By Caylee Brown Warning!!! Stranger Things Season 3 Spoilers Ahead After almost 3 years of waiting, the first volume of the 4th (and not quite near final) installment of Stranger Things premiered to the public on May 27, 2022. Stranger Things, for those who don’t know, is a sci-fi/drama series chronicling the lives of multiple families in Hawkins, Indiana (and now Lenora, California) that were impacted by a child from Hawkins Lab with telekinetic superpowers named Eleven and her escape. Audiences say it was the perfect mix of the storyline and characters from Season 1, with the visuals and spot-on accuracy of the 1980s ‘aesthetic’. The newest season presents a plethora of fresh problems for the newly moved Byers family, the Wheelers back in Hawkins, and people like Max dealing with their losses from Season 3 (Hopper included). The season begins with Eleven, who just recently moved with Joyce, Will, and Jonathon to California, trying to adapt to society at Lenora Hills High School. One of the main aspects of Eleven’s character this season is the fact that she’s unintentionally stiff and awkward in the way she talks and acts as a byproduct of being isolated from society, resulting in her being bullied by her classmates at school. Will, who’s never had to try to handle El’s problems until now, notices that the way she acts is very strange and disconnected from the way she really feels, which impacts her relationship with Mike. Speaking of Mike, the season starts off counting the days until Spring Break, when Mike flies to California to stay with Eleven. Back in Hawkins, Max is trying to cope with the death of her late brother Billy, and characters like Lucas are trying to escape their own interests (and the Hellfire Club) to be accepted by their classmates at Hawkins Highschool. Steve and Robin are still working at the video rental shop featured at the end of Season 3, Dustin is still dating Suzie, and characters like Eddie Munson and Chrissy Cunningham are rapidly introduced to the central conflict of this season. Along with new milestones and progressions within the characters lives within their time offscreen, the series also introduces the main cast with a new villain from the Upside Down, Vecna. The new villain holds a profound sense of sentience that other characters, like the Mind Flayer and the demogorgons, lacked. This villain directly targets those with dark secrets and pasts, and uses his abilities with time and ‘relieving people of the punishment of time’ to create what we think may be an army. This season was so unfamiliar compared to other seasons because it really introduced an element of horror to the series, ones that we hadn’t seen in previous installments of the series. Being genuinely discomforted by the spiders, gore, and the potential loss of your favorite characters really prove that Season 4 has put a lot up for stake without proving how far it will go. The production quality of Stranger Things has also blown all other seasons of the show (and even some other shows out too) of the water with it’s nightmare fuel imagery and CGI. What makes the new season so much more sinister and suspenseful is also the fact that we’ve already grown so attached to the existing characters, and having a character like Vecna attempt to kill them off and join his army has viewers on the edges of their seats. New songs like Running Up That Hill have surged in popularity due to their use in the new season, and Stranger Things has made it clear with factors like these that they do not miss out on any nostalgia points where possible, even from the generations that have no connection or reminiscence of the turn of the 20th century. Mixing nastolgia and the aforementioned element of true horror and suspense is a surefire way to keep returning viewers hooked and unsure of the Vecna’s next move, while grasping the attention of new viewers that want to watch a top-tier production. Overall, after watching the new installment of Stranger Things 4, the unfamiliarity and foreignness of having to genuinely worry about the wellbeing and mortality status of your favorite characters instead of cherishing the drama and storyline progression was something extremely tough to get used to, but made the show that much better. I loved the first volume of Stranger Things Season 4, and I’m praying that the next volume that comes out July 1st won’t leave fans hanging upside down waiting for the new, and final, edition.
