Lune Magazine - Issue 15

LUNE magazine

ISSUE 15

featured...

Rising mental health awareness ‘Euphoria’ & queer youth Lilly Ramundo

issue issue 15 15 editor-in-chief deborah k.

content editor srilekha c

writers cassandra b., uma r., jadeann r., lara p., adelaine s.

visuals diana d., mariana g., davendra h., beatrice j., nagisa s., michelle t., zeynep t.

guest writers sydney b., jaden f., amelie h., jamie h., lena m.

Issue 15 covers two over-arching areas: mental health and marginalized groups.

They often have huge potential to intersect, as these topics of discussion often come together, and that’s what you’ll see in some parts of this issue. You’ll find criticisms of issues surrounding the perception of mental health in our world, our new POC feature column, further discussions of race in the U.S., and more.

It’s a satisfying blend of critical, celebratory, and fun, keeping you engaged all the way.

Love, Deborah & the team at Lune Magazine

Lune Magazine is a monthly periodical, established in 2017, and is dedicated to using journalism and art as a means of social justice advocacy. It is run by a staff of editors, writers, artists, and photographers aged 13 to 21. You can also read content on our website at lunemagazine.com.

submit for any 13 to 21-year-old writers interested in contributing to Lune’s website, pitch your idea to us at lunemagazine.com/pitch.

podcast listen to Lune’s podcast at lunemagazine.com/podcasts, or via Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

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Lune publishes new content everyday on our website at lunemagazine.com.

connect connect with Lune via Instagram at @thelunemag, Twitter at @lune_magazine, LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/lunemagazine, or via email at lunemagcontact@gmail.com.

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Visiting Stonewall Inn writing by Sydney B. background photo by Diana D. photos (r) by Mariana G.

In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn. It was common for police to raid gay bars and known LGBT spaces, but this raid and the events that followed would set a precedent never seen before.

In a typical raid, officers would line up the those found in the raided area, check their identification, and have female officers present take any patrons dressed like women into the bathrooms to verify that their sex was in fact female. Any male who was found to be dressed as a woman would then be arrested.

That night was anything but typical.

The plan didn’t go off without a hitch as they were hoping. The police were really hoping that this raid could shut down the Stonewall Inn for good.

But those at Stonewall that night had a different idea in mind. Those wearing women’s clothes refused to leave with the officers. Men in line began withholding identification.

A crowd gathered outside the front door. As the first police wagon arrived to transport the arrested patrons, the riots broke out. The crowd threw anything available in response to the police roughly arresting patrons and hauling them away in the police van.

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After the police had barricaded themselves in Stonewall, the riot police arrived at the scene, the rioters continued to throw stones or bottles or makeshift firebombs and after 4 a.m. had passed, Stonewall settled down. But for five days following the first riot, protests still occurred.

50 years later, almost to the exact day, I walked by the Stonewall Inn. I knew the story so I paused when I saw the bar. I saw pride flags everywhere; on the windows, inside, on the fence across the street, even on the stores next door. All I could think was ‘look what they have accomplished.’ It was surreal to know that half a century ago, it was illegal to be homosexual or cross-dress. Back then it was even a crime to hold hands, kiss, or simply dance with someone of the same sex.

It used to be illegal in the “Land of the Free” to be yourself.

I stayed by Stonewall for a while. I just watched people enter and exit, talk to each other, meet up with friends. A man outside even invited me in without knowing anything about me; he automatically welcomed me to join them. When I walked away, I then started to think of how far we’ve come as a society but also how far we still need to go.

In 10 countries, homosexuality is punishable by death. 70 United Nations member states criminalize sexual acts between same-sex individuals. And not until 1962 did Illinois become the first U.S. state to decriminalize homosexual actions between consenting adults.

A few days later on New York City held celebrate the 50th a Stonewall Uprising a

of the LGBT+ comm a parade or a party where one of the big celebrated and took community’s accom

One moment in part me that day. I was r and saw to older-loo down. They were ho wearing matching r shirts. And the best looked so happy. Bo smiling and their ex tangible in the train whether it was their together, their first p they were just going it was so refreshing men in their later se being proud of and they love.

The effort to gain rig community can get often political, but w this movement, at it fighting for the abili are, love who you w most of all being ou yourself.

Every human has th they are and love w without limits. Huma its originality, creati love in a way that is species. Let’s raise a of people that have time and continue t everyone’s right to l please.

Sunday June 30th, World Pride to anniversary of the and the liberation

munity. It wasn’t just y, it was a day ggest cities k pride in the mplishments.

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Perhaps looking for the small rainbows in a pride march is unusual in the midst of all the grander displays. However, these small rainbows remind us to stay hopeful in the midst of struggle and darkness. For all those who are still struggling in the closet, you are not alone. You are loved.

ghts for the LGBT+ complicated and we can’t forget that ts core, is about ity to be who you want to love, and utwardly true to

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design by Davendra H.

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Erasing the stigma around disabilities through YouTube writing by Adelaine S.

Stigma. Stares. Awkward questions. Just a few things people with disabilities face on a daily basis. But things are changing, partly due to the widespread use of the internet in everyday life. A byproduct of the internet is exposure to all kinds of people, which proves helpful in the case of Chris Ulmer’s YouTube channel Special Books by Special Kids (SBSK). Ulmer’s channel focuses around interviewing individuals with disabilities and their families to discuss their experiences living with disabilities.

The YouTube channel started in 2015, back when Ulmer still worked as a special education teacher.

He began interviewing children in his class about their lives and since then, he has branched out and travelled across the world to interview people with all kinds of coanditions. His hope for the channel is something quite simple- inclusion.

As Ulmer’s Instagram bio reads: “I interview individuals with a diagnosis from across the world with the intention of creating a more inclusive world.” It appears that he is doing a great job at that. With over 1.6 million subscribers, SBSK’s videos are reaching lots of people, effectively promoting inclusivity to a sizeable

audience.

His channel boasts a wide variety of interviews. A conversation with Chloe and Jason, a husband and wife duo of a woman with down syndrome and a man with autism, to a video starring Anthony, a boy who survived without oxygen for an hour at birth. These interviews give unique and incredible people a platform to document the often unseen trials of living with a diagnosis, whether that be facing daily pain or struggles, or being confronted by a society that is often unaware of what disability really means and how it actually impacts every person differently. SBSK is a prime example of using a platform for good.

Erasing stigma and bringing to light issues that often go overlooked by society as a whole.

SBSK is proving that every single person is unique and valuable in their own way, regardless of how they look, how they talk (if they talk), if they use a mobility aid, or if anything else about them could be called ‘abnormal’. The channel promotes love, equality, and acceptance for everyone. It is a beautiful haven amongst what can sometimes appear to be a dark and negative world.

The lingering stigma of mental illness writing by Sydney B.

It is no question that the issue of mental health has carried a heavy stigma and been largely ignored for most of America’s history.

affected receive treatment for these illnesses.

Even in 2019, millions of Americans are not receiving treatment for their mental illnesses.

It was a disgrace to announce that someone was suffering from a mental illness and a huge taboo to reveal that someone is in therapy. Attention Deficit Disorder wasn’t recognized by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) until the 1960s, and neither were anxiety disorders until 1980. Prior to that recognition, symptoms were written off as side effects of stress or nervousnessas they still are today.

The result of untreated mental illness can be catastrophic causing substance abuse, addiction, suicide, and several other life-altering developments. The stigma surrounding mental illness is a substantial contribution to people’s unwillingness to seek professional help and it’s our responsibility to take mental illnesses seriously instead of dismissing them or the symptoms from them. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in America, but the 2nd leading cause of deaths in Americans between the ages of 10-34. More than 90% of people who die by suicide show symptoms of some mental illness meaning that these conditions are a substantial precursor to suicide and will become more of a cause if mental illness continues to go unchecked in millions of people.

Placing emphasis on mental health isn’t some new trend- it’s an attempt to help and save millions of Americans.

