DEVIL’S ADVOCATE STANTON COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
OCTOBER 2020
STEP ONE:
REPOST Stanton students self-educate and spread awareness of societal issues using social media.
By JESSICA MALOSH
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE Adviser: Larry Knight Editor-in-Chief: Caroline Robbins Managing Editor: Katelyn Colley Layout and Design Editor: Tatum Bowen Photography Editor: Tyler Pottenburgh Digital Media Editor: Fabrizio Gowdy Public Relations Manager: Elise Gideon Assoc. PR Manager: Cameron Kight Art Director: Eden Kershner Videographer: Ella Jasson Section Editor (Features): Charlotte Rogers Section Editor (Opinions): Jessica Malosh Section Editor (Sports): Aulani Marley Ty’Hana Aldridge, Sarah Hiott, Tatum Register, Jillian Williams, Jennifer Zheng Gavin Grady, Lilliana Harrel, Piper Jones, Austin Mendillo, Denise Soriano
Contributing Advocates The Devil’s Advocate is searching for contributing writers, photographers, artists and Contact Editor-in-Chief Caroline Robbins at crobbins.137art@gmail.com, Managing Editor Katelyn Colley at sunsetcolley@gmail.com or Digital Media Editor Fabrizio Gowdy at fabriziogowdy@gmail.com.
Ads and Sponsorships The Devil’s Advocate is dependent on our advertisers and our sponsors. When you purchase an ad with us, it reaches a diverse student population that can help your business. We can also design your ads. Our prices are: $45 (1/4 page), $70 (1/2 page), $75 (insert), $135 (full page), $150 (back page). For an additional $5 fee, we can advertise your business on our website. Contact Editor-inChief Caroline Robbins at crobbins.137art@ gmail.com or our adviser, Mr. Larry Knight, at knightl1@duvalschools.org.
photo by Gavin Grady
Sports
3 COVID Sports and activities make up a huge part of student life at Stanton. With COVID-19 regulation in the whole experience.
4 SKATEBOARDING AT STANTON Skateboarding has rapidly increased in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic, bolstering a diverse culture.
Photography
6 GEN-Z FASHION fashion expectations with an amalgamation of styles.
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8 MASKED FASHION With COVID-19 restrictions requiring masks, students are taking the opportunity
Features
10 STEP ONE: REPOST Stanton students selfeducate and spread awareness using social media as they attempt to compensate for the lack of coverage surrounding the subject of racial inequality.
Opinions
14
TRIBUTE A tribute to William Kirkland and a message to all of the students at Stanton College Preparatory School.
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16 CHOOSING HYBRID Stanton student-athletes have idols they admire and model themselves after as they continue their involvement in sports.
Arts and Entertainment
17 COMICS The latest adventures of “Mane Event,” by Eden Kershner.
18 ON
As the anniversary of the 19th Amendment passes,
COVID-19 has changed the way that Stanton performances will operate in order to follow social distancing rules.
the rise of intersectional feminism.
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A CENTURY OF SUFFRAGE
16 BANNING As more attention is brought to the racial injustices in the United States, Americans are taking a stance on the
EPISODE ONE: INCLUSIVENESS Children’s television show producers have been incorporating more diveristy into their works, as Stanton students
Printed at Florida Sun Printing Please recycle this magazine.
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VOL. XXXVII, NO. 1
SPORTS
SKATEBOARDING CULTURE AT STANTON By JILLIAN WILLIAMS,
SPORTS
Kona Skatepark in Jacksonville has both local and international popularity, being known as the World’s Oldest Operating Skatepark.
COVID-19’s impact on skateboarding can be seen at a local skatepark.
OCTOBER 2020
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE | 3
COMPETING WITH COVID Sports and activities make up a huge part of student life at Stanton College Preparatory School. With By TY’HANA ALDRIDGE, germs through equipment and participants must of all sports games. These procedures are similar to football, although players are constantly colliding remain distant. In individual sports, such as golf and cross country, athletes are able to maintain socially distant. So far, these sports have succeeded in iiiii social distancing],” said girls golf Coach Joshua Westfall. “You are able to distance yoursel from other participants.” iiiiiThough most sports have continued their season safely, the risk of athletes and students issue. The Duval County Public School Board has recently created a database to record the number
schools across Duval County in order to help the community keep track of COVID-19’s presence in schools. The dashboard is updated daily at 10 p.m. and calculates the total number of cases reported from each school. According to the dashboard, as of have tested positive for COVID-19 across schools in Duval County. iiiii are also in the process of discussing the future of and spring sports for the 2020 sports season. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has planned to choose four football teams to 2021. According to the NCAA, some universities, iiiii
photo by Gavin Grady
Fall sports, such as football, have resumed with safety precautions put in place at Stanton College Preparatory School.