0 Comments
By Caylee Brown ”If I wait for someone else to validate my existence, it will mean that I’m short-changing myself.” - Zanele Muholi June 2022 is federally recognized as the 22nd LGBTQ+ Pride Month in American history. Declared first in June 2000 by Bill Clinton, this month stands for and encourages allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community alike to focus on unity, justice, and equality in order to normalize identifying with various sexual orientations and gender identities. But regardless of how normalized and popular the term ‘Pride Month’ is, some people may not know why the LGBTQ+ needs a Pride Month, how it benefits queer youth and younger generations of those in the community, or why LGBTQ+ people taking the initiative to creating a better future for ourselves is one of the only options we have available. The truth is that we as a society still have a long way to go until we achieve true equality between all people that love and identify in completely different ways. The history of Pride Month is a little confusing, as it wasn’t always in June or federally recognized. The Defense Logistics Agency says, “The Month of October [first determined by a high-school teacher in Missouri] was first chosen as the celebratory month, as National Coming Out Day had already been established as October 11…” However, the perspective of LGBTQ+ history shifted when the Stonewall Riots happened. Starting on June 28th, 1969, and ending on July 3rd, 1969, the Stonewall Riots were revolutionary for the newly emerging gay rights movement. In the 1960s and ‘70s, being gay or transgender was largely abhorred and detested, and most people in the community refuged in gay clubs/bars, feeling most at peace when they were among themselves. However, the police would frequently raid these bars because same-sex affection was illegal, and thus after the Stonewall Inn was raided on June 28th, the Stonewall Riots was born. Protestors were becoming frustrated with the mistreatment of LGBTQ+ people at this bar. History.com mentioning that specifically, “female officers would take suspected cross-dressing patrons into the bathroom to check their sex.” This sort of mistreatment inspired the community to remain outside of the bar and begin protesting instead of spreading out and going their separate ways. The Stonewall Riots were fundamental to propeling and debatably inciting the gay rights movement because it showed the rest of the community that if they fought for themselves in the same way, change might be imminent. If they didn’t, no one else would. Marsha P. Johnson, for example, is one of the most notorious and well-known activists of the Stonewall Riots, and the most tragic example of members of the LGBTQ+ community suffering loss and pain while fighting to be accepted for identifying with what felt right. Marsha ‘Pay it No Mind’ Johnson was a transgender woman and self identified drag queen that found at a very early age that she liked predominantly feminine things like dressing up in dresses. One of Johnson’s earliest memories of having her gender identity disapproved of was when her Christian parents would reprimand her for not comforting to her assigning gender identity, and when a boy sexually assaulted her. When she grew to be older, Johnson came out as a transgender woman and took the name Marsha P. Johnson, the ‘P’ standing for, ‘Pay it No Mind’. This is what Johnson’s motto was regarding being questioned about her gender identity, and for many years Johnson had to deal with repeatedly being outcast from her family and other communities because of her gender identity. When she graduated highschool, wams.nyhistory.org says she moved to New York with $15 and a bag of clothing. Marsha P. Johnson had to take on harder and less well-paying jobs to even be given an opportunity to make ends meet and live a life similar to her cisgender counterparts. Despite her efforts to live a happy life, she was more than likely murdered at the age of 46. Her injustices succeeded her death, as her death was ruled a “suicide” and her case went cold. Members of the LGBTQ+ like Marsha P. Johnson were cultural icons and pioneers for the movements they fought for, yet still had to experience the pain and suffering that almost every member of the community experiences and is subjected to based on their identity. Celebrating and respecting Pride Month and the history of queer icons and figures in the community is so important to the younger generation of LGBTQ+ people because it teaches them to strive further to achieve equality for this community. Although most people may think that homophobia, transphobia, and other gender/sexuality based discrimination is a thing of the past, the harsh truth is that discriminaton against those in the LGBTQ+ community is still as prominent as it was for people like Marsha P. Johnson. The average life expectancy for a Black trans woman like Johnson, after all, is only 35 years of age. Just because things like gay marriage and affection have been legalized, doesn’t mean that these pieces of legislation aren’t 1) in danger because of discrimination and unwillingness to accept the LGBTQ+, and 2) that society doesn’t still have a long way to go to embrace