Mental illness is common, affecting 1 in 5 Americans, but it has taken a very long time to reduce the stigma clouding mental illness even slightly. The APA says that as of 2004, nearly half of American households had someone seek treatment concerning mental health. But even 13 years later in 2017, nearly 50 million people experience mental illness in the U.S., and the National Institute of Mental Health estimates that less than half of those

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The rise of mental health awareness in younger generations writing by Uma R. It is commonly known that more often than not, many adults are unwilling

With these drastic generational differences

to have open conversations about mental illness and the importance of

comes the need for changes in therapy as well as

mental health in general, especially when it comes to themselves. Despite

the need to revolutionize mental illness

the strong correlation of mental illness with physical illness, proven by

treatments, with easier access to therapists and a

neuroscientists and doctors worldwide, many adults are still stuck in the

simpler way to find a treatment plan that works

archaic mindset that mental health is not something to nourish or

for all individuals. No matter how many times we

something to even exist, thinking people who claim to have depression and

are referred to as the generation that is ‘too

anxiety are weak or lazy. Those in younger generations, however, especially

sensitive’ or ‘too lazy,’ we will continue to prove

younger Millennials and Gen Z teens, have made the topic of mental health

that we are truly the generation that is not afraid

one that is no longer taboo.

to speak up and call out any bs we encounter.

“Too sensitive” really translates to “a healthy and

Mental health awareness has taken over social media, with Instagram

stable mind.” With the ability to open up and be

accounts dedicated to helping the millions who struggle with anxiety and

vulnerable comes sharper, more focused teens,

depression, many of whom are not even teenagers yet. It is no question

unafraid of exposure or conflict.

that teens nowadays are more aware of what is occuring in the world, whether due to social media exposure or being forced to gain a sense of knowledge due to concerns such as climate change and gun violence continuously rising. These generational differences are even common in families, with teens voicing their own concerns to parents and parents often times denying the very possibility of mental illness. Their lack of knowledge about mental illness and the extreme fear of judgement, caused by stigma, has caused older generations to hide their grievances more so than the younger ones.

Yes, it is easier to pretend that mental health problems do not exist, but what recent events have come to show is that younger generations are not taking the easy way out. We are pushing through problems rather than ignoring them. It’s never simple or fun for anyone to confront their mental health, let alone teens, yet it has become a common topic of discussion for those younger rather than older.

While in the past there have always been the rare children, teenagers and young adults who strove to strike change in the world through activism and advocacy, there seem to be more doing so now than ever before. Just take a look at young activists in recent years, addressing issues from climate change to unfair immigration policies. Strangely enough, young adult mental illness stats keep rising despite the increase in awareness and decrease in stigma. In fact, there have been significantly higher reports of mental illness in young adults in the past decade. Though this is a disparaging issue, this could also mean that more people are seeking out help at younger ages now. Don’t get me wrong, we still have a long way to go in destigmatizing mental illness. However, compared to only a few decades ago, the lessened stigma surrounding mental health and the attempts to spread the word about it are astounding.

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cartoon by Nagisa S.

mental health art by Zeynep T.

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photogr

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raphy by Diana D.

The world of celebrity influencers and social media: How it is impacting young people’s mental health? writing by Jamie H. Pull down; refresh. Oh look! Your favorite reality television star has just promoted the newest Hollywood thing. This time – it’s a new teeth whitening product. An essential part of the glitz and glamour toolkit which no on-screen star seems to ever forget. And our brains are tuned in to think that just because someone with 15 million followers on Instagram is promoting this newly released must-have item, we need to have it too. Now. That said, what we often seem to forget is the dirty tricks of the big brands hiding behind said influencers and celebrities and their huge follower counts. The sad but true reality is that young people today are paying the price whether it is the intention of the big dogs at the top or not. The rise of social media influencers has had a profoundly negative impact on young people, especially teenage girls, where they are lulled into a false sense of who they should aspire to be and what the ideal woman looks like – all dictated by products celebrities are in fact being paid to promote.

Although it is a requirement now for all sponsored posts or adverts to include the hashtag ‘ad’ or ‘gifted,’ many influencers are slipping through the net leaving out such information. This misleads their followers into believing that this is actually the product Kim Kardashian is using for her nightly skin routine, or the actual juice detox that Miley Cyrus has just completed and is now feeling ten times more flawless than before she started.

What many young people seem to bypass is the fact that celebrities are being paid thousands of dollars per social media post (reflective of their active follower base). You only have to look at last week’s headlines of Ariana Grande suing ‘Forever 21’ for damages using a lookalike of her to promote their latest range to see just how much influence celebrities can have on the marketing of a brand and the all-important subsequent sales. It goes without saying that this means that celebrities who may have absolutely no interest in an item, brand, or detox will still promote it because of how much they will be paid to do so.

It’s a clever but misleading game on the part of the brand. They are moving with the times, and don’t get me wrong, I get that! What I do have an issue with however is that the legal age for an Instagram account is just 13 years old and teenagers are being made to feel like they have to be someone they aren’t just because a celebrity or influencer they aspire to be like and look up to are promoting a product which may be totally unsuitable for them. Many younger teenagers will

not get the concept of the paid promotion of items and the effects of this can be harrowing.

Take, for example, a weight loss product. Paid promotions for weight loss slimming plans, shakes and all sorts are popping up across Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat nowadays. There is a vulnerable young teenager scrolling through their feed and a hugely popular reality star has just posted about how fantastic said product is with the common ‘swipe up to buy.’ The teenager, perhaps unaware of the impacts this product may have on their body, persuades their parents to buy it for them just so they can mirror their celebrity icon in what appears to be part of their daily lifestyle. The graphics and artwork when promoting weight loss products is often trickery before your very eyes.

Influencers and models are photoshopped so much with fake ‘before and after’ photos and often these are a huge selling point for the brand being promoted. The issue that arises however is that young people purchasing the promoted item expect to look like the images used on these sponsored posts by their celebrity idols when in fact, more often than not, the entire thing is a farce.

This is the side of social media influencing which is scary; and as more and more brands use it, we could be seeing the impacts sooner than we may think. Young people today are subjected to bullying at school for being even in the slightest way ‘different’ to their standard classmate. Unfortunately, social media influencers are providing vulnerable young people a false sense of security through promoting products which can make them in fact look better than their average classmate – well, so it is claimed.

In a world where bullying is on the rise, where people are knocking each other down rather than building one another up, I think it is unfair for brands and influencers alike to use it to their advantage, in some cases to promote body-enhancing products to young people today. You only need to take one scroll through your feed on whichever social media site you desire to find what I am talking about. Looking out for ‘sponsored’ is a helpful trick but as aforementioned, many are going against the grain now and avoiding the required ‘ad’ comments for paid promotions.

That said, will it really stop the youth of today saying no if Kim K says it will change their lives and put all their problems at bay? I’m not hopeful; but, we can live in hope!

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mental health a

How HBO's 'Euphoria' is giving a voice to queer youth writing by JadeAnn R.

As a collective group, humans toy mercilessly with the idea of time travel. We constantly imagine what it would be like to step into a new world where the rules are different for either all the wrong or right reasons. We are curious about the unknown, we seek to dive deep... to explore.

Enter 2019, just a couple months shy at the chance of our own roaring twenties. The carefree lifestyle of those times often seems like a fever dream, as if the Great Gatsby was single-handedly responsible for giving birth to the idea that people truly loved and died by parties, alcohol, drugs and more. But after giving it some more thought, would you really want to go back to a decade where women were repressed or when humans were owned by other humans? After mulling these questions over, I believe it is safe to safe that we are so consumed with glitz and glamour that we forget to look below the surface.

The new TV show ‘Euphoria’ does just that—it takes you under, over, and beyond the bounds of your comfort zone. It’s a real, raw, honest, and introspective look into the minds of youth. At times it feels as if Generation Z is widely misunderstood, when in fact they are no different than the generations before. Their hearts still yearn for love, though they may find it through previously unheard of avenues… such as Tinder. The basic desire to connect with others is still prevalent except that they establish that kinship through Twitter. They want to be listened to and seen in ways that are both natural and easily accessible. So no matter what your age as you watch through the eyes of a troubled young teen

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named Rue and her effervescent friend Jules everything seems just a bit clearer.

