Will Kanye West be America's Next President?

2020 has been a whirlwind of a year to say the least. We’ve experienced Kobe Bryant’s tragic death, Australian fires, a global pandemic, one of the largest movements in history (BLM), and now…Kanye West has decided to run for President. I wish I could say it’s for a different country, but no, the United States is facing yet another curve ball.

West announced his run for office through a tweet posted on July 4th. Yes, he really announced his run for President through a tweet. Interestingly enough, he hasn’t pulled through on the guidelines needed to actually run for President. He has missed the deadline to file as an independent candidate in many states, he has no political campaign or platform, and still has to get enough signatures to actually make it on the 2020 Presidential Ballot.

As you could have already guessed, many of his fans have shown full support, including Elon Musk. West has been teasing his run for presidency for years, but could this all be for a publicity stunt? He does have a new album coming out named, “God’s Country”. It wouldn’t be the first time West has used politics to gain support for his latest project.

The Kardashians and Mr. West, as entertaining as they may be, have no reason for entering the oval office. The Yeezy designer has made an empire in his fashion and music, but his political agenda is better off a dream rather than a reality!

Report: Kaitlin Gallagher

Beyonce wins BET's 2020 Humanitarian Award

Queen B. Yoncé. Sasha Fierce. Ms. Carter. Just a few nicknames that refer to the one and only Beyoncé. The singer, songwriter, producer, actress, and woman of many more talents has been nominated as BET Networks 2020 Humanitarian Award honoree. From starting her own charity BeyGOOD and implementing multiple humanitarian projects and efforts, it is no surprise that Beyoncé was chosen to receive this special award.

The BET Humanitarian Award is given to a celebrity who makes strides towards bettering communities, a celebrity who understands the significance of philanthropy and dedicates their time and money on working with charitable causes, and Beyoncé fulfills nothing short of this description.

Being the incredible human that she is, Beyoncé donates to more than 35 different charities, including Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Feeding America, and Stand Up To Cancer.

In light of the current protests and efforts to dismantle systemic racism, Beyoncé remains a prominent figure for the Black Lives Matter movement. In her acceptance speech, Beyoncé dedicates the award to all of her brothers and sisters who continue to fight for change, and encourages people to use their voice and power to vote.

On Juneteenth, the anniversary of the emancipation of enslaved people, Beyoncé released a song titled “Black Parade” which celebrates black history and is an ode to her heritage. The musical release comes as no surprise, though, as Beyoncé has always celebrated blackness in her music and remains a symbol for black beauty, grace, and power.

In addition to her recent creative projects that commemorate black heritage, Beyoncé has partnered with Disney on a visual album titled “Black is King” inspired by “The Lion King” that will also pay tribute to Black culture and incorporates the timeless lessons from the movie.

As if BET’s Humanitarian Award isn’t already an honor in itself, the award was presented to Beyoncé by none other than former First Lady, Michelle Obama, who beamed with proud while speaking about the honoree- her dear friend.

Beyoncé’s career thus far has been undoubtedly influential, and in her young life she has already done more than most in philanthropic efforts. She is a star who she shines bright, and is able to radiate that light onto others and help them to create better a better world around them.

Photo credit can be attributed to Google's website.

Report: Alexandra Donnelly

Fashion Education's Diversity Issue

On June 29, 2020, Vogue Business News Editor Annachiara Biondi, wrote an article entitled, “White staff and a white curriculum: Inside fashion education,” which highlighted the fact that “black students and faculty remain underserved and underrepresented in the field.” This story is one that I very deeply resonate with as a fashion student and graduate teaching assistant at one of the top fashion schools in the nation. The fashion education systems diversity issue is one that is now starting to be acknowledged by the industry and is far from separate from what’s going on in the fashion industry.

The cultural and artistic references that many fashion brands pull from are rooted in black culture. However, these influential black fashion figures are not integrated in the fashion curriculum, across disciplines such as design, merchandising, fashion studies and journalism. This is especially problematic due to the fact that there are many black fashion students who change their majors because their work isn’t embraced by their professors. A while back, I had the opportunity to speak with the black undergraduate fashion students on campus about their experience at The Fashion School and by the end of the event, they were all in tears. Academia has to do a much better job and the task forces and conversations are beneficial. But it really comes down to hiring black, tenure-track faculty members so that students can feel free to see themselves in their work.

