CULTURE | APR. 10, 2024
Celebrating Self Love
February is a joyous time on HBCU campuses such as Howard University. With Black History Month in full swing and Valentine’s Day serving as its central point, the air is electric with an atmosphere of Black joy and Black love. While much of the focus is on romantic love, it can also be a time to reflect on the ways in which students express their sense of self-love and celebrate the talents and passions that make them who they are.
BY CHASE LINCOLN
ALANA LATIN
“Yoga has been a practice of self–love for me since the day I started practicing. It’s brought me complete awareness of my mind and body. Helping me pay attention to the little things, teaching me patience, and embracing how I show up for myself on the mat. Everyday it’s different, so it’s important to show love to every version of myself,” - Alana Latin
AMACHI GREEN
Amachi Green, a freshman Elementary Education major from Atlanta, described how she was first introduced to make-up and how it helps boost her self-confidence. “I was first introduced to make-up by sneaking little products from my sister’s room. I then watched many tutorials and bought many products. At that time, I struggled with insecurity. But as I learned more about makeup, I found that I could transform a blank canvas into a work of art. Or transform something you don’t like into something pretty. This newfound skill boosted my confidence, allowing me to appreciate and enhance my natural features.”
ELLIS HOLLINGSWORTH
Ellis Hollingsworth, a freshman jazz studies major from Hyattsville, Maryland , who plays the saxophone discussed how playing a musical instrument has helped him with self-love and self-expression. “I’ve been playing the saxophone since third grade. For me, playing the saxophone, or just music in general, has helped express myself. There’s a lot of ways that men are taught to avoid confrontation with their own emotions and music is something that helps me with this. Music gives me the ability and comfort to just feel what I’m supposed to feel.”