of those players and all of their interactions.” iiiiiAs many questions for the remaining seasonal
iiiiiOne of the countless aspects of high school is the opportunity to make memories through various
schools are being forced to resort to less convenient circumstances. Schools across the
outlet for student athletes to relieve stress, develop healthy relationships, and stay involved. Due to
are handling the pandemic in hopes to mimic these 30 in a “bubble” at the Walt Disney World Resort
to undergo major changes to schools across the globe. As the fall sports season progresses, there
iiiii and spectators, regulations set by the Centers for at many schools across Duval County. Temperature checks and social distancing are among the implemented safety regulations put in place for
and contact involved in sports such as football, it practices and sports games. iiiii closed in,” said sophomore football player Kendrick Johnson. “It makes [social distancing] hard because football is a physical sport so [players] have to be together.” iiiii
photo by Gavin Grady
individual sports. To minimize contact in team infographic by Aulani Marley
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Coaches wear masks during games as a safety precaution to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
VOL. XXXVII, NO. 1
players live and participate in games. Among the many procedures players follow, they must take a COVID-19 test every other day, they are not allowed to leave the bubble, masks are worn when not playing, and temperature checks are conducted daily. On Aug. 30, family and guests were allowed in the bubble after following the same procedures. The NFL has also started their season as of Sept. 10. Some football teams will allow spectators, including the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Miami Dolphins, and the Indianapolis Colts. iiiii“We can’t be in a bubble like the NBA in Orlando,” said Stanton’s Athletic Director Christopher Crider. a bubble.” iiiii with crowds of people and everyone could walk around mask- free. However, this year games to Crider, tickets are to be purchased through to maintain contactless purchases. This year the capacity of all sports games will be limited to 30
by six feet to allow a safe distance. In sports such as volleyball, each away team must bring their own equipment, including balls and water, and must remain on their side of the court at all times. iiiii to continue on in a safe and healthy way, without having to cancel sports for this season,” said sophomore Esinam Ekpeh, who plays on Stanton’s junior varsity volleyball team. “So far, their sports plan has been excelling well with no downsides.” iiiiiMany things are still uncertain about sports and activities this year. It is unclear whether current precautions will be changed or kept the same for the upcoming seasonal sports. Schools and the Florida High School Athletic Association are currently developing plans to continue seasonal sports with the slight possibility that some sports may not occur at all. As COVID-19 continues to spread across the globe, schools and students everywhere are forced to undergo unfortunate changes to adapt to what is the new normal.
photo by Gavin Grady
Stanton sports have resumed practices and games, allowing students to remain physically active and involved despite these uncertain times. infographic by Aulani Marley
OCTOBER 2020
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE | 5
GEN-Z FASHION JULIA
GRANERT
PHOTOS BY LILLIANA HARRELL
leigh
ADAMS PHOTOS BY LILLIANA HARRELL
frenzy ALAINA
castengera
Photos by Lilliana Harrell
HALEY
NELSON Photos by Lilliana Harrell
MAKING THE MOST OF MASKS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DENISE SORIANO
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FEATURES STUDENT LIFE iiiii Although most students agree social media is helpful to the cause, many believe more substantial and active change is necessary to eliminate racial friends and family about racial inequality is of the iiiii “You call out your friends, and people in your life, because those are the people who are going to be our next healthcare workers, policemen, or call out those people you could change their way iiiii The general consensus among students who responded to the poll was that donating and protesting in-person are the best ways to make students believe in-person protests are more important and impactful than advocating on social media, even though only 21 percent of students iiiii Even though the majority feels in-person protests are important, attendance has been
photo by Lilliana Harrell
Youth around Jacksonville have attended protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, like these demonstrators. dampened by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has been a contributing factor to the rise in virtual congregation to discuss the social issues
can do besides informing yourself, is to look for organizations that are able to provide resources to the underprivileged and minority communities,” said
This alternative to in-person protests allows individuals to get involved in the conversation
being perpetuated day to day and trying to change those close-minded mindsets of people who [aren’t
iiiii The SCP Political Activism club has adopted this style of activism and has made it their mission to facilitate conversation and to raise awareness
iiiii Around Jacksonville, there are many organizations in which students could get involved to help under-resourced communities such
scope of the SCP Political Activism club extends beyond BLM, but with the recent outrage and