Fashionista: Alain Jocard/Getty Images

BoF: Shutterstock

Report: Julian Randall

The Danger of Moving on from Movements Too Quickly

What exactly is normal supposed to be when black bodies are being murdered by the people who are supposed to protect them? Protests are still crowding the streets of American cities. Petitions are still being added to sites daily. Black bodies are still being killed. They are still going missing. They are still being unheard.

If you look on social media, it appears like none of this is happening… Or at least as though less people care anymore. Following George Floyd’s murder, people’s Instagram timelines were filled with infographics, petitions, and the controversial black squares. But now? One finds themself scrolling through selfies and homemade cake photos once again. People are posting memes and pictures of their pets on their stories. The social media sphere is once again returning to what it was before the cry for revolution rang out from the buried lungs of BIPOC.

Since the start of the 2020 protests, countless streets and squares have been named after the Black Lives Matter movement. Streaming services are removing episodes of old shows that have blackface in them. White actors are stepping down from their BIPOC voice acting roles... But none of this is enough. These kinds of changes are placating and minimal.

The current state of social media allows for these actions to seem like enough. As the outcry dies down, so does the pressure. Without this pressure, those with political power will not move forward and push for substantial reformation. A return to “normal” is a loss of collective voice– of collective influence.

Don’t stop posting. Don’t stop signing petitions. If you can’t go out and protest, support those who can. This is not the time to act as though your job is done– there is still so much you can use your voice for in this time of revolution.

Report: Nicolette Schneiderman

"Back" To School

With the recent events of the Coronavirus pandemic, schools and universities around the country have had to make severe changes to their academic schedules. Every state has their own set of plans for returning to school in the fall, but many will look similar. In Indiana University Bloomington was one of the first universities to release their school year plan to its students and parents. Returning in the fall is a guarantee, however, their version of the return is quite different than what college students expected. Instead of having in-person classes throughout the entirety of the academic year, Indiana will be going back online after Thanksgiving and hopefully returning to in-person classes in January. Indiana has also eliminated all breaks to where students will return home for a period of time and then arrive back at school. This proves to be important to decrease the chances of spreading the virus through states and through people at school. With all this being said, the virus has proven to be extremely unpredictable. What could happen if the country experiences another surge in cases? What happens if the virus disappears completely? These plans will not work with a surge, but they also will not work with the disappearance of the virus. The biggest concern that parents and students have is the quality of the education they will be receiving. Many do not pay full tuition to attend an online university when the initial plan was to receive the best in-person education they can. It is safe to say that the country will be experiencing many changes within the next few months. These changes will determine the quality of education and the quantity of students attending schools and universities this coming fall.

Picture 1: cappex.com

Picture 2: stnonline.com

Report: Hannah Zaremba

Black Girl in a White World

For years now black women have had to begin adapting to the white culture being young in school and in the workplace. In the black culture, we’re used to having our own jokes and ways of speaking with certain slangs. Typically this is considered unprofessional or “ghetto” to white people.

This causes a black woman to have two different sides of her personality. She develops a persona that is acceptable or tolerable to her white peers in her place of employment. Typically in a corporate setting where black people, in general, make up a small percentage. Some black people have learned to adapt to their white surroundings at a young age and make it part of who they are to give off the “oreo” impression meaning white on the inside, black on the outside. This is how some black people climb the corporate ladder.

For those that don’t believe in conforming to the racially appropriate norms that have been created for them out of expectation this causes a negative effect on a black woman’s mental state. It creates an irritation that leads to some depression, anger, or stress because they feel they are discouraged from speaking their mind without being accused of being aggressive or hostile.

White women have a top tier ranking over black women. Society and the labor market have always had a negative view of black women which has given them a disadvantage in the workforce including negative results in employment practices.

