Foothill College The Griot Online

by Kifloum Hailu, Foothill Student

Hello, my Foothill College brothers and sisters. My name is Kifloum Hailu but my friends call me Kif. I am 19 years old, born in Ethiopia and raised in Kenya, Africa. I arrived to the US during January 2001 and began my college career at Foothill as a computer science major. Temesgen (Temu), my brother graduates from Foothill this quarter and will transfer to either SJSU or UC Riverside this coming fall. Yes, Foothill has a reputation for student success, outstanding instruction and student services, even in Africa! In 1994, my cousin came to the US to attend San Jose State University. While a student at SJSU, he heard some really impressive things about Foothill College, apparently from students who had transferred from there. My cousin returned to Africa, told my brother about Foothill and the rest is history.

I like the diversity of cultures of Foothill students. The students are friendly and I like the atmosphere of the grass and trees. The campus is very similar to my high school back in Kenya.

My biggest challenge in adjusting to the U.S. is the weather. It was very cold when I arrived in February. The second biggest challenge was being without friends so I was really engrossed in my studies. On the positive side, I earned A’s in all my classes. Now I have made a lot of friends through my classes by working in groups and playing games in the Intramural Game Room at the Campus Center.

As a rap artist, I am a member of XtraPhat, a Kenyan hip-hop rap group. Check out our website at www.XtraPhat.scriptmania.com. If you want to find out more about the group and sign our guest book, access our Web site today.

If you would like to learn more about African rap music go to www.nubianunderground.com. This details underground African hip-hop music/artists. Nubian Underground did a profile on my rap group following the popular release of our hit single Xtraphat. The history of the group, profiles on each member and other information about our group is on this site.

In Africa, African rappers support the success of their rival rap groups. There are no rap group wars or groups out to “dis” one another. They do not brag about their material wealth or success but are more humble. It is the love of the art form that unifies our differences and helps us to develop mutual respect for our differences and similarities.

by Louis Robinson

“The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the oldest, largest and one of the strongest civil rights organizations in the U.S. The organization’s principal objective is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of minority groups of citizens.

Committed to non-violence, the NAACP relies upon the media, the petition, the ballot and the courts to right injustices even in the face of overt and violent hostility.

Formed in 1909 in New York City by a group of black and white citizens who were committed to social justice, the NAACP began with a petition of just 60 signatures of Americans who supported the idea of creating an organization that would be an aggressive watchdog of Negro liberties.

Today, total membership exceeds one-half million. With a network of more than 2,000 branches covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Japan and Germany, the NAACP is organized into seven regions which are managed and governed by a national board of directors. The organization is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.”

Our ancestors endured great suffering to ensure that you have choices in your life. You owe it to them to make sure that future generations will continue to have even more choices. You can make those choices a reality by joining the NAACP. Much work has been completed in the 92 years since the NAACP began, but we know that there is still much work to be done to truly live out the mission of advancing the opportunities available to people of color.

We all wonder who will be the next Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, W.E.B. DuBois, Rosa Parks and Thurgood Marshall. But just as important as strong leaders are active members. Don’t wait for someone’s civil rights to be trampled to join. Instead be the one who is part of many ensuring that everyone’s civil rights are protected.
To register as a member or for more information, access www.naacp.org.!



Harambee 2001 Spring Retreat AAN Board Thanks Supporters AAN Faculty & Staff News Juanita Croft Wins Recognition Award Todd Gilbert in Concert Counselor Nominated for BOG Award Jean Thomas, Pass the Torch Founder, Honored Donald Dorsey Promoted to Dean Foothill Reaches Out to Silver Creek... Bon Voyage to Speech instructor Norman McLeod Establishes DJ Business Year in Review Faith, Courage & Appreciation Message from a Rap Artist Commerating 92 Years Students in the News Confidently, Proudly.. African American History Month...Reflections
	by Kifloum Hailu, Foothill Student Hello, my Foothill College brothers and sisters. My name is Kifloum Hailu but my friends call me Kif. I am 19 years old, born in Ethiopia and raised in Kenya, Africa. I arrived to the US during January 2001 and began my college career at Foothill as a computer science major. Temesgen (Temu), my brother graduates from Foothill this quarter and will transfer to either SJSU or UC Riverside this coming fall. Yes, Foothill has a reputation for student success, outstanding instruction and student services, even in Africa! In 1994, my cousin came to the US to attend San Jose State University. While a student at SJSU, he heard some really impressive things about Foothill College, apparently from students who had transferred from there. My cousin returned to Africa, told my brother about Foothill and the rest is history. I like the diversity of cultures of Foothill students. The students are friendly and I like the atmosphere of the grass and trees. The campus is very similar to my high school back in Kenya. My biggest challenge in adjusting to the U.S. is the weather. It was very cold when I arrived in February. The second biggest challenge was being without friends so I was really engrossed in my studies. On the positive side, I earned A’s in all my classes. Now I have made a lot of friends through my classes by working in groups and playing games in the Intramural Game Room at the Campus Center. As a rap artist, I am a member of XtraPhat, a Kenyan hip-hop rap group. Check out our website at www.XtraPhat.scriptmania.com. If you want to find out more about the group and sign our guest book, access our Web site today. If you would like to learn more about African rap music go to www.nubianunderground.com. This details underground African hip-hop music/artists. Nubian Underground did a profile on my rap group following the popular release of our hit single Xtraphat. The history of the group, profiles on each member and other information about our group is on this site. In Africa, African rappers support the success of their rival rap groups. There are no rap group wars or groups out to “dis” one another. They do not brag about their material wealth or success but are more humble. It is the love of the art form that unifies our differences and helps us to develop mutual respect for our differences and similarities. Commemorating 92 Years—NAACP Fight by Louis Robinson “The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the oldest, largest and one of the strongest civil rights organizations in the U.S. The organization’s principal objective is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of minority groups of citizens. Committed to non-violence, the NAACP relies upon the media, the petition, the ballot and the courts to right injustices even in the face of overt and violent hostility. Formed in 1909 in New York City by a group of black and white citizens who were committed to social justice, the NAACP began with a petition of just 60 signatures of Americans who supported the idea of creating an organization that would be an aggressive watchdog of Negro liberties. Today, total membership exceeds one-half million. With a network of more than 2,000 branches covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Japan and Germany, the NAACP is organized into seven regions which are managed and governed by a national board of directors. The organization is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.” Our ancestors endured great suffering to ensure that you have choices in your life. You owe it to them to make sure that future generations will continue to have even more choices. You can make those choices a reality by joining the NAACP. Much work has been completed in the 92 years since the NAACP began, but we know that there is still much work to be done to truly live out the mission of advancing the opportunities available to people of color. We all wonder who will be the next Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, W.E.B. DuBois, Rosa Parks and Thurgood Marshall. But just as important as strong leaders are active members. Don’t wait for someone’s civil rights to be trampled to join. Instead be the one who is part of many ensuring that everyone’s civil rights are protected. To register as a member or for more information, access www.naacp.org.!