these changes and embrace the fact that they are in place to make sure that the future is more accepted toward those with varying identities. By educating future and current generations about the history and goals of the LGBTQ+ community, younger generations can grow up to prevent future discrimination against the community and do things like pass legislation that makes us more equal, or protest in protests like Marsha P. Johnson to protect and defend our rights as members of the LGBTQ+ community. People like Marsha P. Johnson and movements like the Stonewall Riots prove to the LGBTQ+ community that our justice needs to be fought for, otherwise it won't be offered to us at all. Pioneering and participating in movements and being activists that strive for the equality and fair treatment of people not afraid to express their unique gender identities and sexual orientations is pivotal to ensuring that the youth 5, 10, or 20 years from now aren’t afraid to be considered different; in fact, they might embrace it as something they were blessed with. During these 4 weeks, don’t forget to realize what this community is really fighting for, because no one else will achieve it for us if we don’t achieve it ourselves. Happy Pride Month! “No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.” -Marsha P. Johnson By Marieliz Cruz
Warning: The following article contains sensitive content that might be upsetting for some of our readers. When I ask myself why being a teenager is so hard, especially as a young woman, there are so many life-changing struggles to consider that are simply a product of the social constructs built around being feminine. It’s expected of you to be perfect. To have a slim figure, to be curvy yet not ‘fat', and to know how to humble yourself and know your place in society. Despite how much you conform to society’s idea of being an ideal woman, it’s still just as difficult to be considered enough to receive recognition for your actions and accomplishments, and even harder to be looked at as a real person. It's hard enough that students have to go to school and have to deal with this on a daily basis while simultaneously trying to be a human with hopes and aspirations. Sometimes our peers (no matter how alike they are to us) even joke about our struggles and how we were perceived in society, maintaining an ongoing cycle of misogyny and perpetuating sexist stereotypes. When it’s surprising to a guy that a woman listens to a certain music artist or has a certain hobby, it’s pretty obvious that our male classmates are implicitly (or explicitly) biased against us. Women, or any gender in general, shouldn’t be uncomfortable or feel unsafe to come to school because of our peers. We are enough, and at the very least worthy of respect. It doesn't matter what people think or say this is what us girls feel on a daily basis. An incredible work of art that highlights gender inequality is a piece by Finley Brightwell, an award winning youth poet. No one should be feeling uncomfortable based on their gender in school or out of school. This is the reality of things. There’s even injustice in dress codes across the country where the rules are more strict towards girls. How are girls distracting to anyone if we're just trying to learn? The audacity of these rule makers who even came up with these ideas years ago to say we’re so distracting that you have to call a parent or guardian so we can change when you are the one distracting everyone by telling me or anyone to change is just not fair in my opinion. Phrases like “It’s a Man’s World” and “Boys will be boys'' are harmful and perpetuate inequality. I constantly see girls laugh something off when a boy says something inappropriate. At this point she is not laughing because it’s funny, she just doesn’t know what to say when someone is making her uncomfortable. Well now we go to school and learn to not take mistreatment, but that doesn’t mean everything is alright. There are women who are even scared to get out of their house. That should not be the case, we should not feel scared. My point is to encourage everyone to talk about topics like these so students understand and are able to educate themselves. This is not something to take lightly so please if you see a girl or any gender uncomfortable at school or anywhere please don't stay quiet. Stand up for them. There is this saying, “Boys will be boys” but here is the thing: Girls will be women, and boys will grow into men so I'll let you think about that. It’s all of our jobs to do our part in making sure when people grow up, they are educated on how to be respectful to people of any gender. By Caylee Brown As March marks the beginning of Women’s History Month in America, understanding the history behind both what America has done for women and what women have done for America plays a pivotal role in modern day feminism and improving the treatment of feminine people so society can progress further. Understanding gender equality activism goes beyond things like the problematic suffragette movements of the 1920’s, and past the average person’s surface level understanding of how sexist stereotypes are perpetuated constantly in today’s society. Women’s History Month, above all things, is