Black women have become mentally defeated in being themselves. This has also lead to more black women becoming entrepreneurs and embracing their own identity of being black without being a threat. Many black women have chosen the path of owning their own business. For the women who don’t choose this path in life, it is important to know how to dominate your personality respectfully in the workplace. Act with authority and demand the proper treatment as you would anywhere else.

Black women must take their power by force, by any means necessary. To respect a black woman is to respect any other human being. The level of respect and fair treatment should not depend on how black a woman is. The black woman will be accepted.

Report: Josephine Coiscou

Justice for Elijah McClain

Elijah Mclain is a young boy who was murdered by police and is now trending on all social media platforms due to his innocent cause of death. In August 2019, police officers in Aurora, Colorado, approached the 23-year-old Elijah McClain while he was walking home from a store near his home. Later that night, the Aurora Police Department said that an anonymous 911 caller had reported a “suspicious person” in a ski mask. When the officers confronted McClain who was not armed and had not committed a crime, they stated that he “resisted arrest.” In the 15 minutes that followed, the officers threw McClain to the ground, put him in a carotid hold, and called first responders, who injected him with ketamine. He had a heart attack on the way to the hospital and died days later after he was declared brain dead.

McClain’s family maintains that law enforcement’s use of excessive force led to his death. However, video of the incident has gone viral on all social media platforms regardless of the fact that it happened a year ago. In the video, it is very evident that Elijah McClain not resisting but was in fact pleading with the officers to release him. The officers were consequently cleared of wrongdoing on the basis of the body-camera footage and an inconclusive autopsy. McClain’s case has attracted people amid national protests against systemic racism and police brutality against Black people.

Photo Credits: @buttonslives @myskincolorisnotacrime @claratheprince

Report: Soila Douce (@soila.xx)

The Dangers of Cancel Culture

Social media is simultaneously one of the best and worst things invented. Throughout this pandemic it has given us the ability to connect despite being physically distant, but cyberbullying is also a very real problem.

One thing that has been popular lately is ‘cancelling’ someone on social media. It typically happens with celebrities, and the idea is simply that if they say or do something wrong everyone trash talks them and stops supporting them. In some cases it makes sense, we all need to be held accountable. No matter how wealthy or influential someone is it doesn’t excuse their being a horrible person. Especially with regard to the many men who still have successful careers despite being accused of assault and harassment. People deserve to know the truth and justice needs to be served.

Oftentimes, people are ‘cancelled’ for ignorance, for being uneducated or for making a mistake. In cases such as this I think that taking the time to forgive and educate holds more potential for change rather than jumping right away to shunning or bullying. Imagine the difference we could make if we use the same level of energy we use to cancel someone to educate them instead. It needs to be normalized to change opinions and views after becoming educated and growing as a person.

There are times when no matter how well known, wealthy or loved someone is we as a public must step away and stop supporting them because of continued abuse of power, of racism, and hate. However, there are times when we should respond to negativity and hate with compassion, instead of jumping to conclusions. Sometimes we need to believe that people really can change and we as a public have the power to educate and change ourselves and others. We all have a voice, no matter our platform, so don’t be afraid to use your power, spread positivity, educate others, together we can make a difference for good in the world.

Report: Rebecca Vanderkooi

Anderson .Paak's "Lockdown" Examines the Current Movement, And Why We Can't Let Up

In the month since George Floyd’s murder we have heard from multiple artists who have spoken about the importance of the protests that have followed. R&B singer/rapper Anderson .Paak dropped a track of his own titled “Lockdown” on Juneteenth that not only discussed the protests, but it also talked about other events that are intertwined with the message behind the protests.

Before the protests began we were all still focused primarily on the COVID-19 outbreak, and .Paak himself asks “Speakin’ of the COVID, is it still goin’ around?” which is followed with the question “Plus unemployment rate, what, forty million now?” It’s hard to ignore the role the pandemic and mass unemployment have had in sparking the protests, especially since the virus has disproportionately affected Black communities and the government’s response to providing help to these communities is nowhere to be found.