Mission, the Duval County Teen Court Program, the University of North Florida Summer Bridge iiiii TEDx Jacksonville is one such organization dedicated to giving a platform to the unheard
social and political manifestation of racial inequality organization has hosted a series of virtual meetings iiiii President Sarah Copeland and Vice President Mary McFarland have acknowledged the importance of student voices and have tailored the virtual meeting to reduce the feelings of intellectual iiiii suppressed and they believe that their voice won’t be taken as seriously as it would if it were a iiiii In addition to attending virtual conversations about racial inequality, the leadership of the club implores students to look introspectively and often feel a disconnect between Stanton and the iiiii “There is a lot of negative outlook within the community of Myrtle and the whole downtown area in general, and if Stanton students simply looked they would see that those people aren’t thugs or iiiii Along with changing perspectives, getting involved in organizations to rectify issues in the Jacksonville community is another big aspect of iiiii iiiii “The biggest thing at the moment that you
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photo by Lilliana Harrell
This Black Lives Matter demonstrator is one of many who have shown support.
VOL. XXXVII, NO. 1
a TEDx talk on how changing and creating new policy is a better way to make lasting positive change than protesting is. According to him, to be successful in squashing racial inequality, the Black community and allies to BLM need to have an iiiii “Most people want to have a conversation [about racial inequality], but they are not in the mindset to from [them],” said Mr. Singleton. “[You] can take a civics course in high school but after that, what [are you] going to do to learn more so [you] can local level, if it’s the school board or with the city or county?” iiiii The civics issues of racial inequality nowadays stem from the oppressive policies and actions committed throughout history. Learning about the change now. iiiii To allow for this type of learning, the Duval School Board created the African American History Initiative Task Force to implement the teaching of “the history of African Americans, including the history of African peoples before the political passage to America, the enslavement experience, abolition, and the contributions of African Americans to society.” This instruction is mandated under the required instruction in public schools. iiiii American History Initiative is to implement the faithfulness of teaching African American
history in all history classes, starting at the kindergarten level. iiiii “We already have a draft plan put together, and we already have school board approval to work towards developing that,” said Dr. Dana Kriznar, a Committee Member. “In addition, all of our high schools have African American history as an elective and it isn’t required instruction, but we are working to ensure the pieces that are required instruction are embedded in the curriculum elsewhere.” iiiii In actuality, Stanton does not have any courses, required or otherwise, dedicated to the studies of African American history. The history courses in Stanton are primarily AP courses and the AP Asian, or Latin American histories. According to Dr. Kriznar, the AP courses are still supposed to satisfy the state curriculum requirements. iiiii Even with these requirements, students disagree that the history curriculum is representative enough of the culture and history of the Black community. “No, I don’t think the [curriculum] is representative. We learn about European history and often those [courses] aren’t written by people of color so it is heavily whitewashed,” said Grant. “[The education system] has already failed students from time to time, so how can we expect better now?” iiiii The lack of support from the school curriculum compounded by the pandemic related isolation has caused Stanton students to turn to social media and other virtual platforms as a medium for BLM advocacy. However, due to the truthfulness of information concerns related to social media platforms, individuals may want to partake in outside research of the social issues surrounding racial inequality and divide.
infographic by Charlotte Rogers
iiiii During one of these past meetings, Mr. Philip Singleton, a past TEDx speaker, author, and point that he raised was how the utilization of social media could actually be detrimental to BLM, and what it is trying to accomplish. According to Mr. media users are posting videos and images of African Americans being harmed and killed which normalizes the killings and has deep psychological iiiii “I got to a point where I couldn’t be on social media and watch a life or a soul leave a body,” said Mr. Singleton in the virtual “Small Great Conversations on Racism” meeting held on Aug. 29. “All I could think about is you get on social media and you see a Black man get killed and then two months later it happens again and we get numb to it.” iiiii Mr. Singleton also acknowledged how social media is not designed to be a source of reliable news. iiiii “Anybody can make news, and anybody can go on social media and write an article [and now] it’s to a point where people can convince or be convinced that it is actual, factual news,” said Mr. Singleton. “It’s good [social media] is out there but it is kind of scary at the same time because there is a lot of misinformation being put out there.” iiiii
OCTOBER SEPTEMBER2020 2020
photo by Lilliana Harrell
Black Lives Matter demonstrators call for an end to police brutality, as well as other social justice issues.
