The Bella Bulletin October 2018
Featured poem, “listen” by Amelia Calo
e word has been used
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school feed into an already-existing problem of
Feminist Five
being coined by Kimberlé
increasing anxiety and depression in younger AND MORE!
9 paper “Demarginalizing
generations.
ace and Class.” The word
These are just a few examples of the issues that
intuitive and yet in some
women can face because of particular parts of
ea: nobody has only one
their identity, and they show how dire it is to
ersectionality. The byword usedtheir school feed into an already-existing problem of n is solely defined race, has been include varied experiences.
reasingly since its being coined by Kimberlé
gender, etc; instead, one enshaw in her 1989 paper “Demarginalizing
increasing anxiety and depression in younger generations.
In the of essay, different identities and .” The So word when we talkThese about are electing leaders who Intersection of Race and Class just a few examples the “Straightening issues that Our Hair”, bell hooks posits the common and political nature of
elf encompasses an intuitive in some women can face of particular ce. People with many and yet protect the most vulnerable inbecause our country, parts of
y revolutionary idea: nobody has only one
straightening hair as their identity, and they show how dire it ais part to of Black womanhood.
sntity. can No then face oppression understand thatinclude yes, their we do mean women in Ultimately, one person is solely defined by race, varied experiences.
her belief is that if Black women
ction of these identities. general. specific their ioeconomic status, gender, etc; instead, one But we also mean women with straighten
Featured editorials!
hair, they adhere to a symbolic
representation ofwho a decentered consciousness and ries all of those different identities and about inelecting experiences—we when have weManifesto totalk mean immigrant Dear Ijeawele, or ASo Feminist Fifteenleaders Suggestions is a manifesto European ideals at the center Over periences at once. People with many protect the most vulnerable in our country, ofasexistence. written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in October 2016. What began a women, women of color, LGBTQ+ women, and email written by Adichie a friend, became published has a formulated perspective rginalized identities can Staff then face personal oppression understand thatto yes, wetime, do she mean women ainmulti-layered work. A friend By: Bulletin of Adichie’s how to raise her mean daughter a with feminist in an more. had asked cause of the intersection of these identities. general. But we also women specific email chain. on this as issue. The book is written in the form of a letter, though it is classified as a manifesto, as experiences—we have to mean immigrant it resonated beyond the mothers and daughters. women, women of color, LGBTQ+ women, and The book is a compilation of fifteen suggestions that Adichie believes are central to raising a feministmore. daughter. Adichie and Ijeawele are both Nigerian and Igbo, so she often eludes to their culture. Overall, the book is meant to publicize this private interaction in order to help parents understand and deflect gender equality as they rear children. For example, the book explains how baby clothing and gendered domestic duties such as cooking and cleaning. She explains to go about gendered to neutralize gender in such situations. While Adichie does not consider the manifesto a “parenting book” thehow November 6 election, in society. she sees it an aid to contemporary parenting and rejecting of heteronormative roles
more important to consider
On one end, bell hooks explains the portion of the
Table of Contents
This Month in Women’s History …….…………3 Featured editorials………………..…….…….……4 2018 Leaders of the month…………………….….6 Featured Poem by: Amelia Calo…………..…...…7 Feminist five……..……………………….…..…....8 Featured Headlines of the Month……………..10 Happy Birthday to………………………………….12 Enrichment Opportunities……………………...13 BELLA BULLETIN STAFF ………………………….......15 BALI STAFF & Board of Directors……….……....16
Women’s History of the month:
October
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Op-Ed: Voting for intersectional feminism Sofia Baluyut Intersectionality. The word has been used
school feed into an already-existing problem of
increasingly since its being coined by Kimberlé
increasing anxiety and depression in younger
Crenshaw in her 1989 paper “Demarginalizing
generations.
the Intersection of Race and Class.” The word
These are just a few examples of the issues that
itself encompasses an intuitive and yet in some
women can face because of particular parts of
way revolutionary idea: nobody has only one
their identity, and they show how dire it is to
identity. No one person is solely defined by race,
include their varied experiences.
socioeconomic status, gender, etc; instead, one
carries all of those different identities and
So when we talk about electing leaders who
experiences at once. People with many
protect the most vulnerable in our country,
marginalized identities can then face oppression
understand that yes, we do mean women in
because of the intersection of these identities.
general. But we also mean women with specific experiences—we have to mean immigrant women, women of color, LGBTQ+ women, and more.