But .Paak also touches on some of the more Orwellian aspects of the protests that few other artists have pointed out. He notes the “secret agents” planted in the crowd, a reference to the undercover officers that were spotted in the crowd at multiple protests. It could also be a reference to the uniformed officers that were caught on video destroying storefronts likely in an effort to shift the blame to the protestors. Speaking of destroying storefronts, .Paak also brought up incidents of looting and seems to address the fact that the media focused a lot of its attention on the uncommon incidents of looting and ignored the very common incidents of police brutality that took place at these protests. This is not the first time we’ve seen .Paak get political and spit some woke lyrics, but it is certainly one of the most notable. There is also a version of the song that features a very powerful verse from Jay Rock.

Aside from the lyrics, the beat is a typical smooth, funk inspired instrumental that we’ve come to expect from .Paak. While the sereneness of it may not seem like a great compliment to the distressed lyrics, it encapsulates the faint hopeful tone of the track. His final utterance of “we ain't gotta stop 'cause they tell us to” and the cover art for the track which features .Paak holding a sign that says “The People Are Rising” seems to hint at optimism that real progressive changes will come out of these protests, and we have seen small steps taken in the right direction since the protests began. Police department budgets across the country are being slashed with money being reinvested into communities that desperately need the funds, and the country is slowly reckoning with its past as statues of former Confederate generals and Confederate flags are being taken down.

But the cover art also features the names of 39 people who had their lives taken away by those whose duty is to protect and serve. So, while change may seem inevitable at this point, we can not forgot those who lost their lives because these changes were not implemented sooner.

Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and Irked Music Geek

Report: Michael Rosen

Social Advocacy Groups want Facebook to Stop Hate for Profit

Facebook has been getting more and more pressure from users and companies to check hateful or prejudice comments on their network. The Stop Hate for Profit movement founded by civil rights activist groups is calling for Facebook to do more! To create a more accepting and safe platform for their users. And although the social network has made efforts to make changes in the past it has fallen short of everyone’s expectations. Organizations like the NAACP, Common Sense, and many more have been making efforts to change the platform from years, but there’s more of a push to address the bigotry on the app after the murder of George Floyd. When white supremacists and bigoted comments, as well as misinformation about the murder, were ignored by the network.

The goal of the campaign to have people pull out of buying ad space from Facebook going into July. This boycott also includes Instagram. And although the campaign is still new big names in clothing have taken their stand. Patagonia and The North Face have announced on their social media that they’ll be boycotting the app for the remainder of the month. Aside from clothing, Ben and Jerry has announced that they will not be buying ad space from the network as well.

To learn more about this movement check out the Stop Hate for Profit website. https://www.stophateforprofit.org/demand-change

Photo Credits: stophateforprofit.com

Report: Lauren Tucker

Aunt Jemima and Others to Rebrand to Correct Racial Stereotyping

Many different brands have been looking to support the Black Lives Matter movement. One is Quaker Oats, the owner of 130-year-old Aunt Jemima maple syrup brand. Quaker Oats announced last Wednesday their plans to completely rename and rebrand the syrup, as its origins are based in a racial stereotype reminiscent of American slavery. This change is set to occur as soon as fall of 2020, but the company has not yet announced the new name or look of the product.

Quaker Oats’ decision to make such a radical change set the stage for other companies rooted in racial stereotyping to reevaluate their brand image. Uncle Ben’s Rice, owned by the Mars corporation, plans to rebrand and possibly rename as they announced on Thursday to do away with the image of the Black farmer found on their packaging. Likewise, syrup brand Mrs. Butterworth’s and hot cereal brand Cream of Wheat have intentions of reviewing and reevaluating their packaging and overall brand image in an effort to eradicate lingering racial stereotypes built into their advertising.

Companies’ willingness to reevaluate decades-old branding images is a risky business, but one that needs to happen to combat the systemic racism that so easily goes unnoticed by many. While a syrup bottle with breakfast doesn’t sound like a huge deal, these microaggressions are what keep racism alive in our country. The public is calling on brands using racist advertising, no longer allowing them to be separate from social activism, but instead asking them to create change themselves. Additionally, as more and more companies make promises to change their racist branding, this puts the pressure on other brands and presents the hope for a more promising and lasting impact on American advertising.