a month for acknowledging and attempting to rid society of the misogynistic qualities embedded in it. Much like Black History Month, Women’s History Month was once known as Women’s History Week. First celebrated on a local level at Santa Rosa, California, women’s history was only federally observed by the government when Congress designated the week of March 7th, 1982, to be a week for celebrating the contributions to society that some women made when they were occupying relatively oppressive positions, like being homemakers and looking after children. In 1987, the week of women’s history received an upgrade, and was now federally observed in March as Women’s History Month. Women’s History Month is important to women and non-women alike because it opens the opportunity to educate people about pressing issues in our society that affect women (and sometimes even other genders as a result). By teaching the people around us about inventors who were women, or women who forever changed the gender norm, it encourages and makes way for an otherwise tough talk in our society that some people avoid altogether. Albeit confusing and sometimes difficult to execute/navigate properly, educating youth about things like the gender wage gap ultimately make it easier to combat sexism in society. If our peers are already familiar with the concept of women being disadvantaged by their gender identity, especially if they’re queer or BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), it becomes way easier to have a less taboo talk about equalizing the way we perceive gender, masculinity compared to femininity, and coming up with a solution to these pressing issues. As March marks the beginning of Women’s History Month in America, understanding the history behind both what America has done for women and what women have done for America plays a pivotal role in modern day feminism and improving the treatment of feminine people so society can progress further. Understanding gender equality activism goes beyond things like the problematic suffragette movements of the 1920’s, and past the average person’s surface level understanding of how sexist stereotypes are perpetuated constantly in today’s society. Women’s History Month, above all things, is a month for acknowledging and attempting to rid society of the misogynistic qualities embedded in it. Much like Black History Month, Women’s History Month was once known as Women’s History Week. First celebrated on a local level at Santa Rosa, California, women’s history was only federally observed by the government when Congress designated the week of March 7th, 1982, to be a week for celebrating the contributions to society that some women made when they were occupying relatively oppressive positions, like being homemakers and looking after children. In 1987, the week of women’s history received an upgrade, and was now federally observed in March as Women’s History Month. Women’s History Month is important to women and non-women alike because it opens the opportunity to educate people about pressing issues in our society that affect women (and sometimes even other genders as a result). By teaching the people around us about inventors who were women, or women who forever changed the gender norm, it encourages and makes way for an otherwise tough talk in our society that some people avoid altogether. Albeit confusing and sometimes difficult to execute/navigate properly, educating youth about things like the gender wage gap ultimately make it easier to combat sexism in society. If our peers are already familiar with the concept of women being disadvantaged by their gender identity, especially if they’re queer or BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), it becomes way easier to have a less taboo talk about equalizing the way we perceive gender, masculinity compared to femininity, and coming up with a solution to these pressing issues. Furthermore, observing/celebrating Women’s History Month and acknowledging the agendas and efforts of gender equality activism can also be valuable when looking through the lens of other marginalized communities that are ultimately affected by similar problems. By recognizing the oppressiveness of sexism that disproportionately affects things like income gaps, societal standards, and how femininity is interpreted and objectified, activists have easier access to discussing and combating problems within their historically disenfranchised communities that need the support by using feminism (a widely accepted movement) as a lead in to other issues, like homophobia and racism. Although gender equality is widely accepted and acknowledged among most people, even if not in a positive light, being respectful to women/feminine people is a crucial part of Women’s History Month and observing the month as an educational opportunity to learn more about how sexism has affected women. Without the women in your life, you definitely wouldn’t exist, nor would you know what a dishwasher is (invented by Josephine Cochran)… or how to escape a fire in a building with multiple floors (thanks to Anna Connelly). My point is, make sure you put effort into recognizing how powerful all women are, even if just withstanding the day to day misogyny most of them face (because, as much as it’s minimized, it’s still a struggle). Happy Women’s History Month! By Emma Garceau
