How Waste Affects Our Lives
How much waste do you throw out day by day? It’s probably quite a lot, isn’t it? Especially if you’ve got more than one or two people living with you!
How much waste do you throw out day by day? It’s probably quite a lot, isn’t it? Especially if you’ve got more than one or two people living with you! And it’s because of this seemingly unstoppable tide of waste that we’ve all started to think a lot more about the climate around us.
More and more people are looking to live a zero waste lifestyle, simply because of how much damage household waste can do to both ourselves and the environment around us. And because of this fact, it’s a good idea to delve a little more into the details; why is waste such a dangerous concept? And if left unchecked, how would it change our lives?
Contaminates Our Air
Some waste we chuck out puts gases and all other kinds of particles into the air. Even just leaving the trash for longer than a day causes it to smell worse than anything else in the house, so just imagine what’s really whirling around your head!
Plus, the more waste we have, the worse the local pollution is going to be - it leads to mismanagement, and if you’ve got a lot of other responsibilities on your plate, you’re probably going to forget to take that bag of junk out to be taken away.
So, there could be some toxic substances lingering in the air; rotting food, for example, can release a lot of methane, which is one of the worst greenhouse gases currently affecting our climate.
Contaminates Our Water
Water pollution is rampant; runoff from fields, sewage, oil, and of course, plastic. About 12.7 million tonnes of plastic is dumped into water around the world every year, mostly into oceans, which harms both marine and ground animal life. However, taking pollution out of the water is not a lost cause, and you can easily give up plastic in your own household too.
Indeed, many companies out there make use of an OWS System, to refine wastewater into water that can be released into sewers and other non-usable water supplies. It’s much better to put it back out there, with as few chemicals and toxic substances in it as possible, than just releasing it as is. And being able to implement such a system isn’t hard either, as more and more companies are taking up the mantle.
Contaminates Our Soil
And finally, waste amounts lead to contamination of the earth around us as well, namely, the soil in our gardens and under our houses. Soil gets the worst of waste contamination, simply because it absorbs everything, and it’s everywhere!
Now, maybe you find it hard to get your vegetable garden going during the spring? It could be because the soil is damaged. Dealing with contaminated soil can be done via flushing it, burning, or using bugs such as worms.
So, waste affects our lives in many ways. Make sure you’re aware of how it can ruin these three essential parts of the earth around us.
Why Respectability Politics Doesn't Work
Oftentimes, in the black community, black parents, uncles and other family members will encourage the youth to pursue their education in hopes of attaining the American Dream.
Oftentimes, in the black community, black parents, uncles and other family members will encourage the youth to pursue their education in hopes of attaining the American Dream. Education is seen as a ticket to solving life’s problems as an underrepresented race in America. They might also say something along the lines of “don’t you think you should get your haircut” if a black man has dreadlocks or “be careful not to give off the wrong impression,” if a young lady’s sartorial presentation doesn’t fall within the Eurocentric standards of professionalism. Although old heads often say these things with good intent, not only are they damaging to those on the receiving ends of them, but they aren’t particularly protective measures either.
The reality is that no matter your credentials, if your hair is in an afro or permed, if you have on a suit or tennis shoes, non-black people tend to merely see you as black. Whenever a black male is approached by an officer, they aren’t considering whether or not that man has an advanced degree or a six-figure salary. The black PhD is hated in America just as much as a black person who works as the corner store in an urban area. Remember that.
Photo Credit:
Obama - Chesnot/Getty Images (USA Today)
Snoop - John Parra/Getty Images (billboard)
Will We Finally See Teams Scrap Names That Are Offensive to Native Americans?
We are seemingly on the cusp of professional sports teams altering names and logos that are offensive to Native Americans. Aside from the obvious reasons of getting with the times and doing their part to fight racism, teams could also see benefits with a new identity.
As we begin to finally address the ugly history of the United States in a genuine way many have called for change in a variety of forms, including the renaming of certain sports franchises. The two most prominent franchises in the discussion are the NFL team in Washington, D.C. and the MLB team in Cleveland, both of which use names based on Native Americans.
Changing the names of these franchises and similar teams has been discussed for years, but momentum to actually do so has never been greater than it is right now. FedEx, who sponsor Washington’s NFL stadium, have publicly called for the team to change its name. Cleveland’s manager, Terry Francona, has voiced his support for a name change. But there are still plenty of people out there who believe changing the names these franchises have had for decades is blasphemous and breaks tradition.
The issue with that argument is that neither of these teams have much history or tradition to celebrate under the usage of its respective names. Cleveland has only two World Series titles to its name, the fewest among the eight original teams that have been in the American League since 1901. Cleveland also has the longest ongoing title drought in MLB, its last championship came in 1948. Washington has faired slightly better with three Super Bowl titles, but it has lacked recent success having won only two playoff games in the 21st century. Not to mention the frequent chants of “sell the team!” that took place at FedExField over the last year. Clearly nothing else these teams are doing is leading to success, so a complete change in names and uniforms certainly can’t hurt.