To further add to its transcendent capabilities, the show quietly makes the point that queer voices are no different than regular voices. It isn't until a few episodes in that Jules is directly addressed as a trans woman. One may be too caught up in the spectacular visuals of Rue's trips to realize that she is abundantly queer and pinning. These feelings and realizations fly under the radar as we are pressed with the harmful effects of drug use, the consequences that are born from repressing one's self and the stark reality that high school is riddled with people who are just simply trying to figure it all out.

Euphoria is a unique gem of a show for multiple reasons—it isn’t afraid to make you uncomfortable, to make you question, to make you see things as they truly are. It’s a visual “trip"; a natural conversation starter for all the topics your favorite teen drama is afraid to discuss. It is graphic but rightfully so, as that makes it modern. It owns sex and sexuality in the same way that it’s sister show Game of Thrones does. Like those characters, the teens in Euphoria make sacrifices. They are complicated, they mess up, they are beautifully human and lovingly themselves. In hindsight, euphoria is the feeling we all search for, it’s time we stop turning away and face it head-on. Look it straight in the eye and marvel at all that it is now and all that is yet to come. The new voice of this generation is here, it’s loud, and it refuses to be ignored.

art by Zeynep T.

The race for Queens District Attorney: How Tiffany Cabán built a movement for the underrepresented writing by Amelie H.

The position of Queens District Attorney was left wide open after the passing of the former District Attorney Richard A. Brown, who held the office for more than three decades. While Brown had been appointed to the position, his successor would be elected. This race is crucial as Queens is one of the largest and fastestgrowing boroughs in New York City with over two million residents. The new Queens District Attorney would set the tone for prosecution in the area for decades to come and would be tasked with the job of maintaining balance in an area with such a vast demographic makeup. In the heavily anticipated Democratic primary, there are four career-prosecutors, two career-politicians, and one career-public defender -Tiffany Cabán.

In a race dominated by big names such as Borough President Melinda Katz, and so-called “progressive prosecutors,” Cabán chose to identify herself as a “decarceral prosecutor” which serves to summarize both her goals and individuality in this race.

While other candidates have embraced a progressive platform, none have advocated so heavily for marginalized and underrepresented groups as the 31year-old queer Latina. In a video she tweeted that later went viral she asserts that “Cash bail is wrong. Period.

We will never ask for it. You can’t have two systems of justice: one for the poor and one for the wealthy.” This is just a piece of her platform that some may dare to call radical.

As a former public defender-- a fact that may have disqualified her from the race more than a decade ago, but after the election of Larry Krasner in Pennsylvania, is slowly becoming more accepted-- she has seen, and defended, the people who she claims the system is rigged against. While many would avoid discussing their lack of prosecutorial experience, Cabán has embraced it; she brings a fresh perspective to the table which has garnered her much deserved respect and praise from supporters and harsh criticism from her competitors.

Cabán has been an advocate for No New Jails, which calls to close Rikers while not opening new jails elsewhere. She supports using the billions that would have gone towards building borough jails to invest in communities of need instead of incentivizing incarceration. She is also a heavy advocate for less prosecution, and if elected she has vowed to decline to prosecute sex work, turnstile jumping, and recreational drug use. She has also weaved support for substance abuse and opioid addiction into her platform with an extensive list of actions she plans to take in the borough ranging from treating substance use disorders as a medical issue to supporting first responders with naloxone and overdose training.

She joined the race more than half a million dollars behind her competitors, and it was only 3 months into her campaign that she then decided to leave her job to pursue the position full time. Her campaign, largely run by volunteers, has amassed an incredible amount of attention. She has gained the endorsement of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, The New York Times, and the Democratic Socialists of America, just to name a few. While her campaign is still significantly outraised, she has more individual donors than her competitors combined, supporting the grassroots movement that so many political insurgents rely on.

On election night, Cabán led by over 1000 votes, signifying one of the greatest political upsets in Queens history; but in the following weeks, as absentee ballots were counted, her lead shrank. As the race stands, Katz leads by 16 votes out of more than 85,000 votes counted. There will be a recount to either solidify Katz’s marginal win or hand the race back to Cabán.

Regardless of the outcome, Cabán’s race has built on a movement of progressive prosecution that will hopefully motivate public defenders and like-minded prosecutors across the nation.

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The POC P

Different people. Different story. Different background. All people of color.

Photographed by Michelle T.

Vy Luong and his family, Vietnamese immi States during Vy’s sixth grade year to reun served in the Vietnam War. During high sc track which led to his interest in continuing this coming fall. Vy enjoys exercising, shop hanging out with friends. Vy defines cultur This gift describes his origins as a person Catholic. The Vietnamese culture is unique Vietnamese have one of the most unique symbolizes elegance and traditions of the timeless.” Vy explains that culture can be m modern knowledge, etc. This ties into how cultures from moving to a different countr culture is, “the fact that [he has] a culture. L appreciated and exposure, [he likes] to pa appreciation to put [his] community out th in that other people at school don’t.”

Beatričė Naujalytė

Beatričė Naujalytė, a Lithuanian and recent high school graduate taking a gap year, is passionate about media and travel, and she plans to spend the year abroad. Beatričė spends most of her time working on her photography business or creating content for her blog, and in just a few months, she plans to set off on a trip through Europe and Asia. When she returns home to Madison, Wisconsin, Beatričė will study journalism with a focus on strategic communications, as she enjoys making things and hoping to spend the rest of her life doing so. Beatričė describes culture as everything that makes life in one place different from life in another. It’s the food that people eat, the music and languages they speak, and the way people interact with each other. Beatričė was born in Vilnius, Lithuania and immigrated to the U.S. when she was six years old, after her parents had won a visa through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. Beatričė moved at a young age and describes how she felt as: “since I moved when I was so young, I don’t feel very “Lithuanian”, but neither do I feel like a “Madisionian” or a “Wisconsinite.” While I may not have a very clear cultural identity, I see this as a strength. I am more curious to explore new cultures and less afraid to stray away from what I know and familiar with.” Beatričė sees that the internet has made other cultures more accessible to us, because although we cannot travel there in order to physically experience it, it has led to the transmission of culture across the geographical barriers. Beatričė continues to elaborate more on her thoughts and says, “I think it’s fascinating to see how aspects of different cultures merge to create new ideas, especially in the realm of art.

Personally, my culture has changed drastically from the time I was a little kid in Lithuania. Living in the United States has obviously impacted the languages that I speak, the food that I eat, and the pop culture I am familiar with.

Hopefully my culture continues to change as I explore new places!” Beatričė finds it hard to make trips to see her family and to experience the Lithuanian culture in person, but she will always carry the language. It is one of the oldest languages in the world, with many words that cognate in Sanskrit. It’s known to be beautiful but very difficult and Beatričė will always be forever grateful to have been billinual from a young age, because it has made learning other languages easier.

Panel

igrants from Chau Thanh, Vietnam, moved to the United nite with his long lost grandfather, an American who chool, Vy participated in competitive cheerleading and g intramural track at UW Madison and to study biology pping for cool clothing, receiving good grades and re as a gift where it defines him and what he believes in. of color, motherland, and traditions as a Vietnamese e in many ways to Vy and he describes it as, “the fact that traditional dresses in the world. The beautiful, “Ao Dai” e Vietnamese people. It is vintage, it is modern and it is modified over time due to political factors, adaptations of w personal culture can be overshadowed by different ry. One thing that Vy cherishes about his Vietnamese Living in a nation where differences do not get articipate in projects that have an emphasis on culture here. Also, it is cool to have special holidays to participate

Vy Luong

Sarah Marty Sarah Marty, who is half Taiwanese and half Caucasian, grew up in an Asian-American setting in Madison, Wisconsin. At the age of four, she started playing piano and violin and swam for a swim team since she was eight up until fourteen. During her childhood, she was raised in a loving, caring but strict household where she grew up speaking English to Mandarin Chinese. In the ways here childhood was more defined by the Taiwanese values, Sarah was disciplined differently, where she was taught different values and mannerisms that impacted her everyday life. Growing up, Sarah describes her point of view living in an Asian-cultured household: “I grew up eating traditional Taiwanese dishes and was taught Mandarin at a young age. My mother really pushed my sisters and I to study hard and succeed at a young age.” Sarah sees how the beliefs, values, and knowledge of different cultures merge when multiple are present. When people travel to foreign countries, it can also influence and change people’s minds on how they view their own culture and can take different aspects from another culture and merge it with their own. Sarah describes how her culture has changed: “Growing up in an Asian-American setting, my culture growing up had gone from an authoritative parenting style to more of a permissive parenting style.” Sarah cherishes her culture’s languages, especially growing up biracial, and living in a bicultural setting has taught her many things like being able to speak both her mother and father’s languages. Sarah defines how living in a bicultural setting has changed her: “Speaking Mandarin has brought me many great opportunities, but have also helped me communicate easily with my family in Taiwan. You learn so much about a culture when you can speak their language, but also visit the country where the culture originates from.”