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE| |13 5 DEVIL’S ADVOCATE
OPINIONS
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE Editor-in-Chief
iiiiiThe Devil’s Advocate
iiiiiThe Devil’s Advocate
In Memory of William Kirkland
iiiiiThe Devil’s Advocate
iiiiiFor the senior class of 2021, this year has been an anomaly. With the COVID-19 pandemic
iiiii
Letter from the Editor iiiii
iiiii
iiiii
Devil’s Advocate iiiii
entire lifetime. iiiii iiiii
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VOL. XXXVII NO. 1
Women across the world have worked to gain
A Century By KATELYN COLLEY, Managing Editor On Aug. 26, 1920, the lives of millions of American women would change forever. After the United States Constitution. While in the end, the amendment was passed by one man, Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby, it was preceded by the generational efforts of women across the country. women’s politics has evolved to encompass much more than what it originally began with. The 19th Amendment was a monumental step toward gender equality and political rights for females. It gave them a sense of dignity and political participation that continued to evolve over the years. Indeed, the early 20th century feminist movement showcased a group of strong-willed pioneers who became the faces of change. These famous faces, however, were predominantly white women, who shined in the spotlight while women of color and marginalized status quietly carried the movement on their backs. According to the International Women’s Development Agency, the term “intersectional feminism” outlines a broader form of feminism that proves “discrimination doesn’t exist in a bubble different ways when put together.” The term has been especially popularized in the 21st century, as many women point out that feminism should include all sexualities, races, disabilities, and backgrounds. This is a far cry from the white-led suffrage movements in 1920, some of which even banned colored women from public protests. Without acknowledging the millions of non-white women gender equality today, the 19th Amendment does not carry as much weight. The year 1920 was a mere stepping stone for marginalized women in America to prove that obtaining the vote for women was not impossible. Black women, for example, did not gain the right to and persistence is nothing new to women of color to this day. The rising coexistence of the women’s
OCTOBER 2020
rights and the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 has proven that the line between these issues may not be as blurry as it seems. Frankly, they never should have been treated as separate aims to correct some of these misconceptions and sends out a powerful message to people across the world: if your idea of feminism is not inclusive, it is not feminism at all.
illustration by Caroline Robbins
on social media saying the amendment was one of the “worst mistakes in history.” This belief is toxically of years. According to the Pew Research Center, the vote for women has actually been increasingly utilized in election season. The organization noted that in “every U.S. presidential election dating back to 1984, women reported having turned out to vote at slightly higher rates than men.” American legal system. After a century of suffrage, society has since recognized the need for a more inclusive and representative form of feminism, while continuing to build on the foundational principles that were fought for in 1920.
The 19th Amendment giving millions of women the right to vote.
1920
The Equal Pay Act, which was heavily supported by Eleanor Roosevelt, was signed under the Kennedy Administration.
1963
By this time Asian, Latino, Native American, and Black women were given the right to vote.
