month, BLACKXBOLD Magazine and The Lantern have come together for the fifth installment of the Black Voices Special Edition. In an effort to highlight the Black experience on campus, the project presents stories highlighting and celebrating the experiences and achievements of the local Black community.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
BLACKXBOLD Magazine, founded in 2018, aims to uplift, inspire and champion underserved and underrepresented voices within the Ohio State community. By the culture, for the culture.<\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Since 1881, The Lantern has been the student voice on Ohio State\u2019s campus. The staff is committed to championing diverse voices and stories.<\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Xiyonne McCullough<\/strong><\/p>\n

BLACKXBOLD President<\/em><\/p>\n

Now more than ever, highlighting the adversities of the Black community on campus has become a prominent focus for BLACKXBOLD Magazine. This year, our Black Voices collaboration with The Lantern aims to recognize the current on-campus climate toward issues related to DEI and self-expression, while noting the progression of Black students, staff and faculty. We hope people walk away from this edition with a greater appreciation and understanding of the different aspects that make up our culture.<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Emma Wozniak<\/strong><\/p>\n

Editor-in-Chief of The Lantern<\/em><\/p>\n

On behalf of the Lantern staff, we are thrilled to collaborate with BLACKXBOLD Magazine for another installment of this important special edition. This year's project feels almost eerily well-timed, with threats to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across our country, state and even campus. Now more than ever, the voices of Black and other minority communities need to be uplifted, their stories shared. At The Lantern, we hold steadfast in our commitment to do so, as that is the job of journalists: telling the stories that matter.<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Examining the historic parallels of Black student activism at Ohio State<\/h1><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Words by Kyrie Thomas |\u00a0BXB Vice President<\/em> and\u00a0LTV Campus Producer<\/em><\/p>\n

Photo Credit: (left) University Archives, (right) Rania Omer |\u00a0BXB Social Media Chair<\/em><\/p>\n

On April 11, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act, which aimed to prevent discrimination on the basis of race, gender and other identifying factors in regard to obtaining housing.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Though the bill was widely regarded as a net positive for Black people across the United States, John S. Evans \u2014 a Black student at Ohio State during the time \u2014 saw it as an empty promise.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just something else on a piece of paper,\u201d Evans said in a 1968 Lantern article, which was obtained via the University Archives. \u201cIf we followed the Constitution, we wouldn\u2019t need civil rights bills anyway.\u201d<\/strong><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>

\n\t\t\t\tRead at BLACKXBOLD<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Lighting the way: How the Streetlight Guild preserves Black art and culture in Columbus<\/h1><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Words by Samantha Harden | Lantern Arts & Life Editor<\/i><\/p>\n

Photo Credit: Faith Schneider |\u00a0Lantern Photographer<\/em><\/p>\n

The date was March 3, 2017. It was also day three of art event organizer Scott Woods\u2019 month-long series, titled \u201cHoller: 31 Days of Columbus Black Art.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

The dimly lit back room of Kafe Kerouac pulsed with the sound of guitar solos reverberating from bookcase to bookcase.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As Columbus-based rock band The Turbos neared the end of its set, Woods took it all in \u2014 the music, the event series, the joy of getting an opportunity to showcase Black art in his city. It was just after 8 p.m. and the night was nearly over when a tall, sophisticated-looking man with salt-and-pepper- \u2014 but mostly salt- \u2014 colored hair approached him.<\/strong><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>

\n\t\t\t\tRead at The Lantern<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Ohio State student organization advocates for the intersectionality of POC and LGBTQ+ communities<\/h1><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Words by\u00a0Kyrie Thomas | BXB Vice President<\/em> and\u00a0LTV Campus Producer<\/em><\/p>\n

Photo Credit: Courtesy of SHADES<\/p>\n

Among the various identities any given individual possesses, there exists a combination of intertwining traits that shape who a person is and will become.<\/strong><\/p>\n

SHADES is a student organization dedicated to fostering a safe space and raising awareness for the intersectionality between people of color and LGBTQ+ student communities on campus.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Though the university has several spaces for the POC and LGBTQ+ communities individually, Akasha Lancaster, a third-year in psychology and co-president of SHADES, said having an organization that highlights the crossover between both identities has been distinctly beneficial.<\/strong><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>

\n\t\t\t\tRead at BLACKXBOLD<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

53-year-old African American and African Studies Community Extension Center continues to serve its community following recent renovations<\/h1><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Words by Daranii Asoba | Lantern Reporter<\/i><\/p>\n