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art &

A result of U.S. and Canadian atrocities: Lingering intergenerational trauma of Native people writing by Cassandra B. Humans have long perpetuated violence against each other, waging meaningless wars and murdering entire populations. These mass traumas, in the form of colonialism, slavery, war, or genocide, differ from personal traumas akin to a breakup, physical illness, or negative life event. Since the first Europeans colonized the Americas, their continual genocide of Indigenous peoples through the Trails of Tears, forced Christian boarding schools, abductions from birth parents, and beatings have been attributed to high rates of addiction, suicide, mental illness, and sexual violence. The loss of

symptoms related to re-experiencing these traumas (Pember 2017).

While the fact that experiencing trauma leads to PTSD has been proven for decades, more recently, the link between PTSD in current generations of Indigenous people and previous generations’ experiences of mass trauma (intergenerational trauma) has been proven. However, it is important to recognize that different Indigenous communities react differently to trauma and that not all Indigenous populations experience severe intergenerational trauma.

population, lack of public acknowledgment of genocide by the dominant culture, and the denial of Indigenous peoples to properly mourn their losses furthered the trauma.

In 1883, a US federal law was passed that prohibited Indigenous peoples from practicing traditional ceremonies. The law remained until 1978 when the American Indian Religious Freedom Act was enacted. By being prohibited from participating in their traditional healing practices, subsequent generations of Indigenous peoples have been left with little to no ties to their cultures, resulting in feelings of shame, powerlessness, and subordination. In 1830, President Andrew Jackson approved the Indian Removal Act, forcing the relocation of as many as 100,000 Indigenous peoples. By 1876, the US government had forcefully obtained the majority of Indigenous-occupied land and Indigenous people were forced to live on tiny reservations or relocate to urban areas. These relocations resulted in the deaths of thousands of Indigenous people and tore apart many families. Forced removal intended to force the Indigenous peoples to fully assimilate to the dominant white culture and completely abandon their own.

In 1871, the US government became fixated on civilizing Indigenous

Professors Les. B. Whitbeck, Gary W. Adams, Dan R. Hoyt, and Xiaojin Chen from the Department of Sociology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln developed two measures relating to intergenerational trauma among Indigenous people of North America: the Historical Loss Scale and the Historical Loss Associated Symptoms Scale. Whitbeck et al. reported three means by which trauma was passed down through generations: one, children identified with their parents’ suffering; two, children were being influenced by the language that caregivers used to describe the trauma; three, particular parenting styles influenced children. For example, Whitbeck et al. proved there is a relationship between a parent exhibiting fear or symptoms of trauma and their children developing the same fear or symptoms through vicarious learning.

In addition, the researchers also found that there was a causal relationship between children developing a phobia towards something when their parents talked negatively with the children about the stimulus. Because of the kidnapping of Indigenous children from their homes and communities, the Indigenous familial structure was interrupted. At the same time, many Indigenous children suffered extreme abuse and neglect at the hands of teachers and boarding school workers. Subsequently, these victims of the boarding schools developed unhealthy parenting styles which

peoples. Government-sanctioned, church-run boarding schools would kidnap Indigenous children at the age of four or five and disallow all contact with their families for a minimum of eight years.

Indigenous children had their hair cut and were forced to dress like white children. They were forbidden to use their Native languages, practice traditional rituals, or participate in their religions. Many children were physically and sexually abused, developing problematic coping mechanisms like compulsive gambling, alcohol and drug use, denial, suicide, and scapegoating other Indigenous children.

they passed down to their children, inadvertently continuing a cycle of violence and abuse. While the Indigenous peoples of North America are the subjects of this article, other groups of people such as the children of Holocaust survivors have been proven to experience similar parental and personal symptoms.

North America has a long way to go in righting its atrocities committed against Indigenous people, in what the United States has yet to call it as it is -- genocide. Yet, genocide is exactly what the United States and Canadian governments perpetrated against Indigenous nations. Furthermore, cultural genocide is continuing.

Although governments will not take responsibility for their actions, the science does not lie: the effects of genocide have real, physiological and psychological symptoms that last generations. It’s time we provide the culturally specific care Indigenous people need.

A proven relationship between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and physiological functioning has been found, meaning that because of the significant historical and continuing traumas that the Indigenous peoples of North America have experienced, they would face greater risk of developing emotional and physical

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& writing by Nagisa S. The Great Seal of the United States is a symbol of the country’s virtues.

It depicts a bald eagle holding arrows, representing war, in one claw and an olive branch, representing peace and friendliness, but the U.S’s current treatment of immigrants, refugees, and asylees put the olive branch’s existence into question. We should be embracing these people and aid their journey to freedom, but instead, we throw them in concentration camps after we promised never to repeat history again.

A

Opportunity is so Either that, or we television? What we’d all like to ha

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J: When I was a k television or the much of myself w someone who loo what to call wha representation w wasn’t really on called for. I feel l of shift with repr

An interview with Lilly Ramundo: Social media’s beloved Azula writing by JadeAnn R. photography by Tom Ramundo

omething that we all search for. We wait for the right time to ask that question, to hit that ball, to go to that place, to do that thing that we never did. e spend a majority of our lives wondering “What if?” What if I went on that stage? What if I won that race? What if I felt seen the first time I looked at a if Hollywood was more diverse? In short, opportunity is something that we all search for, but hardly find when we need it most. To sum it up, I’m sure ave one tumultuous act uproot and change the entire course of our lives.

etter to talk to about a life-changing opportunity than with up and coming actress Lilly Ramundo, whose career turned itself upside down and spun itself ction via social media. Ramundo is best known for her scarily accurate portrayal of Azula from the Nickelodeon series Avatar the Last Airbender and is ney towards auditioning for Netflix’s live-action adaptation. She’s notably (and with immense gratitude) received widespread support from fans of the

hearing Azula’s voice when she talks, it was truly a pleasure to be able to speak with and get to know who Lilly is outside that. And I’m beyond grateful e the opportunity to do so.

of people grew up watching Avatar, hose childhood defining shows, it’s ou can’t imagine your life without. ou to it, was it the characters, the world-building, or something else?

ally got introduced to Avatar rother, he’s seven years older than uld sneak into the tv room late at uld be watching Avatar on Nick. me watching it was not only the because at the time I was so young en I was so young). I didn’t know as special to me but I knew that I somehow. And, so that was really I just loved the creative beauty . There’s just some mix between the music, and the way everything is her is just really special. It’s not necessarily can find these days. It’s ows that you think about that’s like n original.” So it also really helped reciate my love for film, tv, and you know when you think about a much more that happens than just a script. There’s scores that have re’s animation. And so, again a lot hink are overlooked but are super rucial. So, those are the things that me loving it [Avatar] and watching

kid, I remember looking at my book I was reading and seeing so within a character but never seeing oked like me. And I didn’t know at I felt. I didn’t know that was something I needed because it my screen, it wasn’t really being like Avatar really created this kind resentation. Because, suddenly

there was a big network telling stories and sharing culture in a way that other networks weren’t (not even in live action or with [actual] people on screen). It wasn’t being presented that way. And, I feel like Avatar really embraced where it came from. I remember there was like, they used to have like…. they’d play behind the scenes stuff on Nickelodeon. Or, I don’t know if I saw it somewhere and they would show like… they’d have a stunt coordinator. Or a person who specialized in the specific martial arts they were trying to recreate and they took a lot of steps to make sure it was authentic and that it was respectful. And I feel like that was really amazing (especially for the time) because it was the early 2000’s and people weren’t thinking about that stuff. It wasn’t being… it wasn’t called for in the way it is now and I think it’s really amazing to think about. And, what does representation mean to you (with all that being said)?