In fact, an overhaul of identity could benefit these teams. While some hardheaded fans may abandon their team after a name change, many will stick with the team and will need to replace all of the hats, jerseys and other merchandise they have purchased that feature the old name and logo. These teams could see a huge increase in merchandise sales, especially if the new name and logos are done well and are aesthetically pleasing.
Teams changing names because of public outcry is also nowhere near as unprecedented as some are making it out to be. The Tampa Bay Rays were originally the Devil Rays before religious groups expressed their discontent with having the word ‘Devil’ in its name, a fate the New Jersey Devils have somehow avoided. The Houston Astros were called the Colt .45s its first three seasons before management realized advertising a firearm in the team name may not be the best idea.
But this is all secondary to the primary reason these names should be changed, which is that they are racial slurs that are offensive to Native Americans. If a team changes its name and logo and suddenly experiences success on the field and financially that it did not experience before, then good for the team. But if teams have had to change their names in the past because of religious reasons or to not promote the sale of firearms, then teams should definitely have to change their names if they are rooted in racist rhetoric.
Photos courtesy of Ballpark Digest and Sports Teams Wiki.
Report: Michael Rosen
To Be Black In An Anti-Black World
Being black in America and the world at large is has many benefits but they certainly come with a cost.
Source: Vox Media
To be black is certainly a privilege in that we’re given the opportunity to freely partake in a diverse culture that spans across the globe. However, there are number of inconveniences that we experience in various places and at various stages, that can make it incredibly difficult to be a black person in this world.
“You Talk So White.”
Oftentimes, if you’re a black person and you have an expansive lexicon or speak with a certain cadence, you’re told that you “talk white.” This occurs to black people both by other black people, along with whites. And it still happens to this day.
The Code Switch
Let’s take it a step further. When you’re a black person entering the workforce, specifically in corporate and academic spaces, there’s a tendency that is taught and developed called “code switching.” Code switching is an assimilated (socially affiliated with “white”) way of speaking that deviates from using vernacular and informal ways of speech that are commonly said within the black community.
Source: Travel Noire
“Do They Like Black People Here?”
I’ll never forget when I took my first international trip. It was a school trip to Italy, and I was the only dark-skinned black male there. Prior heading to the airport, I found myself googling questions such as “How are black people treated in Rome?” and “Is Florence, Italy black-friendly?” These are not questions that any 16 year-old should be googling before their first international trip.
Source: Pinterest
Black People Who Work At *Insert Here*
Most black people, again, specifically within corporate and academic spaces have had to cope with being the only black person in the room some or all of the time. Therefore, there’s an inclination for us to do research, whether on LinkedIn or a masthead, on black people who work at a specific organization. Appropriate and intentionally diverse hiring practices aimed at hiring black staff and leadership should be more common than it is.
Photo 3 - Vox Media
Photo 2 - Courtesy Travel Noire
Photo 1 - She's Single/Pinterest
Report: Julian Alexander Randall
Five Films to Watch Right Now
From Killer Mike's "Trigger Warning" to "The Gospel According to Andre," here you'll find a list of films that represent and dissect the issues impacting the black community and fashion community alike.
Today’s sociopolitical landscape has allowed for the emergence of feelings that have been long suppressed by marginalized groups across multiple sectors. Similar to the misconduct of governmental officials to black people, the fashion industry has also been largely criticized for its lack of black representation on multiple fronts. If you’re interested in learning about how these issues intersect, I highly recommend giving these films a watch.
Trigger Warning with Killer Mike
In this docuseries, rapper Killer Mike embarks on a three-day challenge, in which he only consumes black-owned products. This film highlights the highly intersectional social issues involving race and class in America.
The Gospel According to Andre
One of Vogue’s former contributing editors Andre Leon Talley was one of the only black male editors to reach the level of creative director at a Conde Nast publication, until Edward Enninful. His documentary discusses the successes, challenges, and journeys that Talley navigated as a black fashion professional.
13th
This heavy yet informative documentary provides critical commentary on a multiplicity of issues affecting the black community. It provides a historical analysis of the governmental failings that have and continue to keep black people oppressed.
The September Issue
The September Issue is the single most accurate representation of the recently called out misbehavior of Anna Wintour, EIC at Vogue Magazine. The Devil Wears Prada does it justice, but this documentary allows us to see it firsthand.
Just Mercy
If Jamie Foxx and Michael B. Jordan being the main characters isn’t enough, I’m afraid you’ll have to see it for yourself.