Report: Grace Carlos

J.Cole vs. Noname: The Conversation That Needed to be Heard

J Cole recently dropped a surprise song called the Snow on tha Bluff on June 16th, addressing the female activist, Noname and her recent tweet (that has since been deleted) calling out conscious rappers. My first natural reaction was to be angry because the understanding of the message for me came off as an attack on black women. The original message on how I understood it was, I am a black man and as a black woman you need to educate me on things going on because you didn’t struggle like us black men have, so stop nagging.

I took to twitter as well as I asked my black male friend to get a different perspective on what was going on. Now I don’t believe this is a time for this divide to happen between us in the black community because divide and conquer is the mentality that has been instilled for years within our community. Yet, the conversation is needed. Many state that J Cole’s message is being taken out of context.

My friend Larrion broke down Snow on tha Bluff and how the original was a movie from the perspective from a camcorder that was passed around. He states “ It looks authentic but it makes you question if it is real or not.” With social media, we are given a glance at what high profiled people do and create our own reality of what they do and this is J Cole’s perspective. Which is why he feels fake because the perspective in which we see on social media is just a glimpse. This conversation started with Noname addressing rappers who make music on social injustice but are silent outside of the music. But this started a bigger conversation.

Many women took the J Cole song as an attack of telling women specifically black women that we should watch our tones and attitudes and educate men correctly. Black women were asking black men to hold their friends and themselves accountable. Some black men understood and pledged to make a change. Others completely ignored what black women were saying. Women are sexually assaulted, assaulted, put into uncomfortable situations and more. Black women will stand in front of a black man and put her life at risk so that she can save him.

Black men need to see that all we are asking is that instead of telling us to be quiet and not nag but to actually listen. We need black men as much as they need us. We don’t mean just your friends, family or women that you are attracted to but all black women because we would protect you. In this time black men and women should not be divided but united together. Just take the time out to listen to each other and understand each other's point of view. You don’t have to agree but at least understand.

Photo Credit:

J Cole and Noname - insider.com

Noname's tweet - USA New Hub

J Cole's lyrics: Youtube

Tweet: Tumblr

Report: Maya Howard

To Be Black In An Anti-Black World

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

Aunt Jemima and Racism on American Shelves

The smiling face of the Aunt Jemima pancake mix is something many Americans have grown up seeing. Memories of syrupy sweet flapjacks during early morning hours speckle the childhoods of those familiar with the brand; it is both a cult classic and a fan favorite amongst the masses.

What many don’t know is that the brand is built upon deeply racist roots. Aunt Jemima’s name was taken from “Old Aunt Jemima”, a minstrel show song once sung by performers in blackface. The smiling woman on the box is a stereotype of the ‘mammy’ character from slave plantations. She serves as a representation of the happy slave– a representation of a black woman ready and willing to serve white people.

On June 17, Quaker Oats announced that they plan to rebrand Aunt Jemima. The brand has undergone a fair amount of minor image updates through the years, but the company decided that these changes were not enough. Instead, they announced that the brand would return in the fall with a new logo and name.

Many are relieved about this change. It is a step towards removing the normalization of black subservience that lines American grocery shelves. Following Quaker Oats’ announcement to change all Aunt Jemima products, other companies quickly followed suit. Brands such as Uncle Ben’s, Cream of Wheat and Mrs. Buttersworth have also decided to retire their marketing strategy and rebrand their products.

Systemic racism is not only powered by institutionalized hatred but also from everyday stereotypes and commonplace images. The origins of such symbols must be addressed in order to change society into a better one; by trying to revoke the normalization of racist imagery, the perpetual trauma born from such representation can be gradually slowed and hopefully stopped.

Photo 1: https://www.insider.com/best-pancake-mix-store-brand-2017-3

Photo 2: https://thekrazycouponlady.com/2017/12/18/aunt-jemima-pancake-mix-only-1-50-at-walgreens

Report: Nicolette Schneiderman

Juneteenth Flag: It’s Meaning and Symbolic Importance

Source: Dallas News

What comes to mind when you hear the words “red white and blue?”

I would assume the American flag. However there is another flag with the same exact colors and that is the Juneteenth Flag.