L: I think representation is deeper than what you see from the outside. You know, when people look at me, they might not necessarily know I’m Korean but they know I’m probably East Asian. They probably see someone whose under represented in the industry. But there’s also forms of my identity that aren’t so transparent. So, I am a huge advocate for mental health awareness. Growing up, I struggled with mental health, it was something that my parents you know, didn’t really tell me that I was going through. Because, it’s difficult to talk to someone at such a young age, about something that’s “wrong” with them, that they can’t do anything about. So, I struggled with mental health problems for a lot of my life. And I didn’t know how to cope with it or deal with it because no one was telling me. I understand where that comes from, but also, at the same time, it made things more difficult.

My brother also ( I’ve mentioned this a few times) he had a late diagnosis of Aspergers, which is a

form of autism. So with that came a lot of mental health issues with him as well. He had addiction problems and was in a very bad place early on in my childhood. So, not only was I struggling with it, but also members of my family were. But, those are the types of things that are so personal and hidden that people don’t see. And so, one of the things that I’ve loved about acting also is the fact that I could walk up to someone and be smiling and pretend like I’m having a great day, but not really. And so when I think about representation, it’s not just having a voice and speaking out for other people, but I also think about speaking out for myself. Acting is kind of my representation of “this is what I’m allowing you to see right now because you shouldn’t be able to assign roles to me.” But, when it comes down to Asian representation, the earliest- I wasn’t involved in my ethnicity and my culture at all as a child because I went to a private (majority white) school.

L: I lived in a small town in Massachusetts and it's super conservative and because of that, there weren’t a lot of examples for me to look around.

The only people of color I knew were two of my neighbors, and that was like it apart from myself.

Even when I was younger, the only “cool” character I thought of when I thought of people that were closer to my identity was Mulan, because she was Eastern Asian. And that was like the only representation I was familiarized with at a young age that was popular, and something that people liked. It was weird because nowadays Avatar is super popular, but I remember it having a very bad stigma in the early 2000’s. People would say “Oh you watch that show, you’re such a nerd.” I would have my friends over in my backyard and I would be doing frickin cartwheels on the grass. Pretending I was like an earthbender or something. So, my representation again, is something that I choose to let people see. And unfortunately, I can’t change

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the way I look (and, I’m not saying that’s not a fortunate thing) but if I could be a blank canvas, that’s what I would choose to represent.

J: How did you find acting? Was it something you thought of doing before they announced the live action? How did you “find” Azula like, how did you realize that she’s the character you wanted to audition for and become and learn about?

L: I went to a Catholic school from PreK to the middle of third grade.

And then from the middle of third grade on I went to Wheeler. And that was a very arts dominated school. Acting was actually required for lower schoolers (they stopped doing it a few years ago), but when I was in lower school it was something that you had to do. And so, for the kids who didn’t want to be in it and were “forced” to do it you would just be a supporting or a background character and you’d only have to show up to practices once in a while. But, I got the gist of what acting was at a pretty young age. I watched TV non-stop as a child also, so that definitely helped me. I originally just immersed myself into the stories and the characters and found that very fascinating. And, recently (up until like a year ago) I really started to like, realize the beauty behind creating shows (that’s one of the reasons why I decided to major in film.) But I didn’t involve myself in a lot of acting when I was younger because I was dancing all the time.

It was something that I wanted to do but just didn’t have time for.

And so, it was difficult but I’m kind of glad that I started it now because I feel like I wasn’t in a good enough place where it would’ve worked out for me. When I was younger, I was extremely temperamental and hot-headed and if it wasn’t my way then it wasn’t gonna happen type of thing. I feel like now I have a little bit more patience [laughs]. I’ve accomplished acting in a more professional way. But, in terms of Azula, I originally started promoting, Avatar related things a little less than a year ago around November. I live near Providence (because that’s where I went to school) and so you know, one of our native cons is Rhode Island Comic Con. And so, I had gone for two years (last year was actually my last year because now I’m going to be going to college in New York). But, it was my second year in a row where I had done a Korra cosplay [the titular character from the Avatar spinoff]. And this year it elevated, like I actually bought stuff instead of making it myself (and I was like, pretty proud proud of myself). So, I wanted to like, show off my work because...anything that’s related to arts I usually tend to be really proud of, and, I like to inspire other people as well.

However, I didn’t want anyone from my school finding my stuff. [laughs] L: It wasn’t something that I was just like open about. So, I went on to the app Amino and found the Avatar community and just started like, posting all these pictures. And, people were like…. you know, I wasn’t getting like lots of like, clout or whatever (and I was totally fine with that). I was just happy that I was making other people happy. Then I posted...while I was at Rhode Island Comic Con, I got a commission of myself as Korra (because that’s who I went as for that con last year). And so, I took a picture of myself with the commission and someone commented on the picture “Oh my God you look like Azula!” And I was like… at first, I was a little like, disappointed [laughs]. Just… you know, as a child... like, most people like grew up like, not liking her. I remember growing up and thinking she was like, really annoying [laughs]. Because like, I… as a child, was like “I’m not that ‘mean’ and like,‘annoying’ I’m more like a Katara.” And then, like, as I started getting older I was like, “ Holy crap, I’m definitely more of a Azula.” So I.. you know, at first I was like, “I don’t know how I feel about this.” And then I was like, “No this could work like, let’s just go for it and see what happens!” And so, I started posting Azula pictures on Amino, and then (all of a sudden) this one picture just got like, 100 something “likes” on it and a bunch of comments.

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“likes” on it and a bunch of comments. I was like, “Oh my God [laughs], this is my calling!” And so, I started posting more pictures and whatever, and then I was like “You know what, we gotta reach out to where I know the Avatar community really lives.” And so, I finally decided to switch over to Instagram (that’s what @johncookjunglebook was).

L: But, you know, I started posting my pictures...I was like, “I want the account to be private (but then people won’t be able to see my work).” So I just let it be public, I was like “ If anyone finds out about it like whatever (that’s why I put it under my name).” And so, I started posting more pictures. And then, people just started like, you know, doing edits for me, and doing fan art, and giving me shoutouts. It was just really… I honestly didn’t even care about the attention I was getting. I was just… the thing that struck me the most, was when people were dming me saying that I inspired them to wanna audition.

L: Which is absolutely insane ... and not only does it make me feel good about what I’m doing, But, it’s also preparing me for what the industry is gonna turn out like. I feel like the Netflix adaptation of Avatar could be a breakthrough for people of color (in this industry).

Because, (if they’re staying true to their word [laughs]) they’re gonna keep an authentic cast. It would just be truly… you know, a breakthrough to be able to have something that’s held a special place in people’s childhoods (and people’s lives) and have it be authentic and true to what it was supposed to be. And so, being able to see so many people come out of their shell, and be comfortable with who they are, because of what I was doing it made me feel like I was definitely doing something right. And that was originally my intention in the first place, you know? To inspire other people because I didn’t have anyone to look up to when I was creating this account. You know, I kinda had to be the person who like stepped up and you know... made other people feel better about it. And so, now I kinda have this platform where I’m able to do that (which I’m super grateful for). But it wasn’t easy getting there because so many people… I would get so many comments or dm’s like “You don’t look like Azula, Don’t audition for the show, Azuala’s not Asian.” And you know… first off it’s kinda hard to look like an animated character.