Have you ever wondered what the purpose of the various bulletin boards around Washington is for this semester? There is a lot of thought and execution that goes into these boards that help represent the theme of our school. The inspiration behind all these boards is clear. Our Global Studies pride is displayed across our school. Each board has their own distinct features that teaches, inspires, and communicates the World Continent assigned to each cluster. Check out each team’s boards. You can find one on South America, Europe, Asia, Australia/Oceania, and Africa! Mrs. Deane said, “Teams were given creative freedom to design the boards as they saw fit, but could have selected elements of culture/history/facts about the continent.” Please check out one or all these boards around our school. Teams 1 and 9 did South America, Teams 2 and 6 did Europe, Teams 3 and 4 did Asia, Teams 5 and 7 did Australia/Oceania, Teams 8 and Steps did Africa. Even though teams had different countries, everyone worked hard as a school to represent our one Earth. Think about something you learned from a board, or if there is an experience you had from one of the countries that you can relate to. Thanks to the many teachers and students that put time and effort into these boards to help us develop our understanding of World Continents. By Caylee Brown
With the recent implementation of gender neutral bathrooms and pro-LGBTQ+ bulletin boards around the school, Washington’s LGBTQ+ Alliance Club, run by Mr. Gorski, has been recognized for its crucial changes and contributions that have drastically (and undeniably controversially) changed the environment and attitude toward the LGBTQ+ community at our school. Aiming to be more inclusive toward students with varying gender identities and sexual orientations is already a fundamental (and sometimes shied-away from) aspect of unifying any student body, and the Alliance Club is already taken steps to eliminate harmful factors like transphobia that negatively affect our community when it comes to bathrooms. The Alliance Club has also implemented much more covert methods of enhancing LGBTQ+ acceptance that tend to stay within the club but have a positive effect on all members of our community school and city wide, whether we tend to need the extra care or not. Paying careful attention to and shedding light on issues like how healthcare professionals treat members of the trans community, and discussing the process or the inability to/of coming out as queer or trans to one’s guardian are extremely beneficial to their causes. These conversations make a more open-minded society that is able to accept people regardless of their identity. So far, the Alliance Club is succeeding in its goal to make Washington a better place for those with diverse identities and experiences. Inclusivity is an extremely important contribution and step forward to equality. Hopefully their actions of today will positively impact society when preparing for tomorrow and the next generation of LGBTQ+ youth. By Leo Martinez The first fact that might surprise any of our readers is that St. Patrick was not from Ireland. He was born in Britain and was the son of a Christian deacon. However, it is thought that his father only chose this profession due to tax purposes and therefore his family was not as religious as many believed. At the age of 16, St. Patrick was taken as a prisoner by the Irish Raiders. He remained in captivity for six years. While in captivity he was kept away from society and worked as a shepherd. It is during this time that he found comfort in religion. This led to him becoming a devout Christian. St. Patrick made it a passion to convert the Irish into Christians. St. Patrick escaped Ireland on a boat when (legend has it) he claimed he was led to by the voices he heard, presumably the voice of his God. He returned to Britain shortly after, however was soon captured again for a short time and then reunited with his family. St. Patrick became a missionary. Although he wasn’t initially welcomed in Ireland, he became an important figure in Ireland, leading causes for women, the poor and slaves. He also enriched their learning by establishing monasteries. Through all his hard work and dedication St. Patrick is now credited with influencing Ireland’s culture and history. This is why Ireland and several other countries celebrate St. Patrick on March 17th of every year. By Marieliz Cruz Personally I wanted to start this op-ed with the fact that I have two autistic cousins and they are awesome and wonderful. Autism does not define personality or who they are as a person. But what is autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? This refers to a wide range of conditions characterized by challenges with aspects of life including social skills, repetitive behaviors, language and nonverbal communication. Autism, or ASD, affects approximately 1 in 44 children in the United States today. Since autism is fluid and on a spectrum, some people with autism need a lot of attention while others are extremely high-functioning and may not “look” or “seem” what society thinks a person with autism might be like. Even though people with autism may have different struggles, they all are the same as anyone else when it comes to hopes and dreams. These people often see things very differently than neurotypical people through their senses, such as taste, smell, touch, sound, and sight. Sensory sensitivities can have a huge impact on an individual with autism’s everyday life. Sometimes someone with ASD will find things like bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable. They might get anxious or upset about unfamiliar situations and social events. Oftentimes, people with ASD find it hard to communicate and interact with other people, and find it hard to understand how other people think or feel. It is for these reasons that educating ourselves and others about ASD can make a difference. When we accommodate, accept, and celebrate everyone’s needs, we can create an inclusive environment that is great for all! By Sarah High
You might’ve heard about the Snowboard/Ski Club’s most recent trip to Mount Snow in Vermont and you might have the same questions I did. How many kids were there, how was the weather? Was it free, were there chaperones..and other questions may have crossed your mind– We’ve got the answers! On March 11th, 2022, Mr. Schaper, Mrs. Rios, 40 students, and 5 chaperones went onto a bus to reach West Dover, Vermont while the rest of the attendees traveled on their own. It cost around $100 to participate, but attendees agreed it was worth the price in the end. It was a very nice day for outdoor adventure, sunny and in the low 40’s and the temperature softened up the snow making it perfect to ski and snowboard in. The club hit the slopes all morning, met for lunch around mid-day, skied/snowboarded more in the afternoon and then left the mountain around 4:00 PM to make it back to Meriden for 7:00 PM. The trip was an extension activity provided by the WMS club. Regarding the clubs’ activity throughout the school year, members received a special group rate to ski/snowboard at Powder Ridge for 6 weeks from early January to mid-February. The club was founded by Mrs. Fieffer about 8 years ago, and Mr. Schaper feels that it is really neat having so many participants across all of the Meriden public schools involved in the club. To sum it up, The snowboard/ ski club had a great time in Vermont, this extension activity provided by the WMS Ski and Snowboard Club was an utter success! By Caylee Brown Black History Month is undeniably one of the most (if not the most) important and crucial parts of the year dedicated to learning about the history and culture of the backbone of America, the Black community. First observed in 1924, the period spent deepening the public’s knowledge of Black history and achievements annually was first known to Carter G. Woodson’s community as ‘Black History & Literature Week’ that took place on the second week of February. Learning about simple things like the first observance or celebration of Black history by an entire organization or community, while a very effective start to learning about Black history, still leaves a lot of questions for those who haven’t had the chance to learn in depth about such a pivotal aspect of history in their school textbooks. Questions like, ‘what is Black History Month? How does it benefit Black people and the ongoing fight against racial injustice and white supremacy? Who are some influential Black figures? How can non-Black people be better allies during this month and all months of the year?’ are all questions that are an integral part of learning about the people this country relies on. As mentioned previously, the origin of Black History Month brings us back to about 1915, next to the father of Black history, Carter G. Woodson, and a Black history display in the Chicago Coliseum that he was invited to, to celebrate the anniversary of the abolition of slavery. This display inspired Woodson to later envision a week of appreciation, tradition, and enlightenment of Black culture. Taking place in February to encourage deeper thought with Black procurement and accomplishment, this event was a much easier feat to even fathom when structured around the birthdays of famous abolitionist names like Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass. Beyond Woodson’s death in 1950, and despite the publicization and dissemination of Black History Week that eventually caused it to be celebrated around America, Woodson had actually never imagined Black history celebrations to retain their spark in society the way they did. In 1969, students and teachers at Kent University in Ohio pushed for Black History Month to be observed throughout the nation, and in February of 1976 the holiday was federally recognized by President Gerald Ford, describing the under-appreciated triumphs of Black people as, “the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history…” after 6 whole years of it being recognized back at Kent University. Despite making an appearance in our calendars every February (the shortest month of the year) it doesn’t always do proper justice dealt to the Black community. Nonetheless, February is vital to Black representation and empowerment. Racial