Photo Credits:
ALT: WWD
13th: Vimeo
Just Mercy: Film Affinity Australia
The September Issue: IMBD
Trigger Warning: Vanyaland
Report: Julian Alexander Randall
Ariana Grande and the Issue of Fetishized Racial Ambiguity
The concept of “racial ambiguity” disconnects people from their identity and culture. Celebrities who capitalise on this only serve to worsen the problem.
When I was in high school, a beauty industry insider told me that I should consider becoming a model because I'm “ethnically ambiguous”. I have never been a stranger to comments like this; most people either try to guess what country my parents are from or decide to directly ask me out of their own intense curiosity. I have been labeled as Latinx. I have been assumed to be from the Mediterranean. I have been met with shock when I offer up my Asian roots on a platter of explanations. More times than not, I have been asked "are you sure you're Asian?"
The memory of this encounter resurfaced for me when a friend turned to me and stated, “wait, I thought Ariana Grande was Latinx”. I refuted, explaining that the pop star is an Italian-American white woman with a penchant for appropriating black culture. My friend turned to their brother to ask if he knew she was white, only for him to exclaim surprise as well.
Alongside the memory, I also felt an old bubble of bitterness arise in me. What had struck me most about my exchange with that woman was the blatant fetishization of my skin for media consumption. When I had asked the woman what she meant by “ethnically ambiguous”, she explained to me that I was marketable because I appeared as everything and yet nothing at the same time. In her eyes, my skin was malleable at the hands of the masses; I was to toss aside my roots in order to be valuable. It was solely this lack of perceivable identity that placed a sudden and weighty worth on my shoulders.
Ariana Grande’s image does nothing to aid the struggles of those with features that her fellow white onlookers cannot identify. She not only appropriates black culture but tans to the point of appearing something, anything, other than white. This appeal that she caters to, the decolouring of music made largely by and for people of colour, stands at the same point that I was told to model on. She capitalises on a false identity; I was told to capitalise on my supposed lack of identity.
Representation is something that matters. There is not one image, one kind of face, behind any race. I am Southeast Asian and it is something I am truly proud of. Just because I don’t look like what people assume to be Asian does not mean that I am not. I implore those out there who have faced similar struggles with the question of identity to not let others’ opinions define you. You are who you are. Embrace it fully!
Photo Credit 1: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/mb8pan/ariana-grandes-wax-figure-is-her-minus-pretending-to-be-black
Photo Credit 2: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/proof/2013/09/17/visualizing-change/
Report: Nicolette Schneiderman
All About the Benjamins
Rising celeb B.Simone has heads turning from her comments recently.
Rising celeb B.Simone has heads turning from her comments recently. Following her comments with the black lives matter protests and her stance on the situation, B.Simone expressed in an interview with Nick Cannon that her future boyfriend can’t work a 9-5 job. She prefers a “hustling entrepreneur” or a man with a CEO status.
While its always a great thing for someone to have a drive and passion for what they do in life, a lot of important entrepreneurial skills come from 9-5 jobs. Many people who have dreams of owning their own business understand the difficulties that come with it, knowing that although it’s not impossible its a challenge.
Part of owning a business is knowing that you’ll put in much more money than you’ll initially get out. Understanding that it can take a couple of years before seeing a substantial profit from business and in an instant, it can all fall apart just because of how unpredictable the business world is.
It makes you wonder where was B.Simone before her very new famous status? While she may have been hustling for a long time, it is only now that her name is really known in the media.
Its understandable to want a man who has career goals, whether he’s a CEO or an investment banker, or a lawyer shouldn’t matter as long as he is willing to build with you. Everyone has to be willing to meet in the middle because the finished product of a person has nothing to offer besides materialism.
Everyone has standards when it comes to dating. Knowing what you want is important, but sometimes you don’t always know what’s best for you. Have high standards in what you deserve rather than what a man has to have going in order to be with you.
Photo Credit:
https://theblast.com/133098/b-simone-has-social-media-buzzing-after-saying-her-future-boyfri
https://img.srgcdn.com/e//UFhIY252aGtKQ1haNlZQcjdPWHMuanBn.jpg
Report: Josephine Coiscou
I'm Black & I'm Proud: Songs to Uplift our Community
Black people have been fighting for equality for centuries. Sometimes it's hard staying positive during these dark times. We need a reminder that black is beautiful and amazing. These five songs have helped me work throughout these times and find my strength to keep pushing forward.
The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery are only the tip of the iceberg when addressing black lives lost to racism. At a time when blackness is seen as a weapon, it is hard to stay prideful and inspired. It’s difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We need a reminder of how great blackness is. Music is the soundtrack to life. Music is what has helped the black community through our greatest struggles. That is what motivated me to make the list of song that has helped me stay inspired and prideful this last week.