L: [laughs] I wasn’t bred to look like Azula you know but, it… I was dumb in the beginning, and really lashed out at people in the comments. Which was like a terrible idea, like, I just wasn’t thinking it through. Because originally, I was like “I’m not gonna get that popular it’s fine, this won’t go down in the books.” And then you know, you what the internet like [shakes head]…

L: Things get dug up…

L: And so, I kinda started digging myself into this hole where I was like “Okay I need to stop before this keeps getting worse.” But, you know, Azula is a character that isn’t… or that wasn’t very close to my heart but is now. Thinking about my childhood, you know, to get personal right now (obviously). Growing up my dad was always working and you know, as a kid you feel like that’s kinda like your fault. Like why is he… why isn’t my dad home like why isn’t… and obviously now I know that he was trying to provide for us and make sure that we were living a very happy life. But, as a kid, it was kind of confusing, because I was spending most of my time with my mom who was too focused on what was happening with my brother because he wasn’t diagnosed until he was nineteen. So, I was constantly trying to fight for attention. And you know, I remember one night I was like, storming through the house and I was like “You love Paul more than you love me!” And, my parents just kinda gave me that look that was like “What like… what the hell like…? What are you talking about?” I always felt like I was kind of like second in line for everything and that’s because all of the things I was doing that were supposed to be centered around me… I would put other people

before myself. So when I began to do dance you know, [if] I saw someone was like, a little bit better than me… and I wouldn’t even try to be better than them because I thought I couldn’t be.

And so, in everything I was doing I was kind of sidelining myself, and that made me feel like that was the way I was being treated at home. And so, I just like, started pushing people out of my life. I started creating bad habits and it took a while to like, get out of that…. out of that funk but, it was definitely challenging and I relate to Azula much more than I would like to admit [laughs].

J: Yeah, I agree...like as you get older you begin to understand those kind of characters more and I... especially like… the idea of striving for perfectionism. Azula went through a lot of that, where she had to be “better” and she had to be better than Zuko.. and [the idea of] being perfect.

And like growing up now I understand that...especially now with what I’m doing in my major I’m always striving to be “perfect” and things like that. And when you’re a kid, you don’t think about those things and you always seem to kind of misunderstand characters like that. You’re always like rooting for Aang or Katara, and you never seem to understand that there’s like a deep… there’s deep roots in what they’re trying to tell you about like… antagonist. There’s always… in antagonists, even though they’re “the ones to hate” they’re human. And they’re… most of the time they’re the most human characters.

you’re the same kind of person you are off screen is as you are onscreen. That speaks a lot to your character (no pun intended). That being said, the way you interact with your supporters is great, it’s wonderful! What’s it like to have so much love and respect and support being thrown at your everyday? What does it feel like for you? What does it feel like to have that kind of community behind you?

L: It’s honestly shocking, you know, I didn’t have, like, a lot of friends growing up. I wasn’t super popular, but the people I did have close to me were very supportive. And, to feel an immense amount of love and support from many people is just… overwhelming but in a good way. Because, not only do they like me for the content I’m producing but they also like me for like how hard I work and for being an advocate and all that kind of stuff. So, it feels...it’s a little daunting sometimes, because when I’m not acting it kinda feels like I’m letting everyone down. Especially because they’re the people who support me...who are making this possible. So, that’s definitely stressful but you know, I try to put my best foot forward at all times. And this is...what people see is who I am. I mean I swear a little bit more in real life [laughs] but I’ve now learned that I need to stay more authentic because there’s really no

L: Yeah, yes!

J: Because they have the flaws that people don’t want to recognize. A lot of heros are “perfect” and they look like “this” and they have everything you want. But when you look at antagonists(in most shows) it’s[the antagonist that’s] the most human character that’s there.

Because they feel everything, they make the mistakes, and they do the right thing sometimes and sometimes they don’t do the right thing at all but it’s... it’s what it is to be human. So, I feel like antagonists are less antagonists, and more realists.

L: Yeah, I 100% agree with you on that, I think that you know, as a kid watching the show it was so easy to just get wrapped around the idea that she was a villain and then completely look past her backstory. So, you know, hopefully in the live action, they’ll be able to dive into that a little bit more because I know they’re trying to make it a little more mature than the animated series. And you know, possibly incorporate more of the comics as well, I think that would be awesome.

J: I feel like there’s such an immense pressure on everyone daily to be a certain kind of person on social media. Places like Instagram can be kind of polarizing, because people preach the idea of an authentic self while the other half of “Instagram” doesn’t really agree with that. So, I feel like it’s really easy to fabricate a persona (especially when you’re high profile). But, it’s clear that

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harm in being who you are and so, again, it just...it feels liberating that people are loving me and accepting me for who I am and not a fake persona I’m putting on. Like, this is genuinely who I am and the fact that people like that… and the fact that people support that is just really amazing!

J: How has this all this affected your personal life? How have your friends and family responded to you wanting to audition?

L: It was honestly a lot better than I expected. And I knew they were gonna be very supportive of it, but because… you know, I’m so incredibly lucky and grateful to have people in my life who are genuine and kind. And so, I knew people were going to be okay with it and you know, support me. But, I was the only person that was like, holding myself back from like, being 100% honest about it. So, it was more like my fault for not being like, 100% transparent with everyone. But, my parents were kind of like, “Oh this is cool, this is like, a hobby, this is something you do.” And then, once I started talking more about auditioning, there were lots of conversations about school and how it was going to affect college. And so, you know, we didn’t know when auditions were (we still don’t [laughs]).

L: But, you know, originally they were kind of like, “Oh like, they’ll start filming in fall of 2019.” So my parents were like, “You know, depending on when auditions are - if they’re telling you it’s in fall of 2019 then, do you wanna take a gap year?” And so, I was like, ‘What if I don’t get the part? and then, you know, I miss out on a whole year of school, and making friends, and I’m held back a year’. And so, what I decided to do is... you know, I’m gonna be now majoring in something related to what I would be doing in Avatar (which is acting). So, what I’ve decided is that you know, I’ll be taking classes to help me because, eventually what I wanna do is be more involved in directing so it’ll be good to have that foundation. And then, you know, I can always go back and take classes (and, I’m definitely going to do that). So, my parents were pretty supportive of it (they still are). Now they’re more supportive of it cause I kind of have my shit together [laughs].

L: But, my friends at first, were kind of like - I had a few friends who were just like “Hmmm, like, this is kinda like,weird” because it’s something they’re not familiar with.

L: I had some friends who were also supportive, but still thought it was kinda like… they cosplay during Comic-Con and stuff. They don’t do it like on their free time, they only do it when there’s like an event.

So, and then, there were a few people at school who like, were supportive of me as well but tried talking about it in the senior room while the seniors were there. And I was like, [makes panicked face] “Wait stop… oh my god… please… make it end!” And you know, eventually I was kinda like, “You know what? If you don’t like it… that’s cool. It’s not your thing.” You know, because a lot of people that were like, giving me crap about it were like people that I would also be giving crap to about what they do. And so, I was kinda like,“Okay this is like fair. We don’t have to love what either of us do but, as long as we can be civil about it and just accept it and accept the fact that it’s something that we both enjoy then just let it be. You know, if it makes you happy that’s cool with me!”

L: So yeah, I mean like I… my extended family doesn’t really know about it because it’s come to the point where like, now I’m not really as close with my extended family. To the point where it would be like, I could just bring it up like “Hey, did you know like, I have this other account type of thing?” But, the people (again) who do know about it have been supportive. And there’s always that pessimistic side of me

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that’s like “They’re not going to” - but I knew they would.

J: Besides this, have you involved yourself in any projects outside of [preparing to audition for] Avatar?

L: Yeah so, I actually have a few friends who also are majoring in film.

They’re a year older than me and I went to school with them. And so, they have kinda been working on some projects and just have been like letting me know how that’s going (which is nice). And, I also, have been working on a side project by myself for Miraculous Ladybug [A Disney Channel TV show]. Which I promoted a very long time ago.