The banner with its bold star in the middle is a representation of the end of slavery in the United States.

Activist Ben Haith, founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation, created the flag in 1997 with the help of collaborators, and Boston-based illustrator Lisa Jeanne Graf.

The flag was later revised in 2000 into the version we know today, according to the National Juneteenth Observation Foundation. Seven years later, the date “June 19, 1865,” was added, memorializing the day Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and told enslaved African Americans of their emancipation.

Communities around the country have held flags in ceremonies on Juneteenth in celebration of their freedom, for two decades now.

According to Haith “This country has so many aspects to it that are spiritual, and I believe this flag is of that nature. It (the idea for the design) just came through me.”

Now that we’ve discussed the flag and it’s symbolic importance let’s break down what each element of the flag represents.

Source: CNN

The star

Represents Texas, the Lone Star State. It was in Galveston in 1865, where Union soldiers informed enslaved African Americans, that under the Emancipation Proclamation, they were free. It also represents the freedom of African Americans in all 50 states.

Source: CNN

The burst

The bursting outline around the star is inspired by a nova, a term that also means a new star. On the Juneteenth flag, this represents a new beginning for the African Americans of Galveston and throughout the land.

Source: KSL News Radio

The arc

Represents a new horizon: the opportunities and promise that lay ahead for black Americans.

Source: CBS

The colors

The red, white and blue represents the American flag, a reminder that slaves and their descendants were and are Americans.

June 19, 1865, represents the day that enslaved black people in Galveston, Texas became Americans under the law.

African Americans today are still fighting for equality and justice which takes us back to the meaning and symbols behind the flag, with Haith emphasizing that the colors symbolize the continuous commitment of people in the United States to do better and to live up to the American ideal of liberty and justice for all.

Report: Juana Norales

Instagram: @juana.n_

4 Brands Whose Pride Collection Proceeds Actually go to LGBTQ+ Advocacy Groups

It’s pride month. One of my favorite national months of the year because it's all about love, acceptance, and pride! Clearly. One of my favorite parts of this month is the way brands include the rainbow colors of the Pride into their clothing and logos in order to show support to members of the LGBTQ+ community. And although this gesture is nice to see, it got me thinking about how these bands are truly giving back to this community. It also made me question if these displays are actually sincere. Why should I spend my coin on a pride tee shirt if the brand has no affiliations with LGBTQ+ charities? So I went on a search to find brands that are actually giving the proceeds of its pride collections to LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.

ASOS pledged to give 100% of the proceeds from the pride collection to The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). This is the fourth year that the clothing brand has worked with them. This non-profit's goal is to accelerate the acceptance and equality of the LGBTQ+ community.

UGG Australia released the Pride edition of everyone’s favorite fluffy sandals. The Pride FluffYeah sandal will be sold year-round. Ugg has also pledged to donate $125,000 to GLAAD.

Nike’s BeTrue Collections is all about “The Power of The Team”. The collection includes the classic Air Force Ones with a 10 color Pride flag heel patch. They pledged to donate $500,000 to 20 organizations whose mission is to advocate for and advance the LGBTQ+ community. The grants will be $25,000 administered by Charities of America.

Aside from clothing, Morphe Cosmetics launched a “Free To Be” collection. All of the net proceeds from this collection will go to the GLSEN, which is an educational organization whose mission is to end discrimination and bullying based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. The goal to raise awareness and tolerance of LGBTQ culture in K-12 education.

Photo Credit: Nike, ASOS, UGG Australia, and Morphe Cosmetics

Report: Lauren Tucker

Black Lives Matter: and That Includes Black Trans and Queer Lives

With the Black Lives Matter movement taking center stages, and June being Pride Month, these two causes have united to bring awareness to an underrepresented community.

On Sunday, in Brooklyn, a peaceful protest was held to support the transgender members of the black community. It was called "Brooklyn Liberation: An Action for Black Trans Lives." Several local organizations, including The Okra Project, Marsha P. Johnson Institute, For the Gworls, G.L.I.T.S. and Black Trans Femmes in the Arts, put this event together. The protest was put together to honor the lives of black trans women who were unjustly killed, and have not received a lot of media coverage. Some of the lives honored were, Layleen Polanco, Dominique "Rem'mie" Fells, and Riah Milton. Transgender activist Raquel Willis, author Ceyenne Doroshow, and the family of Layleen Polanco, were all among the featured speakers at the rally. Protesters chanted and carried homemade signs with the phrase "Black Trans Lives Matter."