injustices and white supremacy that still exists in a modern-day setting is well-combated (or at least given the slightest chance of not succeeding) when considering the education and empowerment that goes on during Black History Month. It’s no secret that having a month dedicated to focusing on the Black community is a gateway for bringing light to issues like police brutality and systematic racism that are fundamental in racial equality activism and still occur to this day. Even things like educating people inside and outside of the community on historical Black figures they don’t manage to teach in school, or deconstructing and speaking out against racial stereotypes and profiling that negatively affect Black people are crucial moments and make big differences in ensuring equal justice in America that should be recognized all year long. Black History Month provides Black people with a few crucial weeks to have a reason to be proud of their Blackness and the culture/heritage behind it. Black figures and the achievements they’ve made in the past and the present heavily impact the way America functions today, whether it be Black people being the blueprint for ‘slang’ used today, or Black women literally inventing home security and the hairbrush. Lyda Newman (inventor of the hairbrush) and Marie Van Brittan Brown (inventor of home security) are both credited with patenting their own inventions that present-day Americans simply wouldn’t be able to function without, whether it be billionaires or people with a decent sense of personal hygiene. Beyond being the reason most people don’t have matted hair and a padlock collection, historical figures like Claudette Colvin and Ida B. Wells-Barnett are people that most students don’t even learn about in their school curriculum. Claudette Colvin, born in 1939, who grew up during the Jim Crow era, was pregnant as a teenager when she refused to give up her seat 9 months before Rosa Parks, even inspiring Parks to do the same. Ida B. Wells, born in 1862, was a Black suffragette who spoke against lynching and the restriction against women (especially Black women) voting. Yet, all of these people share the common experience of being discredited and discriminated against based on their race despite being perfectly competent with what they do, morally or scientifically. Modern day Black figures, like Beyoncé, Ketanji Brown, and Amanda Gorman still pave the way in American history with their achievements and dedication. Beyoncé, born in 1981, is a popular figure in the music industry that has been gifted with the title of many of music’s ‘firsts’. She was the first Black woman to headline Coachella in 2018, after nearly 20 years of the music festival’s origin, and was also the first Black woman to win an ASCAP for songwriting. Ketanji Brown, born in 1970, was the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court. She sets in motion the evolution of representation in the Supreme Court, and is hopefully the start to a Supreme Court that truly represents American citizens. Amanda Gorman, born in 1998, is an American poet best known for her presentation of ‘The Hill We Climb’, a poem she read at the inauguration of President Joe Biden in January of 2021. Gorman proved to be the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate. Modern Black figures prove themselves as inspiration for Black youth around the world in fighting racial injustices, even in their own industries. Allyship (especially during Black History Month) from non-Black people is undeniably valuable to fighting race inequality and white supremacy internationally. Because (specifically) white people have historically been the perpetrators of colonization and racist ideology, the importance of allyship and at least attempting to repay for the damage of these issues is essential. As Emmanuel Acho says, “True allyship demands that it moves from conversation to action.” Addressing issues with one’s self and how they address topics like white fragility (how a white person reacts to being called out on their implicit racial biases as a result of being sheltered from these issues) and performative activism is considered the first and most important step towards being an ally. Being ‘racially color blind’ would be setting America back a few steps in the activism department, while calling out racism, especially microaggressive racism, is a core part of racial activism. By standing up to these injustices, it becomes harder for things like racial profiling and police brutality to succeed in a community where it isn’t welcome by increasingly more people. Being an ally to the Black community is one of the most important things to be during Black History Month as a non-Black person. While these 28 days may not be the longest, their history and meaning will most definitely make them some of the most enjoyable days of the year, and something to look forward to every time New Years rolls around. Learning about and treasuring the heritage and culture of the Black community, it’s figures, it’s traditions, it’s generous contributions to other communities, and it’s messages will hopefully make 2022’s Black History Month one to remember. Happy Black History Month! |
Archives
May 2022
Categories |