Photo Credit: William Moody |\u00a0Lantern Photographer<\/em><\/p>\n

The Ohio State African American and African Studies Community Extension Center has been a long-standing pillar of support for Columbus\u2019 Black community since its founding in 1972.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The center aims to \u201cprovide academic and community education opportunities for its Near Eastside neighbors and the greater Central Ohio community,\u201d according to its website. Just last year, the center \u2014 located at 905 Mt. Vernon Ave. \u2014 reopened to include a new library, meeting hall, classrooms and updated technology in order to better serve its community.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The renovations were made possible by a $1 million state appropriation from Ohio State Sen. Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus), according to the College of Arts and Sciences\u2019 website.<\/strong><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>

\n\t\t\t\tRead at The Lantern<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Student organizations react to university\u2019s recent DEI programming cuts<\/h1><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Words by Samantha Harden | Lantern Arts & Life Editor<\/i>
\nand Reilly Ackermann | Lantern Asst. Campus Editor<\/em><\/p>\n

Graphic Credit: Faith Schneider |\u00a0Lantern Photographer<\/em><\/p>\n

As diversity, equity and inclusion programs face further attack by the federal and state governments, Ohio State has taken the first steps toward removing its own DEI initiatives across campus.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Feb. 27, university President Ted Carter Jr. announced Ohio State would shut down the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Center for Belonging and Social Change the following day, along with removing 16 related staff positions, per prior Lantern reporting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Students, faculty and staff have openly shared their outrage by protesting in the days following the decision, mourning what has been lost and calling upon the university to protect its DEI programming from further cutbacks.<\/strong><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>

\n\t\t\t\tRead at The Lantern<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

New Muslim Mental Health Coalition discusses on-campus journey and inclusivity initiatives<\/h1><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Words by Xiyonne McCullough<\/span> | BXB President<\/i><\/p>\n

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Samira Ali<\/p>\n

In November 2024, Hadja Bah, a third-year in nursing, decided it was time to use her 10 free therapy sessions through Ohio State\u2019s Counseling and Consultation Services.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Four sessions in, the absence of Black Muslim therapists left her feeling misunderstood, which quickly inspired her to create a space for change.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Officially launching in February, the Black-founded Muslim Mental Health Coalition aims to support students of all backgrounds in their mental health challenges, all while specifically emphasizing aspects of Islamic wellness to help mitigate stigma across campus.<\/strong><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>

\n\t\t\t\tRead at BLACKXBOLD<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Black student-led newspaper Our Choking Times revisited in latest Thompson Library exhibit <\/h1><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Words by Jackson Hall<\/span> | Lantern Social Media Editor<\/i>
\nand\u00a0Aria Garcia |\u00a0Lantern Reporte<\/em>r<\/em><\/p>\n

Photo Credit: Sandra Fu |\u00a0Lantern Photo Editor<\/em><\/p>\n

In 1970, Black students at Ohio State founded Our Choking Times, a publication designed to critique the university\u2019s lack of diversity and provide a platform for marginalized voices.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

More than 50 years later, a new exhibit at Thompson Library explores the student-run newspaper\u2019s impact, showcasing its contributions to activism, cultural expression and community-building.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Housed in the Ohio State University Archives, Our Choking Times covered racial inequities on campus, from the university\u2019s lack of Black faculty to broader social injustices, according to the Library\u2019s archive website<\/a><\/span>. <\/strong><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>

\n\t\t\t\tRead at The Lantern<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Ohio State students share their experiences navigating identity through Black hair <\/h1><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Words by Xiyonne McCullough<\/span> | BXB President<\/i><\/p>\n

Graphic Credit: Sandra Fu | Lantern Photo Editor<\/em><\/p>\n

Within the Black community, hair is more than just a style \u2014 it\u2019s a form of self-expression and cultural connection. Yet, these trends are often overlooked in mainstream media due to a lack of cultural understanding.<\/strong><\/p>\n

From gravity-defying afros to braids that sway, Black students reflect the wide-ranging diversity and creativity of their community\u2019s hairstyles on campus. But many still feel overlooked or judged from the world at large. Now, Ohio State students are weighing in on how Black hair shapes personal identity while representing a grander collective beneath the bundles.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Historically, during the Civil Rights Movement, afros became a symbol of Black pride and resistance against Eurocentric beauty standards. Today, however, Black hairstyles are often judged based on people\u2019s perceptions of professionalism, leading to discrimination in schools and workplaces, according to the Brookings Institution.<\/strong><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>

\n\t\t\t\tRead at BLACKXBOLD<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":4233,"featured_media":9761,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"project_category":[],"project_tag":[],"coauthors":[719],"class_list":["post-9740","project","type-project","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/9740","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/project"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4233"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9740"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/9740\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9793,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/9740\/revisions\/9793"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9740"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"project_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project_category?post=9740"},{"taxonomy":"project_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project_tag?post=9740"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=9740"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}