Brooklyn was not the only American city that was putting on peaceful protests and gatherings supporting black trans lives. Los Angeles decided to hold a march supporting black trans lives, in lieu of their annual Pride Parade. The day before, volunteers painted the words "All Black Lives Matter," on the street, at the intersection of Hollywood and Highland Avenue. Some of the words were painted in the colors of different pride flags, including the non-binary flag, the transgender flag, and the original rainbow pride flag. The event itself, which was organized by All Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, was not just a plea for justice but a celebration that included music, dancing and performances by queer Black artists.

Report: Anna Bechtel

The Designated Targets

(Via SauLopez/Instagram)

This thought took a little longer than I expected to put into words. Time and time again I wanted to approach this subject matter in a perspective that was both educational and insightful. As we are trained to think on a daily basis we want our thoughts to come off as being politically correct, for the simple reason that we do not want to offend anyone in the process of expressing our feelings. I came to a conclusion that all of those standards and ideologies we are trained to believe as we navigate through this life as being black in America, more specifically a black man, need to go out the window to get my truest feelings across.

The mass majority of people outside of the black community have been vocal about how these past few weeks have been crazy, but fail to realize this is an everyday struggle for black people and that this is only a small glimpse of what it is like being a designated target. What I mean by being a designated target is something that only people who are born into this category can fully comprehend. On June 9th, 2020 I watched a  video of the New York Police union chief state, “ Our legislators abandon us. The press is vilifying us.” When I heard him say this I did not know if I felt a sense of satisfaction for a quick moment, because for once in their life they had a brief moment where they could feel what it was like to be black in America. As they pleaded for the community to understand that they are not the cops in Minneapolis, the irony of their emotions echoed the sentiments of our ancestors for hundreds of years prior. That original feeling that took over my emotions soon left as I came back to reality, and realized how I would not wish our daily trials and tribulations upon anyone.

(Photo by Todd Maisel)

Their press conference continued as members of their union expressed their feelings towards the events that have built up. As I listened to what they had to say I wanted to yell at the television and scream “But you have a choice, and we don’t!” At any moment in time a police officer has the ability to take off that uniform, their badge, and the target on their back will be no more. A black person does not have that luxury to walk out of their skin, or wake up and simply make the choice to say “ I don’t want to be black anymore”, it’s a forever thing. 

Television personality Emmanuel Acho sat with actor Matthew McConaughey for his segment titled “Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Man” on June 9th. In this segment Emmanuel allows people to ask him anything in hopes to educate them on the black community. After their conversation Matthew McConaughey ended the segment with a quote from Langston Hughes. It went like this:

 “ O, let America be America again—

The land that never has been yet—

And yet must be—the land where every man is free.”

( Photo by Myles Matthews)

Ahmaud Aubery did not need to be hunted for sport in front of millions. Breonna Taylor did not need to be gunned down as she slept peacefully in the comfort of her own home. George Floyd did not need to be executed by the ones that took an oath to serve and protect us. Ending police brutality, racism, and systematic oppression should not be a debate. The fact that it is in someone’s heart to debate shows us that we are far from where our country dreams of being. The repetition of our blues, and the melody of our cries has become a song we are all too familiar with. It does not have to be this way, but it seems that the oppressors love to play this song on repeat, and we are tired of it. Now is not the time to be satisfied with the recent progress we’ve made. The protests and everyday battles behind closed doors need to continue so our children and their children can have a different tune to their life.

Report: Myles Matthews, Senior Culture and Entertainment Editor

A New Juneteenth

For those who are unaware, Juneteenth is June 19, 1865. On this day African-Americans in Galveston, TX were freed. A holiday that commemorates the end of slavery that has been celebrated since the late 1800s.