I’m Black & I’m Proud - James Brown
James Brown could not say it better! The funk song was written in 1968 but still speaks to many of the issues the black community faces currently. Addressing the need for black empowerment. This song is number one because right now black equates to “criminal” or “dangerous”. Instead, black people need a reminder of how amazing we are and take pride in how far we have gotten.
Alright - Kendrick Lamar
Used back in 2015 by young activists when protesting police brutality this song became coined the “unifying soundtrack of the movement”. This song is a message of hope, telling us that we will be okay as long as we are in this together.
Keep Ya Head Up - 2Pac
This track uplifts and defends black women. Written when Tupac was only 21, this song addresses how black women are often stereotyped and taken advantage of in and outside of our community. Instead, Pac used this song to show the strength and the importance black women are to the community.
Freedom - Beyoncé
The title speaks for itself. This song performed by Beyonce is meant to elevate the black people and demands “freedom” for oppressive authorities. The music video also illuminates the beauty, softness, and the strength black women exude, showcasing the mothers of Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner holding pictures of their sons. Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar touch on the issues black women face as well as the social injustices the black community faces as a group.
Fight The Power - Public Enemy
We have all heard this phrase before. This song is the reminder we all might need to continue to do our part if we want to reform to the police and justice systems. This song is on my list not because of its super uplifting but because it reminded me that we have the power to change our communities and government. So than months from now, our voices are still being heard.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia.com
Report: Lauren Tucker
BLACK FASHION SCHOLARS WHOSE WORK YOU SHOULD FOLLOW
These fashion educators are impacting lives and conducting innovative research at the intersections of fashion and black studies. In times like these, we need voices like these to continue to unpack the layers existing within fashion, culture and race.
Alongside many editors, stylists and designers in the fashion industry, there are many fashion scholars who’re making positive contributions to the industry also. These researchers dedicate their time to not only teaching but advancing their studies at the intersection of fashion and race.
Eric Darnell Pritchard
Dr. Pritchard, Associate Professor of English at University of Buffalo (SUNY), is a writer, teacher, and self-proclaimed “Feminist Alchemist.” His research ranges from queerness, gender and sexuality to fashion and rhetoric. The professor is currently writing a book about Patrick Kelly.
Rikki Byrd
Rikki Byrd is currently a doctoral student at Northwestern University, in the department of African American Studies. Prior to attending Northwestern, she obtained a Masters in Fashion Studies from Parsons at The New School. Byrd’s research involves fashion, visual culture and contemporary black art. She is also the founder of The Fashion and Race Syllabus.
Kimberly Jenkins
Kimberly Jenkins, former student and Adjunct Professor at Parsons in New York City, is now an Assistant Professor at Ryerson University. Her work has been featured in countless magazines and she knows fashion history like the back of her hand. Jenkins was also afforded the opportunity to consult Gucci on their diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Jonathan M. Square
Professor Square is a historian and teacher at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts. His research focuses on history, fashion and visual culture within the African Diaspora. With degrees from NYU and Cornell, Dr. Square gives lectures at various institutions, on his research.
Report: Julian Randall
History Just Repeats
Living in my community, we face this struggle way too much to choose whether we are going to be Martin's or Malcolm's and in fear of letting go of our family and friends because they might become the new statistic. Each way we have chosen to protest has inched us closer to what we dream our children and grandchildren will see in the future, true equality.
Living in my community, we face this struggle way too much to choose whether we are going to be Martin's or Malcolm's and in fear of letting go of our family and friends because they might become the new statistic. Protests have been happening since the early 13th Century but for African Americans our first protest was July 28th, 1917 and is known as the Silent protest. African American men, women and children came together and marched through the streets of Midtown Manhattan in silence with only the sound of drums playing. They were mourning those who were killed in a wave of Anti-African American violence all over the nation. This was a peaceful protest nearly 50 years before the March on Washington and it sparked the protest era.
As the years progressed so did the protests, Rosa Parks sat, Martin marched and Maclom fought for our right to be treated equally. Each way we have chosen to protest has inched us closer to what we dream our children and grandchildren will see in the future, true equality. The Black Panther Movement, formed in 1966, was originally created for the self defense of our community against police brutality. Black Panthers saw the brutality against protesters as a long history of police violence and oppression. They believed that non-violence protest would not liberate Black Americans.
The Black Panther were here to serve the people and advocate for the community reform. Most Black Panthers chapters were led by women and their main focus was to focus on survival programs. Survival programs sponsored schools, legal aid offices,clothing distribution, local transportation and health clinics for the black community. All of this to say we as black people are fighting to live and be treated fairly in a world which seems to never want us to live in peace.
Today, we are repeating the same history we have been fighting for years. Whether we fight like Malcom, march like Martin, sit like Rosa, or protect and defend like the Black Panthers, we are still fighting a constant battle to show that we are human and we want to live and be treated like we treat everyone else. Our fight will continue and hopefully sometime in the future we will reach a point where Martin’s dream will truly be a reality. Until that day arrives we will continue to protest in a variety of ways. Some forms of protest the general public may understand more than others but just remember no matter how it’s done everyone is fighting for the same goal, to be treated equally.