1965 DEVIL’S ADVOCATE | 15
OPINIONS
A Banner Worth Banning
Staff Writer
Staff Photographer With recent Black Lives Matter protests urging for sociopolitical reform, more attention has been given
Duval Homeroom vs. Hybrid
Marines, said it best when he said he understands
With changes from the coronavirus pandemic, given a choice over the summer: go back to school
NASCAR, and other organizations banning the Confederate States of America who committed treason against the United States because the
instead educated the generations to come on the preventing the message from being twisted
online classes for the remainder of the week
National Geographic instructional program allows students to take their
Roof, a white supremacist who massacred nine
Citadel represents, contradicts and diminishes the health concerns, as brick and mortar schools found the precautions in place are more than
policies being practiced to an even higher degree
best interest of students, when compared to virtual those implemented at essential workplaces can
prolonged school closure, there is a higher chance
because it allows students to continue socializing
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VOL. XXXVII, NO. 1
The mane event: A Truly Thankless World by Eden Kershner
COMICS
COVID-19 Word Search COVID DOCTOR HOMEROOM HOSPITAL HYBRID MASK
NURSE ONLINE QUARANTINE SIX FEET SOAP VACCINE
graphic via thewordsearch.com
OCTOBER 2020
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE | 17
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Show
Must Go On At the start of a new school year in the midst of COVID-19, it is possible that Stanton’s yearly stage performances may be canceled as a safety precaution. By SARAH HIOTT, Staff Writer iiiiiIn the past six months, schools have changed the way they operate in an effort to maintain community safety during the coronavirus pandemic. With the option of online learning, students at Stanton College Preparatory School question how theater and other school performances will function this year. iiiiiA well-known club at Stanton is the Multicultural Club, or Multi, which consists of a variety of ethnic groups that celebrate different cultures through dance, and are anticipated each year. iiiii“A cancellation would 100 percent make the Stanton community very sad, as Multi [is one] of the biggest events at our school,” said sophomore Aneesha Mummareddy, who performed in the Raas and Bollywood groups last year. iiiiiLike Mummareddy, members of Multi want the event to continue, but also recognize the risk of performances. Because Multi is such a popular club at Stanton, the meetings are usually very crowded, which poses an issue with practicing social distancing. iiiii“If it’s too unsafe then sadly I will [not participate],” said junior Sebastien Lacroix, who participated in the Chinese Modern group last year. “When it comes to performing in crowds, I don’t think I can go for it.” Theatrical performances are also a concern during this time, since many people are present for theater shows. Stanton’s Thespian department performs a play, a musical, the Annual Night of One Acts, and other smaller showcases throughout the year. The productions are outside of school hours
and are open to both students and parents. Since usually 35 to 60 cast and crew members participate iiiii“Theater in such close quarters is highly unsafe,” said senior Benjamin Herrera. “Although theater is a strong force at Stanton, it’s irresponsible
“The bottom line is that we want our students to be able to perform, to express themselves, and to share their creative work.” —Mr. Jeffrey Grove to continue crowd-relying shows like that.” iiiiiThere is also a possibility that cancellations could have an impact beyond this year, as these performances typically serve as a way to attract new students. The theater program could lose members through the loss of the annual Night of One Acts, a three night long production that consists of six one act plays submitted by students. Many students who participate in One Acts do not normally audition for the plays and musicals, so they are given an opportunity
photo by Piper Jones
With Stanton’s various theater shows possibly facing cancelation, many performers
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to try out theater and express themselves. iiiii“Without [One Acts] I feel like next year the theater club could be hurt,” said junior Lainey Rose, an actress in the Stanton theater program. “We usually gain a lot of freshmen during [that time].” iiiiiMost theater rehearsals and classes have been held online through Duval HomeRoom, which has led to mixed feelings for students. iiiii“Since we do [scenes] by ourselves, it’s hard to feel the connection that usually comes with theater,” said Rose. “A lot of the scenes we do are based on how we feel, so watching it on a screen, you don’t get the reaction.” iiiii the way actors have to present their scenes. Since performances are now mainly online through Zoom or other video platforms, and new ways to perfect their scenes. iiiii“Quarantine time will make us more creative since we have to work so much harder to make the connection,” said Rose. iiiiiWith students being challenged in their ability to reach the audience, teachers have also been iiiii“Some schools and theater companies are exploring alternate modes of performance, working online through various streaming and for our students to perform in that manner,” said theater teacher and sponsor Mr. Jeffrey Grove. “We want our students to be able to perform, to express themselves, and share their creative work, so we iiiiiMs. Tangela Ennis, Stanton’s Student Activities Director, said school-wide club meetings on campus have been prohibited for now. While teachers are unable to hold in person meetings, clubs have found alternative ways to communicate. iiiii“[We] are exploring the option of virtual Drama Club meetings, and, later, virtual rehearsals for what will probably be virtual performances,” said Mr. Grove. iiiiiStanton administration has also encouraged online forms of club meetings as a replacement for in person groups. iiiii“I am encouraging [clubs] to create their own Teams [channels] to collaborate with members and sponsors,” said Ms. Ennis. iiiiiThe loss of these shows could lead to a lack of school spirit, motivation, and attraction towards Stanton’s performing clubs. The confusion due to the constantly changing plans in reaction to COVID-19 has left students anxious for news about the continuations of school activities, and has created a new and more urgent need for the relief and enjoyment these performances provide.