This day has gained major recognition over the past few months as it has renewed interest within the black community of millennials in the latest number of deaths including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many more past and present.

In America, the equivalent holiday is Fourth of July that commemorates the Declaration of Independence of the United States. This is a holiday that white Americans take pride in celebrating with barbeques every summer and dressing in red, white, and blue to honor the flag. It is a day that goes into the white American history books.

With the recent events of deaths of black people by white police, it’s different now. The death of George Floyd sparked a revolution. The black community has begun to forcibly take its power back. Protests and looting has erupted all over the country and some internationally. For the cause that this has highlighted, major celebrities and organizations have donated large funds to campaigns and non-profits that assist in the bailouts for those arrested in the Black Lives Matter movement protests.

Major retail brands have taken stance on raising standards of equality and respect for people of color in America. Brands like Band-aid are showing support changing their product to show equality with all races. With this, major entertainment corporations are being called out for the indecent treatment of black celebrities such as Gabrielle Union and the racial intolerance she experienced working with NBC.

The black community is on a path to clean up racism in America, taking down corporations that profit off of their culture. Calling out racial injustices one corporation at a time. This is forcing a long list of retailers to reevaluate their diversity. Many retail brands have reported the percentage of black employees within their companies with many having a low number.

Fast food industries are starting to feel the effects of their stances as well. Wendy’s losing black business once word got out that the CEO donated funds to President Trump’s campaign, then the burning of Wendy’s location after the murder of Rayshard Brooks.

Black Americans have reached their peak of intolerance and are now outraged. The celebration of Juneteenth is to highlight the fact that although black people were freed, it seems that all these years they’ve been mentally enslaved along with their dignity. We’ve reached a point to expose every injustice we go through, whether its a large corporation or a middle-aged white racist yielding their white privilege by falsifying attacks from black people.

The black community celebrates Juneteenth to honor the black lives lost and how far we’ve come in the fight to end racism. This is a day to go into the history books for our black children of the future to learn about.

Photo Credits:

https://im-media.voltron.voanews.com/Drupal/01live-166/styles/sourced/s3/2020-05/AP20150280747351.jpg?itok=iAbC1SFF

https://www.niemanlab.org/images/black-lives-matter-protest-cc.jpg

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EFdbLfZBxes/maxresdefault.jpg

Report: Josephine Coiscou

Trump's Fumble On Juneteenth Leads To New Nationally Recognized Holiday

Juneteenth represents when slavery was officially abolished in the United States. While the Emancipation Proclamation ordered to end slavery in 1863, it took two years before slaves in Texas were free on June 19, 1865. Across the country, Americans, specifically the black community, hold week-long celebrations to honor “freedom”. “Juneteenth isn’t just a celebration… especially in times like this, it is a reminder of how far we’ve come, but also how much work we have to do to become truly free", tweeted @juliaforboston.

Recently, United States President, Donald Trump decided that despite the pandemic he would hold a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma on the weekend of Juneteenth. Why is this a problem? “Did they really not know what Juneteenth was? I don’t believe it. You couldn’t get all the way to scheduling a rally without someone pointing it out. No, this was deliberate signaling. What really surprised them was the backlash. They were trying to do a Reagan, signaling support for racists with a campaign event- but America has changed”, tweeted @paulkrugman.

Historically, Tulsa is known for having one of America’s worst race riots, known as the Tulsa Race Massacre. This particular race riot was an attack on Tulsa’s predominately black Greenwood neighborhood, killing hundreds of black people, leaving thousands of people homeless, and destroying black businesses. The Tulsa Massacre also destroyed Black Wall Street, which was the wealthiest black community in America in 1921.

Prior to Trump’s decision to hold his rally in Tulsa during Juneteenth weekend, Juneteenth was not common knowledge to most Americans. Although bringing light to Juneteenth probably was not Trump’s intention, his ignorance granted a lot of people a free history lesson.

Now that more people are aware of Juneteenth’s significance, cities and even some states are taking steps towards recognizing Juneteenth as a paid-holiday.

Photo Credits:

Tulsa Massacre photo- History.com

Woman with flag: Chicagotribune.com

Report: Brionna Thompson