JUNETEENTH IN ATHENS

Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz speaks about the local Juneteenth celebration being planned for this national holiday and the impact it will have on Athens.

STORY BY AUDREY ST. ONGE Variety Staffer

LAYOUT BY AUDREY ENGHAUSER Print Editor-in-Chief

Variety Staffer Audrey St. Onge: Why does Juneteenth matter?

Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz: In the United States, like in so many societies, you had people who were not just marginalized or under-resourced, but people who were enslaved, who were treated as subhuman. In today's language, there were severe human rights violations occurring on a daily basis. So if we pride ourselves on being open-minded and honest people, if we'd be honest about these past traumas, that leads to the opportunity to be open about today's traumas and for us to seek solutions to that.

AS: Why does Juneteenth matter specifically to the people in Athens?

KG: While we're really excited about having made some strides in Athens and in the nation, we also have to recognize that we still have strides to make around uniform availability of employment, uniform availability of housing, creation of wealth or deterrence from incarceration. There are a lot of elements of our community and society where we still see disparities between Black and white Americans and other minorities (and) people of color and so, by celebrating Juneteenth, what we're also doing is recognizing that we've made changes in the past that have been positive. If changes have been made in the past, we can continue to make changes for (the) mutual benefit of all in society.

Above: RECOGNIZING IMPACTS: Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz stands in front of the bus loop at Clarke Central High School on March 25. Girtz wants to recognized the importance of Juneteenth and highlight its impact. "I recognize that Juneteenth was probably an under-recognized celebration until recent years, when there's been a sort of burgeoning and broadcasting desire to highlight and recognize every step in our social and legal evolution. So, I'm glad that Juneteenth is becoming a much more recognized and much more celebrated date," Girtz said. Photo by Lucas Donnelly

AS: What can you tell me about the past Juneteenth celebrations in AtheNS?

KG: There has been a celebration for a couple of years, on Katherwood Drive in the Rolling Ridge community that I've been part of. Last year, there was a Juneteenth celebration in the East Athens community, in Vine and (the) Nellie B area. There also has been a celebration that involved a parade that (ran from) Ebenezer West Baptist Church off West Broad Street to City Hall (in Downtown Athens), and so my wife, sons and I marched in that.

AS: How do you want this to reach the Athens commuNITY?

KG: Well, you hope that this, like any big, important event, is going to hit students, young people, working professionals, longtime Athenians and seniors. The goal of an event like this is to have everybody recognize its importance and have everybody recognize how, as I referenced earlier, we've made great strides in American life and we can use similar energy now to continue to make strides in terms of improvement for people's circumstances.

AS: What do you think bringing attention to these marginalized groups will helP ACHieve IN THE FUTURE?

KG: Obviously, attention is just a piece of the puzzle. What you hope to see grow from attention are tangible gains in wealth creation, tangible group gains in viability of businesses, tangible gains in terms of people's access to health care, food resources or housing or other things.

AS: How do you see this affecting people of color specifically in the Athens community?

KG: It's no secret that people of color have been under-recognized. By being overt and explicit in recognizing the accomplishments and needs of people of color, we create the foundation to take the steps necessary to greater homeownership, greater business ownership, greater educational success, fewer disparities in public (education) or in the criminal justice system and so many other things.

AS: I was looking into some of what you did with Linnentown. How do you think things like that are going to impact the future of Athens?

KG: One of the things I think has always been true is that in Athens, and in similar communities across the country, there are things that are right in front of us that are hidden in plain sight, (such as) events that might have happened not that far in the past in the grand scheme of history that people just have not been aware of, (but that) we should be aware of. I think as human beings and certainly, for institutions, we always have to be asking ourselves, ‘How can we do better? How can we do more? How can we act with broader knowledge?' To be involved with former Linnentown residents and those who have been advocates for them is to kind of open up that laboratory of how we could do a better job for everybody, particularly those people like Black Athenians who've been marginalized, including in recent times. O