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In recent years, society has seen a sharp rise in representation for minorities in children’s television, allowing young people to feel seen in the media they consume. illustration by Eden Kershner
iiiiiThe incorporation of diversity in media has steadily increased over the last century, and children now are having their culture, ethnicity, and sexual orientation represented through the characters they watch on television. For students at Stanton College Preparatory School, witnessing the increase in LGBT and multicultural representation in children’s shows has brought them a sense of pride and inclusivity. iiiiiIn recent years, certain producers, like Rebecca Sugar and Alex Hirsch, strive to re-shape the new age of television by normalizing diversity in familyfriendly shows. iiiii“By including LGBTQIA content and characters in G-rated entertainment for kids, you tell kids when they’re young that they belong in this world,” said Sugar, producer of the Cartoon Network show Steven Universe, in a 2018 interview with Entertainment Weekly. “There can’t be only a certain group of kids who are told ‘someone will love you’ by all the entertainment that they see.” iiiiiIn 2018, Steven Universe won the Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) award for its portrayal of gender identity and sexuality through incorporation of LGBT main characters. Similarly, Hirsch made efforts to widen the scope of diversity by including subtle nods to side characters’ romantic interests in his Disney XD show Gravity Falls, despite the controversial nature of such inclusions at the time of the series’ airing. iiiii“We immediately got a note from the network saying two women falling in love is not appropriate for our audience,” said Hirsch in a 2018 interview with Entertainment Weekly. iiiiiIn the past, diversity has been present most commonly in side characters, such as the main character’s bisexual sibling or their friend’s gay parents. Prominent strides in LGBT representation Legend of Korra and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. According to GLAAD’s 2019 “Where We Are on TV” report,10.2 percent of recurring characters in 2019 and 2020 were reported to be LGBT, an increase from the previous years and a peak in the 15 years GLAAD reported on the subject. This rise in the number of LGBT characters represented in television shows reassures GLAAD and viewers that there is promise for the future of LGBT representation in the media. iiiiiThere has also been growth in racial representation in children’s shows.The 2019
University
of
Southern
By TATUM REGISTER, Staff Writer
California Annenberg
from 2007 to 2018 and found that White actors represented 63.7 percent in 2018, a decrease from the 2018 report of 70.7 percent. This increase of minority representation in the media has brought inspiration to Stanton students who feel the over representation of White heterosexuals and a lack of representation of various other ethnicities and sexualities in kids television programming has self image for a portion of their childhood. iiiiiIn the same Devil’s Advocate poll, 94 percent of participants noticed stereotypes being used to represent minority characters in children’s shows. Several Stanton students feel their culture or sexuality was not only underrepresented, but also misrepresented. iiiiiTo senior Armani Strowbridge, his childhood was affected by lack of representation of his sexuality as well as his mixed race. According to Strowbridge, that absence of diversity in children’s shows during his childhood delayed his process of self discovery and understanding that mixed race is not limited to the way it was portrayed on screen. iiiii“There are shows that feature mixed children, but rarely show the divide they feel from races that make up their DNA,” said Strowbridge. “As for my sexual orientation, the minimal represenation that I see is not accurate and usually features a played up caricature of what it means to be a gay man. I wish I saw more diversity because it would be refreshing for every child to feel represented or feel like they have a place in society.” iiiiiBecause of the lack of accurate representation of their ethnicity displayed in the television shows they character portrayed in a non-stereotypical manner. iiiii“Every time I saw an Asian character on TV, I remember this excited feeling I would get [seeing] her on screen,” said Stanton junior Danielle Soriano. “It was usually an Asian female character, like Brenda Song on Suite Life on Deck, and I felt sort of a spiritual connection to her and the childlike feeling of ‘ooh I wanna be this person’ and ‘you can be that person’ resonated within me.” iiiiiAs television shows continue to improve their representation through the growth of LGBT and multicultural characters, Stanton students like Strowbridge and Soriano are brought a new sense of pride and inclusivity. infographic by Eden Kershner
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