Photo Credit:
Black Panther - ThoughtCo
Rosa Parks - The Guardian
Malcolm X - People's World
Martin - NC Museum of History
Black Lives Matter - The Conversation
Report: Maya Howard
Black People Are Not An Antiracism Course
Educating yourself on issues affecting the black community is more important than ever. But it's also important to utilize the resources around you to gain a better understanding of those issues. Your friend can be a starting point, but you try to take it from there.
In light of the unlawful killings of Ahmaud Arbery, and more recently, George Floyd, there has been a resurgence amongst non-black people to educate themselves on social issues that directly impact black people. Thus, they tend to turn to black people for book recommendations, resources and other educational materials to better themselves in this area. Although most black people are willing to answer questions and provide resources to non-black people that will aid them in a better understanding of black issues, we are not an antiracism course. Black people are not an antiracism course. As a black person in America, continuing to explain black plight to white and other non-black people is a mentally and emotionally laborious task that should not always solely rely on us. I, as a black American citizen, am not responsible for the totality of a non-black person’s understanding of police brutality, white supremacy, racism, etc.
The majority of us have more than likely either been a student or employee. In both of these instances, at one point or another, we were expected to learn something new and had to utilize the resources around us to learn it. I want to encourage people to apply that same practice when it comes to their education on social issues involving the black community. However, one does not have to acquire all of the knowledge and education in order to speak out against antiracism and police violence. The poetic, complex and verbose statements that we’re seeing in Instagram captions are not necessary in order to develop an effective message. Simple phrases such as “End police brutality,” “Value black lives,” and “Stop killing black men and women,” are simple statements that draw attention to the multiplicity of issues we’re facing societally. Empathy and common sense are the only prerequisites necessary to understand that there are grave injustices at place in America that warrant a global outcry.
Report: Julian Alexander Randall
When Enough Is Enough.
“The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth- African proverb"- @CharlesMBlow
“The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth- African proverb”, tweeted @CharlesMBlow. Following the premeditated murder of George Floyd, citizens of Minniapolis and many other cities took to the streets to seek justice. This is not the first time an unarmed African American has been killed for no reason other than the color of their skin. In fact, the black community has also recently mourned the losses of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Sean Reed in Indianapolis, and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, all victims of hate crimes. “Coincidently”, none of these murders have seen justice and sadly, I doubt that they will. These protests are happening because black people are tired of begging for their lives to be considered valuable. For centuries, black lives have been disregarded; enough is enough. Racial injustice can no longer be swept under the rug.
In 2016, Colin Kaepernick decided he would kneel during the national anthem of every NFL game in protest against police brutality. Kaepernick was peaceful, but people still refused to listen to him. People misconstrued his protest, thinking he was disrespecting the military and the flag, even after he made his intentions clear. This same police brutality that Kaepernick protested against continues to happen and continues to be overlooked by the leader of our nation and some of our fellow citizens. Unfortunately, some people do not want to acknowledge the truth because living in a country built on lies benefits them. Some people think that there is a more peaceful way to get justice, but being peaceful has not been proven to work. What do you do when the people that are supposed to protect and serve are killing you instead?
America has never been united or equal. Racism is so deeply embedded into this country that some people would rather protest a pandemic than protest the lack of justice for the innocent killings of African Americans. These protests all around the country are passageways to creating better lives for future generations. Just as my ancestors fought for me, it would be inconsiderate if I did not do the same for my successors. BLACK LIVES MATTER every second of everyday, not because we make you money, but because we are people who deserve to be treated as such. We are tired people, who deserve much more than this country has given us. We are protesting because we want justice and change. We want to feel safe in our blackness; we deserve to be safe.
Photo credits:
Building on fire: @slate_mk.2
Kaepernick/King photo: @thatlaundry
Trump Tower photo: @mark.c
Report: Brionna Thompson
Resources to Support Black Bodies in America
This is a compilation of links that people can use to donate to relief funds, black creators, and justice resources in regards to the George Floyd protests.
On May 25, George Floyd was murdered by police officer Derek Chauvin. Since the incident, protests and riots have broken out in a clear and loud attempt to combat police brutality. Many arrests have been made, and the Minnesota Freedom Fund has been working hard to aid those in jail. Following the massive wave of financial support they’ve received, they’ve requested that donors shift their focus to helping other organizations and independent creators. The following is a list of donation funds, bail funds, and black owned businesses that people can support.