Featured: LAST WAVE OF FREEDOM: A graphic shows an enslaved person gaining freedom. According to History.com, the national holiday Juneteenth commemorates the last wave of the liberation of enslaved peoples since the Emancipation Proclamation was signed two and half years earlier. Graphic by Audrey Enghauser

by Lucas Donnelly College Square is hard to beat.” Photo and story neighbors downtown. The people-watching on forward to hanging out with my friends and spectator Tommy Houseman said. “I was looking studies department teacher and AOC Twilight cycling races,” Cedar Shoals High School social things like the food expo, family fest and amateur it caters to people of all ages and interests with impact, I think the event is meaningful because and a five-kilometer race. “Beyond the economic and April 30 and included bike races, parades 30. AOC Twilight took place on both April 29 Women’s Pro Twilight 1/2/3 Criterium on April section of the 2022 Athens Orthopedic Clinic off against each other on the Washington Street Featured: ZOOOOOM: Two competitors face

CULTURAL BUZZ BUZZ

Rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers released “Unlimited Love”, a 17-song album, on April 1. The album is consistent with their unique sound, although slower-paced songs are more common compared to previously-released albums.

With a pleasing bassline and a familiar guitar chord sequence, RHCP has kept their sound steady throughout their decorated career.

Each song has a slightly different vibe, so listeners can enjoy the whole album at once without worrying about repetition across tracks. While the band’s electric sound elevates the album, listeners should be warned that it does sound similar to past work at times.

Those who have enjoyed listening to RHCP and punk or alternative rock music in the past will enjoy this album. Although the lack of new qualities in “Unlimited Love” is disappointing, the unique sounds of the band are featured with small additions for listeners to hear.

-- Audrey St.Onge, Variety Staffer

The Icee Company, known for its sweet, frozen drinks that are frequently sold at gas stations and retail stores, has recently made a venture into the cookie industry.

The new créme-filled Icee cookies were released March 21 and are available exclusively at Kroger in two popular Icee flavors: cherry and blue raspberry.

Immediately out of the package, fans of the company will be struck with the familiar scent of artificial fruits, which adds to the experience of the cookie.

However, the taste of the cookie is not as pleasant as the smell. According to the packaging, in an attempt to replicate the “pop and fizz of a classic Icee,” the sweet treat will instead leave consumers with a perplexing, tingly feeling in their mouth that lingers long after the cookie.

These cookies are great for adventurous consumers or those looking to spice up their dessert palette, but everyone else would be better served sticking to a regular Icee.

-- Ireland McCage, Digital Editor-in-Chief

British pop artist Charli XCX released her new album on March 18 and will have listeners’ hearts pumping with adrenaline.

Powerful instrumentals can be heard in tracks such as “Constant Repeat” and “Twice” thanks to the high quality production of the instrumentals. The intense melodies evoke exhilarated feelings that simulate the sensations of a fast-paced car chase.

The album uses the electronic-pop 808 and tunes in unexpected twists and turns. Along with this, tracks are varied in terms of rhythms and timbre and can blend together if the listener isn’t paying close attention.

Overall, the album shows why Charli XCX is a popular artist and a British icon. “Crash” is recommended for those who like music that makes them dance and those who are looking for fresh vibrations along with varied moods in pop.

-- Antonio Starks, Viewpoints Staffer

B.I.B.L.E

BY AZA KHAN A merican rapper Fivio Foreign released his debut studio-produced album “B.I.B.L.E.” on April April Photographer 8 to all major streaming platforms. The album’s title is an acronym for “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth” and stays true to the typical content in hip-hop and rap, although it it does have some anomalous qualities.

As key aspects of this album, personality and eccentricity play a major role in the fusion of each track. Fivio constructed each song in an upbeat manner and contains unique characteristics in regards to beat, tone and segue segue between each track.

“B.I.B.L.E.” was inspired by rapper GZA’s track of the same name, featuring rapper Killah Priest. However, Fivio Fivio brought his own twist to the album by bringing in perspectives from featured artists A$AP Rocky, DJ Khaled, Quavo, Lil Yachty, Polo G, Alicia Keys and many more.

Thanks to rapper Kanye West’s executive production, the project has a grandiose, gospel-tinged vibe, giving it a melancholy feeling that reflects upon his personal life. This quality is shown in tracks such as “On God (feat. KayCyy)”, in which Fivio raps about the hardships he has faced throughout life, accomplishments such as being a Grammy nominee and having each other’s backs. Additionally, he describes the euphoric homage to his and Alicia Keys’ birthplace of New York City in the slow-paced duet “City of Gods (feat. Kanye West and Alicia Keys)”.