L: I kind of made the mistake of doing that because it’s not even close to being done yet, and to be honest I don’t even know if it’s gonna be done because I leave in two weeks for school. And, I’m not gonna be running around my campus dressed as Marinette so [laughs]. Or not yet at least!

L: And then, before this actually, I started my whole “acting career” with voice acting. So I did some side voice acting for a little while.

Which was a good way for me to like get exposed to acting and not have anyone like know who I was. And so, I did a lot of Lego like… productions.

L: I found myself… you know, because, I went on a website called Behind the Voice Actors and you could search up types of things to do. So I was like anything you know… Avatar unfortunately (not on Behind The Voice Actors) isn’t something that people are looking for right now and so. But DC is and I’m a huge DC fan so!

L: So now I’ve, you know, I… they’re… I was so bad in them. But again, I was just learning because it [laughs] - I was in like five films and I just can’t watch any of them because I had like ten lines in each of them (and I didn’t nail a single one) I was just so overdramatic!

L: It was just like so bad like, and people sometimes ask me, you know,“So what’s your experience?” And then I’ll be like, ‘Oh, you know, I did some voice acting.’ They’re like, “Oh my god can I hear it?” And I’m like, ‘Oh what voice acting, I don’t know… what are you talking about [laughs]?”

L: So unfortunately, that’s like the only experience I have under my belt that’s like credible. But terrible, I mean horrendous! So I kind of, I didn’t set myself up for that very well. But yeah, I mean… yeah that’s… yeah.

J: I know you talked about it a while ago on like your live but, Nickelodeon noticed you recently on TikTok. So how did… that’s crazy like? How do you feel, that must have been surreal I can’t even imagine?

L: So, at first I wasn’t even gonna look through my TikTok notifications because you know, I was getting a lot of these comments like “Omg Yasss!” like 100 times and I was like, ‘Okay, (like I get it) thank you for supporting me!’ But, and so I was like - So, I saw a lot of “Omg Yasses!” and so I kept scrolling because I was like “Maybe someone will say something negative just to like, entertain me [laughs].” And so, I originally just see like, this orange check mark and I’m like “Oh that means someone’s verified like, who… what verified TikToker is liking my content.” And so, then I looked at the name and I was like “Whoa, wait a second! Um this… am I like hallucinating or something? And so, I clicked on the profile just to make sure [laughs] and um… it was Nickelodeon.

L: And I ran downstairs, my parents were half asleep watching NCIS and I just started screaming. And, they were kinda like “What’s wrong

with you like, you’re a grown ass adult like, why are you yelling?” I was like ‘Nickelodeon, like, you know, the channel with Avatar and like, Victorious? Ahh! They liked my video!’ And they [her parents] knew that the video was blowing up. Because, every single day they would ask me “How many likes do you have now?” just to like, get me like rattled. And I’d be like ‘Ugh stop making it-’ you know. And they were like, “You’re pulling our leg, like come on like… you can’t… like, no one likes you that much.” And I was like, ‘No no, I’m being very serious right now (you want me to show you)! And they were like “Oh my god this is like… you’re kind of like doing great right now and I was like ‘Oh thank you!’ And so, I was just like absolutely [makes a stunned face] this is how I describe that moment like… where it’s just - And not only was it like a big franchise or whatever (you know for me) like that was pretty litt. But also, the fact that Nickelodeon was not just a channel where I watched Avatar. It was a channel where I watched so many other shows that like, inspired me to do so many other things. Like Victorious was one of my favorite shows ever growing up and it, you know, it involved performing arts which was all I did my whole entire life. So, that was so inspiring. And to know that, again, the work I’m doing is entertaining and makes people happy and you know, makes them laugh or you know, makes their day better is just absolutely amazing. And so, the fact that they commented was just so surreal. Because it was you know, I post my content to make other people happy… and it was something that they posted about me that was you know, like, in return. So anyways it was like, pretty cool or whatever I guess [laughs].

J: What does Azula and the chance at a role like this mean to you?

L: Oh god, it means… infinity [laughs] because it’s so much more than the world and the universe. I started getting more serious about auditioning a few months after I’d created my account on Instagram.

And so… you know I really started to initiate how I was going to prep myself for auditions. And, you know, obviously senior year caught up with me and I wasn’t able to do as much as I wanted to, but people were still telling me that I was doing great. But there’s always a side of you that’s just like… you know you can do better. And it’s frustrating to hear people tell you that this is like your max at what you can be because, you know it’s not. So… and I knew people weren’t doing it in an offensive way but, it was just kind of like… it was frustrating to me to know that - or for me to know that I could be doing more. Yet, I couldn’t at the same time because of how busy I was. But, you know, again I have such a deep personal connection to Azula’s story and also just the fact that I’ve been doing this for almost a year. So it’s even more personal and a much deeper connection than before. So, not only is it just like, personal for me in relation to how I relate to her and her story. But also, just the fact that I, you know, have been given smaller opportunities to promote acceptance and promote you know, different things I’m passionate about. This would just be like, such an elevated version of everything I’ve done and would be like the cherry on top. Because, a lot of the things I’ve been doing my whole entire life would combine to create this (if that makes sense). You know, I think that I also… it would be really really really really great to inspire you know, some child out

there, to see a living non- animated version of themselves that’s successful.

L: And you know, and again… I like to be like, as unfiltered as possible. I will not tell… you know, I won’t be like “Oh it was so easy getting here!” like there were so many projects I had to do to get to where I am. And I just want to let them know that like, they’re not alone and they definitely have support groups that are there for them and they just have to find the right people. And that takes a long time, and it’s really really hard to let go of people who you think are close to you and who have spent a lot of time with you. But also, if they’re not good for you or they’re holding you back then… you know. You have to start putting yourself before other people and start to accept yourself more. So that’s I guess what getting Azula would mean for me [laughs]. It would be a lot of stuff and it would be definitely overwhelming [laughs].

J: And finally, what’s one piece of advice you have for someone looking to start their own acting journey?

L: Don’t count yourself out too early. I think that a lot of people think that because they don’t have any experience, they can’t do anything and that’s 100% false. That’s something I had to learn. You know, people told me like, “You can’t get the role if you don’t have experience.” And yet, they’re making the casting call an open casting call. So it’s… you know, you really can’t get anywhere if you keep telling yourself that you don’t have any potential. But, you also can’t be too cocky about it. There’s a very fine line between confidence and you know, being too self-centered. Also, don’t underestimate your values, I think that people are willing to throw away lots of their life to be famous. And that’s… you will eventually find out the hard way that that’s worse than what you think was bad with what you started with. There you know, there are so many people out there who are famous who you don’t know their whole stories. And, they could have gone through something very traumatic and are just choosing not to share it. So, also, that and then just like really cliché ... be true to who you are. Because, there are going to be so many people that you will just be copies of. And, it would be really sad to see how like you know, so many people out there are unique and it would be so sad to see them just conform into another like general party of society. I think everyone should be special in their own way and everyone has their own talents. So, being able to recognize those and then build off of that potential is like super super important. And… also remember the people who helped you along the way. You know, there are so many people out there who helped me build confidence especially you know, my followers. I eventually started to become more open because of them. And so, it would just be… I know a lot of celebrities that do it too. It’s just… they sometimes get caught up in the moment and then just forget about the people who have supported them the whole way and it’s so unfair because you know, they’re the visual representation of themselves. But also, within that person is multiple other people. So, yeah, I’d say those are my advice things [laughs].

Through our post interview exchange I find out a couple things about Lilly and as we speak candidly about our common interest, I can’t help but notice how genuinely enthralled she is by what I’m saying. It’s rare that we find people who listen. And no, I don’t mean that they’ve heard you but, that they are truly listening to you. That they are actively making an effort to earnestly respond to what your relaying to them. As we delve into more personal matters, I find myself entirely humbled. If you ever get the chance to meet her, I’m confident you’ll discover that fire nation princess or not, few flames burn brighter than Lilly Ramundo’s.

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Understanding the fundamentals of white privilege as they pertain to the progression of black liberation movements writing by Jaden F.