Business Relief
Helping Hands - Access PR Black Owned Small Business Relief
We Love Lake Street
Northside Funders Group
Atlanta Black Owned Business Relief
Guns and Roses Boutique
Dallas Black Owned Business Relief
Black Creators
Uncle Funky’s Daughter (haircare)
Coloured Raine (makeup)
Silhouette Stylez (clothing)
Nubian Skin (clothing)
The Berry Shop (accessories)
Auctober Lover (jewelry)
So Beadiful (Jewelry)
BLK & BOLD (coffee)
Caribreoso Flavour Boutique (spices)
Justice Resources
Black Lives Matter
Black Visions Collective
Reclaim the Block
MOODI Cultural Resource Center
List of Community Bail Funds by State
Further Resources, Links, and Information
This is not a complete list by any means. It is meant to be a start to the process– it is important to support as many roads as possible that aid the fight for justice. By funding those who are oppressed by the system, change becomes possible.
Report: Nicolette Schneiderman
Brands Built off Black Culture are Really Quiet Right Now
Brands built off of black popularity and black pop culture should really have more to say than just a single post about recent events
It has been an insane week. Unforgettable and heartbreaking. We are living in the times when black people are being killed just for being black. Over the past couple of days we have seen thousands, millions around the country marching and protesting in the name of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and the countless names killed at the hands of the police. Now is when it is so important for our voices to be heard.
On social media you can’t help but see videos and photos of the last few days. You see people speaking out, sharing petitions, links to donate and where to organize for the next protest. What you also see or don’t are the brands getting behind the #BlackLivesMatter movement. It was the brands that did not speak out that got some attention, and it was because their brand has been built off of black people.
Brands like PrettyLittleThing (PLT) and Fashion Nova rely on their black followers and influencers to boost their products. You would think that they would be the first to speak up, right? PLT has been very active in the comment sections of every #VERZUZ battle on Instagram, but it was only on Saturday that they chose to share their thoughts on what has been happening. A now deleted tweet depicting a hand in hand drawing with “Stand together,” written underneath. See the deleted tweet below. Fashion Nova, has one post of George Floyd lost in the mix of all of their posts of a sale and products. I would think that a fashion brand that embedded themselves in black culture would have a bit more to say.
In a video posted from the protest in Atlanta, there were protesters looting in Gucci. The Italian fashion brand did not comment on the event, but on their instagram they shared a poem about racism. Cute, but not enough. First, it wasn’t even something with thought into it, I have seen that same photo of a poem everywhere on instagram. Second, the caption was just a mention of the poet. You can see the post down below. Lasty, Gucci is Gucci because of black people. The brand has been worn by countless black celebrities. And it can easily be said that it is because of black pop culture why Gucci is so popular. Can’t forget to mention the racist sweater Gucci tried to sell the world last year. Or how they blatantly copied Dapper Dan in 2017 and said it was “homage.” A brand whose rise to popularity in America by Black Americans needs to use their platform to speak up.
Brands with their lack of acknowledgement of the last week has taught me who and who not to buy from. There are more brands who had a lack of things to say or post, share them with us @accessreport and tell us your thoughts on this issue.
Report: Bria Ward
Imagination Can Lead to a Deeper Meaning
Creativity is just the beginning
Creativity can be found in anyone. From markers, color pencils, and crayons there is always going to be a way to let your creativity run wild. When a toy/kids company makes a statement about diversity you have to listen because kids are next generation. Have you ever been coloring and can’t find the right shade for a princess or prince? Well, I am so excited to share this brand new product from the creators of Crayloa. Crayloa is a company that was founded by two cousins named Edwin Binney and C.Harold Smith in 1885 in New York City. It was originally named Binney & Smith Company until 2007. In the late 2007s the company name was changed to Crayloa because it would reflect one syllabus name. As time went on fast forward to 2020 the brand has become one of the most popular for kids and parents when it came time for arts and crafts. That’s why it is so important for Crayloa to come with colors of the world skin tone crayons. This product contains “24 colors representing people of the world and 8 crayons for eyes and hair”. This crayon box represents that Crayloa is getting more diverse and want children to understand the variety of skin tones and how different they are from their own skin tone.
Report: Tykaia Rose
Open Letter From Access PR
Social injustices and racism have plagued our society for far too long. The time for change is now.
Dear Friend,
What were you doing at this time a week ago? Maybe you were working out, grocery shopping, or spending time with your family? I bet you didn’t expect to find yourself watching the death of a black man by police, yet again. Or maybe you did… It makes you wonder, how many more times are we going to go through this?
First and foremost, we at Access PR want to offer our deepest condolences to the loved ones of George Floyd. His name will be among the many we remember as all of us fight for in demand for justice and respect.
In response to the recent events of protesting all over the U.S. and internationally, we are in full support of this outrage. If you’re wondering what’s the point or what the big deal is, then you’re apart of the problem. If you’re not disturbed by the murder of a black man at the hands of police, then you’re apart of the problem. If you see nothing wrong with the unlawful, inhumane, and racist treatment of black people all over the country at the hands of police, then you’re apart of the problem.