Fivio’s strong presence has created an album that listeners will be playing on repeat. His exceptional attempts to include his and other featured artists’ personalities through his music has elevated the album’s positive impact on fans. Overall, "B.I.B.L.E" has the potential to take Fivio to a higher level of public recognition and fame. O

CULTURAL BUZZ

Opening with a child’s voice saying, “C’mon, Harry, we wanna say good night to you,” Harry Styles’ new single “As It Was” is a nostalgic, fastpaced ode to metamorphosis and the loneliness of finding oneself again. Throughout the song, an upbeat tempo and sound contrast with bittersweet lyrics about loneliness and the past.

Specific details sprinkled throughout the song give it a personal, raw feel. The refrain of the chorus, “You know it’s not the same as it was,” repeated seven times throughout the song, makes the track feel as though it is weaving a memory. The bridge is a highlight, as well, with Styles singing, “Go home, get ahead, light-speed internet // I don’t want to talk about the way that it was,” in a fastpaced, rhythmic manner.

With its sentimental tone and evocative lyrics, the single will leave listeners excited to “come home” with the release of the rest of Styles’ third album, “Harry’s House,” on May 20.

Released on March 30 at Trader Joe’s stores, “When Life Gives You Lemons Make Ice Cream” provides an excellent eating experience with its unusual flavor and texture combination.

The ice cream has a perfect balance between the tartness of lemons and a sweet flavor, and contains a lemon swirl with shortbread cookie crumbles that, altogether, create a fusion that work perfectly together.

Using real lemon juice and zest in the ice cream adds a more natural flavor as opposed to some lemon desserts and candies that tend to taste more artificial and overly sweet. Although it has a very slight bitter aftertaste, it is not overpowering and actually creates a complex mixture of flavors that add to the ice cream.

Altogether, “When Life Gives You Lemons Make Ice Cream” provides a unique taste that won’t disappoint, even those who aren’t fans of lemon-flavored desserts.

-- Natalie Schliekelman, Digital Managing Editor -- Maya Shrivastav, Journalism I student

Pocket Build+, released to Apple Arcade on April 1, is the perfect building game for extremely creative players. With no specified objective, users are free to do whatever they want with the world they create.

Unlike other building games such as Minecraft, users are able to control a variety of creatures while completing anything else from their own perspective.

This amount of freedom in a game is unique, but can be confusing to navigate. With little instruction given to users, it’s not easy to figure out what to do first and discover all of the opportunities available. Additionally, the controls can be difficult to use on a smaller screen such as an iPhone.

While the game itself is free, it is only available through Apple Arcade, which requires a monthly subscription of $4.99 or an annual subscription of $49.99.

Overall, this customizable game has many opportunities for people who enjoy controlling characters and building towns, but those looking for a game with specific challenges and storylines are better off finding something else.

The Dropout

-- Maya Clement, Beat Editor

BY JANIE RIPPS A fter all eight episodes became available for streaming on Hulu as of April 7, “The Dropout” Social Media Coordinator is the true-story drama series that will leave viewers eager to watch more. From the cast’s amazing acting to the unique filming techniques used in the show, “The Dropout” does not fail to impress.

After coming up with the idea for a machine that diagnoses health conditions with only a pin-prick of blood, the miniseries begins with Elizabeth Holmes (Amanda Seyfried) dropping out of Stanford University to pursue her invention. The show follows her until the moment her revolutionary company Theranos comes crashing down.

Sharing the stories of conspiracy and fraud that were occurring behind the scenes during the creation and operation of Theranos “The Dropout” allows viewers to not only watch Holmes become the youngest self-made billionaire in the world, but also how her hunger for power tears it all to the ground. From the strange mannerisms to her unnerving acting, Seyfried manages to perfectly portray the compulsive liar that is Holmes. Displaying her versatility as she acts, Seyfried shows Holmes’ character progression from an ambitious college student whose invention could change the world to a businesswoman in over her head. This allows for moments of vulnerability from Holmes as she deals with the stress of her company, which may lead to emotional investment from viewers. However, while Seyfried’s acting perfectly embodies the way viewers would expect an awkward CEO to behave, some may find that certain scenes seem out of place in the drama series. Combining incredibly realistic acting with the true success story that turned bad, “The Dropout” is a rollercoaster of emotions for viewers. This miniseries is an entertaining and educational opportunity to revisit the story of Elizabeth Holmes. O