One

pre

rob Just as “All Lives Matter” disregards the purpose of the Black Lives Matter movement, white allyship lacking action disregards the purpose of support from the privileged. As a marginalized group in the fact that we are not viewed as equitable to the white race, black people simply do not have access to certain spaces which the white individual does. In recent and past responses to the Black Lives Matter movement, a variety of white supremacist Anti-Black Lives Matter rallies have occurred, and times like those are opportunities for white allies to step up and utilize their authority. Because as white America has provided the platform for these overtly racist demonstrations to happen, white America must be the driving force in the action to abolish these practices.

Something crucial that is to be understood about the support of the Black Lives Matter and black liberation movements is that, as a white ally, higher privilege granted as a result of being part of the apparent superior race should be utilized to its extent. Black people have been protesting. Black people have been in handcuffs, have sacrificed, have been tortured, have been murdered. We have experienced these things because we are black. Because we are marginalized, our experiences will differ from that of someone who is white, due to the fact that our privileges are slim in comparison. We have to do all of these things because that is our only access to any degree of privilege. We have the right to freedom of speech and the right to protest, but that does not necessarily mean that our efforts are viewed as being allowed such freedom.

Black people have created our spaces to form our movements. While the white individual can be a catalyst for change, they can only do so if they are infiltrating privileged spaces that were not created by the black individual and that the black individual does not necessarily have access to. White individuals who are in favor of black liberation need to be organizing in their own communities, rather than organizing in a community that already has fundamental goals that will only be furthered by those infiltrations of racist spaces.

Awareness, as a white ally, is not trying to become an aide in the black liberation movement, but rather to influence anti-racist ideals within their own communities. As black people, we can influence changes in the racist power structure, but we cannot recreate something that was not built by us, and rather built to destroy us.

Ultimately, while it seems simpler to understand one’s personal identity and issues, a crucial part of social activism is understanding one’s role as it pertains to not only one’s own oppression, but also the oppression of others. This includes how one’s privileges can be utilized to access and maneuver the platforms that are not accessible to the marginalized. White allies must understand that part of creating a space for change in black liberation movements is understanding the fundamentals of privilege, and how they can be used to leverage the movement in ways that can not be achieved by the black individual.

Discrimination behind bars: The hidden world of the female prisoner writing by Lena M.

It was a viral social media post originating from Tessa Muggeridge on February 8, 2018 on Twitter that read: “If incarcerated menstruating women in Arizona bleed through the 12 pads (0 tampons) they’re allotted each month and stain their clothes, they get a dress code violation. That violation means they can’t purchase store items, including tampons and pads.”

crime. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, 25% of women behind bars have not yet had a trial. Additionally, 60% of women under local control have not yet been convicted of a crime and are still waiting for a trial. This system unfairly punishes poorer women who cannot afford to pay their way out of prison, despite legally being innocent.

Arizona prisons have improved since Muggeridge’s post- beginning on March 1, 2018, all female inmates received at least “36 sanitary napkins, tampons or a combination of both, based on their preference,” according to the Arizona Department of Corrections. While this progress is noteworthy, the initial limitation on feminine hygiene products raises awareness to the greater issue at hand of female prisoners facing dicrimination and marginalization in a closed off world behind bars.

It is also important to note that the magnitude of prisoners in the United States is likely unknown to many free American residents. If every resident of an American prison and jail was grouped together into a single city, this city would be America’s fifth largest, only behind New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston. The people living in these facilities are not just a select few, but a large portion of the U.S. population. If America’s actual fifth largest city, Phoenix, Arizona, suddenly became subjected to harsh conditions with innocent people being treated as guilty inmates, people would take notice.

Female prisoners also face the danger of sexual assault, as evident in several cases at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women located in New Jersey.

There, a 32-year-old former corrections officer named Ciera Roddy was charged with one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, one count of seconddegree pattern of official misconduct and two counts of second-degree official misconduct. According to My Central Jersey, a minimum of seven former Edna Mahan employees have recently been criminally charged.

When cruel incidents occur in prisons, a common response is the simple notion that if these people were willing to commit crimes, they should be willing to face punishment and hardship as a result. This not only strips prisoners of the basic human dignity that all people deserve, but also is simply not true, as a staggering amount of women incarcerated have not even been convicted of a

22 - LUNE magazine

With that being said, ordinary people can work to help improve the conditions of incarcerated women, as donating to organizations can make a noteworthy change. Black Mama’s Bail Out is a collective where donations will go towards helping bail women out of jail for Mother’s Day who can otherwise not afford to pay for their own freedom.

If helping financially is not possible, Black and Pink is an organization with a pen pal program that connects free people with LGBTQ prisoners. This helps prisoners develop a connection with the outside world and build relationships with others through writing. Regardless of how you choose to help, the marginalization of female prisoners can be reduced, at least one prisoner at a time, by the efforts of single individuals willing to make a change.

dep

is n

art & writing by Beatrice J.

e of the many ethnic minority groups in the Philippines, the Lumads have been struggling to survive and to

eserve their culture. As a result of supposed government efforts to alleviate them of this, they have been

bbed of their ancestral lands, tortured, killed, and discriminated. They now lack their human rights and

prived of their basic needs. Recently, there has been a rise of Lumad killings and the Philippine government

not stopping anytime soon to help preserve their culture and their people.

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art & writing by Kimia F. As I grew to adulthood, the more I realized how similar my mother and I were. The physical aspect was obvious since what seems to be the dawn of time; I looked near nothing like my father and our yearly school photos bore striking resemblance. Long dark hair and almond eyes, I was her miniature. As I matured, our similarities fell deeper than skin. Have you ever seen or read The Joy Luck Club? One of the themes is how Chinese women are like stairs. In many Asian cultures, mothers pass on their hopes, dreams, fears, and needs from one step to their daughter. It is a different step, but at width, length, and direction, they are similar at the core. My grandmother passed down her traumas. She hoped, dreamed, feared, and needed from her daughter. My mother has done the same. Like a chain reaction, my mother and her mother share many of the same mental struggles I grapple with today. Will the stairs simply end with me? Or will they change direction?

Proud of my boy writing by Lara P. When you tell me I am not Asian, what does that make me think? Dozens of thoughts flood my brain, but most importantly, I think when you erase my identity, you erase my existence. My ethnicity is not a compromise, nor are identities of color. You don't get to choose whether I am this or that, but it seems as though people can tell me who I am and where I came from.

My parents moved to the United States, emigrating from a small island nation called the Philippines, for a better life and future. Some people think that the Philippines isn't part of Asia because it's an island off the coast of Asia, or that it's too far south so it must be a Pacific island. Did you know that 48 countries are contained in the continent of Asia, including my family’s home country of the Philippines?

And I’ve never been prouder of my roots. The sweet and savory meals I eat at home and the pasalubong spread on my dining table after one of my parents comes back after “going home,” as they say after going to the Philippines, can't be put into a physical feeling that I can describe. When I notice the similarities between the pictures and the mirror, I grin and the faces with the same details grin back whether they know or not. Fireworks set off in my heart whenever I see the Philippines being showcased in a

positive light in America. I realize that the identity I know is alive and breathing and given space in this large, western world that everyone idolizes.

Pride is a broad word that can be a double-edged sword. In this case, it is the greatest thing possible.

When I consume the rice and soup my mom cooked for the family that day or notice a Filipino singer or actor on social media, that is when I feel pride. A song in the Broadway production of Aladdin called “Proud of My Boy” makes me think of the OFWs, overseas Filipino workers, specifically this lyric: “Since I wasn't born perfect like Dad or you, Mom, I will try to try hard to make you proud of your boy.” The OFWs travel to America to make money to send back home, and although my parents aren't part of that specific group, they send money to family in the Philippines like clockwork, every month. It’s the least they can do, after all the sacrifice their own parents made so they could work hard in America.

As an upcoming senior in high school, I aspire to work as hard as my ascendants, through academic and physical actions. I will never match their sacrifice ever, but I can hope to be half as amazing as they are. No matter what I do, I will strive to make them proud of their girl.

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ISSUE 15