In a time when the color of your skin is a threat, you’re already a target and anything you do can cost you your life, even if you comply. When we’re faced with racist police officers beating and killing us, a President who favors and encourages them, what must we do? We must scream, chant, and march.
We must scream in outrage. We must chant in protest. We must march in unity. Enough is enough. It won’t stop unless we make a change. In a world where you wonder when black lives will actually matter, the answer is when we make them matter. So yes, we scream, we chant, and we march. It’s more than making a statement, we’re making a point that black lives matter.
It’s about creating a peace that makes it so our future children don't have to live in fear. Stand up, so that you don’t have to wonder if you’re next. Let’s move to end racism. Let’s move to end police brutality. It’s time to make our voices heard. We ask you to stand in solidarity and support in the best ways you know how; peaceful protest, spreading awareness through media, organized movements and groups, donations, signing petitions and more.
To all the black men and women out there, we love you and we’re with you.
In support of efforts against racism, we’ve pledge donations to the following organization:
The Movement For Black Lives Funds
Black Visions Collectives
Philadelphia Bail Fund
We’re also creating a fund to support Black Owned Small Business affected by COVID-19 and the recent protests. Donation link to follow.
In favor of change,
Access PR
Privacy in the Public Sphere and the Man on a Bridge
When a man threatened to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, arguments sparked online over whether or not the situation should be publicly documented on social media.
On May 22, NYPD scaled the Brooklyn Bridge in an attempt to secure a man who was threatening to jump off. The man stayed perched on the Manhattan-side tower of the bridge for three hours as cops negotiated with him. At 3 p.m., officers were able to convince him to voluntarily come down before taking him into custody.
“Brooklyn Bridge” was trending on twitter as the negotiations were happening. The tag was full of tweets from onlookers who were posting their worries, wishes, and opinions on the man as he smoked cigarettes from atop the tower.
Arguments sparked over posts that contained photos and videos taken by those watching the scene. Many claimed that openly posting such images was disrespectful to the suffering of the man; these criticisms were often countered with the idea that because the man decided to do this in a public setting, it was a given that there would be people posting recordings.
Reliance on recordings has become commonplace; culture has become largely intertwined with society’s need to digitally collect memories, moments, and events. This though brings up the question of what is and isn’t proper to document, as well as the issue of what is personal when it is put in a public space. Technological documentation has desensitised the public by normalising the expectation that there is no privacy in the online world. Empathy has become overridden by a need to expose and produce.
It is with moments like these, moments in which a human’s suffering is put on full display, that it is important to disconnect from screens and be mindful that there is a beating heart behind every pixelated face. The man on the bridge came down alive, but many do not make the same decision he did. Remembering that everyone should respect the privacy of other’s emotions and humanity can help those in pain heal, move on, and be safe.
Photo credit 1: https://www.nycgo.com/articles/guide-to-the-brooklyn-bridge
Photo credit 2: https://isorepublic.com/photo/capturing-sunset/
Report: Nicolette Schneiderman
The Death Industry, COVID-19, and the Invisibility of Compassion Fatigue
The death industry is facing a sudden surge of bodies because of COVID-19. In the face of this struggle, morticians are doing what they can to take care of those who have passed.
COVID-19 has completely overwhelmed our healthcare workers the past few months. Hospitals have been scrambling to scrape together tests, machinery, and time; as they run low on supplies, they’ve been wracking up sick patients in the ER waiting rooms.
Hospitals aren’t the only places that have seen a sudden increase in bodies though– the death care industry has also experienced an influx of corpses that are in need of care. A Brooklyn funeral home made headlines back in April after an odor was reported wafting from a U-Haul truck parked outside. Upon investigating the report, NYPD discovered approximately 100 bodies stored in the back of the trucks.
When questioned, the owner of the funeral home explained that they had run out of space for all the bodies. As the epicenter of the outbreak, New York City has struggled to manage the body count. Morticians are racing to take care of the corpses that are flooding their establishments. Eric Adams, the Brooklyn Borough President, addressed the situation with the funeral home, stating “we have an emergency going on right now. I’m surprised we don’t have cars stuffed with bodies.”
Adams has begun to put together a task force in an attempt to curtail the problematic overflow. The situation is traumatising for both the families of those who have died and the workers who have to care for them post-mortem. “We’re going to bring people in the room in every aspect of this industry and sit down and hear directly from them what we should be doing to coordinate this operation,” he explained.
Medical workers have been in the public eye as they take care of the living, but those who work in the death care industry are fighting to do what they can to take care of the dead. Now in the time of COVID-19, they are up against a seemingly insurmountable wall of grief and compassion fatigue. Morticians, like nurses and doctors, now have to handle an unprecedented amount of stress that largely goes unacknowledged.