As we come closer to the November 6 election,
it becomes more and more important to consider
So how do we make sure these issues are
the meaning of intersectionality, especially when
addressed and voices are heard? First, make sure
fighting for women’s issues. For there is not one
you are registered to vote! And then look for the
singular women’s issue, just as there is not one singular kind of woman. One in five trans people,
for
instance,
will
candidates who are themselves members of these
underserved
and
underrepresented
experience
community; consider giving them your vote and
homelessness, and trans women of color are
a chance to have a voice in government. And
particularly vulnerable to violence. Black
regardless of their background, listen to every
women are three to four times as likely to die
candidate to see how they address women’s
from pregnancy-related issues as white women,
issues. Come with an understanding that there
and must endure deeply ingrained societal
are issues that women can share—but also that
racism that can influence every experience.
when we talk women’s issues, we also have to
Many immigrant
include a whole lot more.
and undocumented women
and girls have to struggle with threats of deportation or threats to their citizenship, and lack of resources. Even youth can be a part of that intersectionality—fear of mass shootings at
Op-Ed: Perspective on “Straightening our hair” Mayannah Beauvoir In the essay, “Straightening Our Hair”, bell hooks posits
the
common
and
political nature of
straightening hair as a part of Black womanhood. Ultimately, her belief is that if Black women straighten their hair, they adhere to a symbolic representation of a decentered consciousness and European ideals at the center of existence. Over time, she has formulated a multi-layered perspective
Her perspective changes along with that of natural
on this issue.
hair during various social justice movements. She states that in the 1960s, Afros and naturally kinky hair
implied
militancy
and
radical
politics,
particularly exemplified by the women of the Black Panther Party. This trope continued to exist with time. This affects how Black women perceive themselves and how they believe their hair will influence the opinions of others. She begins to On one end, bell hooks explains the portion of the
suggest the issues of disconnection to one’s hair
spectrum in which the manipulation of the Black
when it is constantly in an altered state. Perhaps we
woman’s hair via straightening is not harmful to her
damage our own inner being when we fail to relate
image and psychology. On this end, she explains
our bodies and the hair that grows naturally out of
that straightening hair began as a ritual practice for
our heads. In the end, she states that she too craves
Black women to convene in a social space and
variety in the hairstyles she can try, but refuses to
engage in self care. She further explains that
straighten her hair as to not subscribe to a system
straightened Black hairstyles were often their own
that forces Black women to abandon their natural
enterprise, not a mimicry of European hairstyles as
state.
they are often considered to be. These initial thoughts postulate that the de-kinking of the Black woman’s hair can be acceptable within the centered African’s
worldview.
However,
hooks’s own
journey to adopting natural hairstyles seemed to change her perspective on the political nature of chemically processing the African’s head of hair.
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CLASS OF 2018: Leaders of the Month “I learned a lot from being a trainee at BALI. I was educated on the lives of other women as well as current topics about women and where we belong in society. I think what had the most impact on me was knowing the stories and lives of other people. It was surprising to me how they trusted us, how open they were to sharing their backgrounds even though most involved some sort of struggle that they handled really well. Their stories were also told in a very enchanting way, each one was different and had a twist and turn to it. I was thrilled to have this experience and to be able to look into the lives of others.” -
Christine Lin, 9th Grade, Hunter College High School
“I have learned to dream big and to say my dreams out loud. As a result of the many workshops, my confidence level has boosted, leading to me speaking up more about social justice. The mirror workshop has had the most impact on me. Seeing myself and other girls embrace and own their bodies was something I'd never seen, and all the support from each of the girls was incredible.” -
Sarah Yang, 10th, Brooklyn Friends School -
“Personally, I had a very eye-opening and wonderful time during my experience at BALI. I learned to not let fear control me and not be afraid to speak out or say something when I have to. Alongside this, I found out how important it is that one does not let their insecurities get the best of them. I understood the qualities of good and bad leaders and discovered the ways to speak to and engage an audience. All of these skills are skills that I will definitely need throughout the course of my life. However, the most impactful and significant skill that I walked out with was learning how to conquer my fears. Before I came to BALI, I had begun to develop a sort of anxiety due to the fact that I cared too much about what others thought of me. This fear controlled what I did and said for the most part. I hated the feeling of fear and wanted more than anything to change it. I wanted to start the tenth grade on a new page. Coming to BALI helped me feel more confident and proved to me that what others think of me is not important as long as I am happy. Now looking back, I am so grateful to BALI for helping me overcome my fears and showing me how simple it is speak your mind.”
-
Cansu Eser, 10th Grade, Baccalaureate School for Global Education 6
Sit down Recognize the stories that are drowned in the lies of the guilty Sit down a minute Listen to the life experiences of others Realize that nothing is going to change till you learn from listening. Sit down Hear the stories of your Mom Sister Realize that even your best friend has a story. We hold on to the idea of time too much. Let's hold on more to the stories that didn’t make that woman a woman. Sit down Because the stories are not going away Sit down We are women hear us roar Hear the change we are creating
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Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions is a manifesto written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in October 2016. What began as a personal email written by Adichie to a friend, became a published work. A friend of Adichie’s had asked how to raise her daughter as a feminist in an email chain. The book is written in the form of a letter, though it is classified as a manifesto, as it resonated beyond the mothers and daughters. The book is a compilation of fifteen suggestions that Adichie believes are central to raising a feminist daughter. Adichie and Ijeawele are both Nigerian and Igbo, so she often eludes to their culture. Overall, the book is meant to publicize this private interaction in order to help parents understand and deflect gender equality as they rear children. For example, the book explains how to go about gendered baby clothing and gendered domestic duties such as cooking and cleaning. She explains how to neutralize gender in such situations. While Adichie does not consider the manifesto a “parenting book” she sees it an aid to contemporary parenting and rejecting of heteronormative roles in society. “Teach her that the idea of 'gender roles' is absolute nonsense. Do not ever tell her that she should or should not do something because she is a girl. 'Because you are a girl' is never reason for anything. Ever.”
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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was born on September 15th, 1977 in Enugu, Nigeria. She was the fifth of six children in an Igbo family. She was raised in a university town, and both of her parents were employed at the University of Nigeria. She attended the school for a year and a half, before leaving for the United States to study communications and political science at Drexel University. Her coming of age experience attending schools in the United States informed much of her writing. For the first time, she was considered Black, which was unusual for her as race was not an obstacle in her life in Nigeria. Much of this time period of her life is reflected in her novel, Americanah. She later graduated from Eastern Connecticut University. Then, she received a master’s degree in creative writing at Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Arts in African studies from Yale University.
Currently, Adichie spends time between Nigeria and the United states where she conducts writing workshops. She is the author of many New York Times Best Sellers including Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun . Her most recent work, Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions was published in March 2017. She is well known for her TED talks, “The Danger of a Single Story” , “We Should all be Feminists” and her quotes in Beyoncé’s song, “Flawless”.
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Headlines of the Month Zoe Donovan Brett Kavanaugh Confirmed to the Supreme Court
The Role of Privilege in the Case of Cameron Terrell
This Saturday, after weeks of hearings and investigations, the Senate voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court by a razor thin margin of 50-48. Despite opposition to Kavanaugh’s nomination by Democrats in July, his future in the Supreme Court appeared set in stone until a letter sent to Senator Dianne Feinstein that accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault was leaked to the public. Its author was Professor Christine Blasey Ford, a psychology researcher from California, who was allegedly sexually assaulted by Kavanaugh at a house party when the two of them were in high school. Ford’s letter brought Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court to a screeching halt and resulted in a hearing and a supplemental FBI investigation into Ford’s accusations, which took place over the course of a week. The investigation was supposedly unable to corroborate her allegations, however, many senators have pointed to its several shortcomings. Nevertheless, Kavanaugh was confirmed as a result of four vital swing votes by Senators Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Jeff Flake and Joe Manchin.
Cameron Terrell, a white, affluent, high school senior, was arrested for being connected to the gang-related murder of 21 year-old Justin Holmes in South L.A. last October. This past July, Terrell was acquitted of charges of murder and two counts of attempted murder. During his trial, Terrell admitted to being the getaway driver for the shooting, which was executed by two other teenagers, but he denied knowing that the shooting would take place. The particular attention that this case has gained is due its relationship with racial and economic privilege. While Terrell’s family was able to pay the $5 million bail to release him from custody a week after the incident, the two other teenagers involved in the shooting, who are black and of a lower socioeconomic status than Terrell, have been in juvenile detention since last October. And although Terrell’s hired private attorney denies that Terrell was set free due to his race, he does admit “the jurors gave him the benefit of the doubt. I don’t think all minorities get that.”
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Natural Disasters in the United States, the Philippines, and Indonesia
Rwandan School Encourages Feminist Education From a Young Age
Three natural disasters took the world by storm this past month, including the East Coast of the United States. Florence, a Category 4 Hurricane, wreaked havoc on the Carolinas mid September, killing 42 and causing what will be years of repair. Almost simultaneously with Florence, Typhoon Mangkhut ravaged the Philippines, causing a landslide that devastated a goldminer’s bunkhouse in Igoton and buried over 40. Mangkhut has caused at least 66 deaths in the Philippines, a number that’s expected to rise drastically. Mangkhut has also made its way through mainland China’s Guangdong Province, knocking down trees, parts of skyscrapers, and billboards and killing at least 4. Shortly after Florence and Mangkhut, a tsunami, with waves reaching up to 20 feet, caused by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake, destroyed Palu, Indonesia. The earthquake and tsunami have killed at least 1,600. More extensive evacuation proceedings would have been possible if the country’s tsunami and earthquake detection systems hadn’t been damaged.