Report: Nicolette Schneiderman
The Power of The Digital Space
The digital space is slowly, but surely changing our societal traditions.
The digital space is slowly, but surely changing our societal traditions. Now that COVID-19 is in the picture, some of these changes might be for the better. For people who are not familiar with the term “brick and mortar”, it is the presence of physical buildings, such as stores, factories, offices, etc. Prior to the pandemic, some brick and mortar stores were struggling financially due to the rise of online shopping. With some malls being closed due to social distancing, many stores will struggle to stay open because they are not generating the necessary revenue to survive this economic crisis. For instance, “J.C. Penney filed for bankruptcy after years of decline and debt”, tweeted @business. Brick and mortar stores depend on traffic and without that it is almost impossible for them to survive.
Surprisingly, in today’s society everyone does not prefer to shop online. There is a nuance to physically shopping in stores, like the ability to try on clothes to make sure that they fit, which online shopping does not offer. Despite that, most people still prefer to shop online. This generation is what some people would consider a “microwave generation” because we prefer to have everything instantly. Online shopping falls in line with this theory because you can make purchases immediately and you do not have to worry about large crowds or long lines.
There are more perks shopping online than in the stores. In many cases, retailers offer broader selections and more deals online. A big part of shopping is finding the best deals, which comparatively brick and mortar stores do not have. Brick and mortar stores have fallen behind because they are unable to offer anything that will set them apart from online shopping.
While brick and mortar is dying, live streaming has become more popular than it already was. Usually, concerts and festivals would be right around the corner. Since those things can not happen, artists have turned to Instagram and Facebook live to hold virtual concerts, the most popular being the battles. These live battles have caused artists’ streams to increase at a rate no concert would be able to do. With so much free time, people are more open to listening to artists they never heard of or cared for, which artists have taken advantage of.
Platforms like Hulu, Netflix, and Prime Video have also seen another spike since the beginning of the pandemic. With movie theaters being closed, many people have turned to these streaming platforms. While most movies and tv shows on these platforms are not new, they do have some original films that have competed with movie theaters and cable in streams. For example, Netflix has produced films like Tiger King, Money Heist, When They See Us, and Orange Is The New Black. The digital space is in the process of redefining the social world. Change is inevitable and now that we’re in the middle of a pandemic, change might come quicker than expected.
Report: Brionna Thompson
Examining Professional Athlete Fashion
Professional athletes are focusing on their fashion choices more than ever before, a trend that may continue with future generations
Professional athletes are not normally known for their fashion choices. They usually have assigned uniforms they have to wear while on the job, but they do get to choose how to look when the camera is still on them before and after the game. While many well-dressed male athletes opt for a simple suit and tie, some have been known to show off much more flamboyant looks. There’s also no shortage of female athletes who know how to dress off the court.
Serena Williams is the perfect example of someone whose athletic ability is complimented by their stylish drip. She recently headlined Sports Illustrated’s fourth annual Fashion 50 list, a ranking of the most fashionable professional athletes put together by a team of sports and fashion experts alike. Williams explained that her ambition to display her chic, empowering style when she isn’t playing goes hand in hand with her mentality as an athlete. “I always try to send the message of just being confident and being fierce,” she said.
There’s no shortage of male athletes who aspire to look confidence and fierce on the field and through their clothes. Many of the athletes from SI’s list play in either the NFL or NBA. Odell Beckham Jr., Russell Westbrook and James Harden are all ranked very high due to their outfits that range from vintage to latest, designer to unconventional, and masculine threads to feminine apparel. There’s also of course Cam Newton, the former Carolina Panthers quarterback and current free agent. He is most known for his headwear, showing up to his press conferences in everything from a Sunday best top hat akin to a traditional churchgoer from the Deep South to bandanas worn in the style of Rosie the Riveter.
While the bigger focus on fashion for athletes has been much more apparent in recent times than in the past, there are still some early trendsetters who loved to wear more than just a suit and tie. Broadway Joe Namath came about as the New York Jets quarterback in the late 1960s and his long hair and cocky attitude represented the cultural changes taking place in the United States at that time. He was also known for wearing fur coats while on the sidelines. Walter "Clyde" Frazier came up around the same time as Namath and appeared in multiple clothing advertisements. He’s still known for his tastes whenever he wears a unique suit during Knicks broadcasts. Then there is Dennis Rodman who frequently changed the color of his hair and even wore the occasional dress.
Still, fashion plays a much larger role for Millennial athletes than previous generations. Nearly everyone on SI’s list was born after 1980. Zoomers, such as Zion Williamson and Lamar Jackson, are just beginning to take over the sports landscape. It’ll be interesting to see how fashion trends change with the new generation and future generations to come.
Photos courtesy of Imgur and Flickr user cliff1066™
Report: Michael Rosen