The Safe School for Girls, run by CARE International and other local nonprofit organizations, has been revolutionizing education for girls and the fight for women’s equality in Rwanda. The school itself is co educational, but hosts after school clubs in which boys and girls engage in separate activities that teach them about how to dismantle gender-based violence, how to advocate for girls’ education, sexual and reproductive health, and financial independence. The program has reached over 47,000 girls and over 19,000 boys so far. Several programs of its kind are proving to be highly successful in reducing gender-based violence specifically, including The Global Fatherhood Campaign and MenCare which, among their participants, have already seen a 44% decrease in violence committed by men against their partners. The Safe School for Girls reminds us that despite its history of sexual violence in the genocide of the early 1990’s, Rwanda is becoming an international leader in the fight for women’s rights.
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Looking for Enrichment Opportunities? Black Girls Code offers programming and events in coding for African American girls. Brotherhood/Sister Sol offers afterschool and summer programming in relationshipbuilding, self/global awareness, social justice, leadership development, and more. Some of their programs are gender-specific. ChickTech offers programming and mentorship in STEM for high school girls. Curious Jane offers classes and summer programming in science, theatre, arts and crafts, and more for girls. Digital Girl, Inc. works at high schools to provide programming in STEM and offers tech workshops for the community. Girl Be Heard works in high schools to teach girls about gender, race, and class through theatre, and offers workshops and performances. Girl Vow offers education, mentorship, advocacy, and life skills training for girls. Girls for Gender Equity offers programming in community advocacy, leadership, and social justice for girls. Girls Inc. offers programming in statistical analysis, economic literacy, leadership and community action, STEM, media literacy, athletics, sexual health education, substance abuse prevention, self-defense, and more for girls ages 6-18. Girls Leadership offers Parent & Daughter workshops, parent education, and summer day camps for girls entering grades 4 and 5. Girls on the Run offers a physical activity based youth development program for girls in grades 3-8. Girls Who Code offers afterschool and summer programming in coding for middle and high school girls. Girls Write Now offers mentoring programs in writing, digital media, and college preparation for girls. Young Women's Christian Association an organization that informs women on societal issues that affect them and encouraging them to vote
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Click on programs names For More Info! GOALS for Girls offers year-round programming, a summer intensive, weekend forums, and internships in STEM for middle and high school girls. LOVE Mentoring works at high schools to deliver small-group mentoring for young Latinas. Life is Precious offers individual and group counseling, arts therapy, academic support, and nutritional and fitness activities to prevent suicide among young Latinas. Lower Eastside Girls Club provides programming in STEM, business, art, leadership, and advocacy, as well as mentoring for girls in grades 6-12. NYC GREAT! offers programming and mentoring in college and career readiness for high school girls. NYU GSTEM is a six-week summer program for high school girls during the summer between their junior and senior years who have high aptitude in STEM subjects. Powerplay NYC works in elementary, middle, and high schools to offer afterschool programming in physical activity and healthy living. Sadie Nash Leadership Project provides afterschool and summer programming in leadership and social justice for girls ages 14-22. Soul Sisters Leadership Collective works in schools to offer workshops to explore issues faced by young women of color. Vibe Theatre Experience offers theatre and media programming for girls ages 13-19. Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls offers afterschool and summer music programing for girls. YWCA provides programming in leadership and advocacy, STEAM, career and college exploration, and more for girls. American Museum of Natural History various teen programs run through the American Museum of Natural History. Barnard College pre-college programs for high school students run through Barnard College. Columbia University pre-college programs for high school students run through Columbia University. Summer Health Professions Education Program a free summer enrichment program for college students pursuing health professions. Northeast Regional Alliance (NERA) MedPrep Program a preparatory program for students between junior high and college who wish to pursue careers in the medical field. Generation Citizen encourages civic engagement in youth through an action civics class.
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The Bella Bulletin Staff Wilma Abam-DePass Co-Editor-in-Chief School: Croton Harmon High School Grade: 12th BALI Class of 2017 Email: wilma@depass.com
Zoe Donovan Co-Editor-in-Chief School: Bard High School Early College Queens Grade: 12th BALI Class of 2017 Email: zoezoedonovan@gmail.com
Sofia Baluyut Content Creator School: Bard High School Early College Queens Grade: 12th BALI Class of 2018
Mayannah Beauvoir Content Creator School: Temple University Majors: Africana Studies/English/Gender/Sexuality Minor: Women’s Studies Intern for BALI Class of 2018 15
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