February 2023

VINDICATOR

THE BLACK HISTORY ISSUE

“Sympathy” - Paul Laurence Dunbar

Celebrating The International Day Of Women And Girls In When a Poet Loves

by Abigail Presizig

Shatara Jordan

MEET THE CONTRIBUTORS

Staff Heads

Cara Robbins Editor-in- Chief

Benvolio Nichols Copy Editor

Megan Mulally Managing Editor

Abigail Preiszig Online Content Manager

Abigail Jarvis Arts Editor

Sophie Farrar Fashion and Wellness Editor

Riley Roliff Multimedia Manager

Cael Shaw Culture Editor

Emma Smallwood Features Editor

Andrea Brazis Social Editor

Jakob Roberts Art Director

Prathinav Dutta Assistant Art Director

Designers

Jakob Roberts

Prathinav Dutta

Gabby Wise

Daria Hordiushyna

Writers and Editors

Emma Smallwood

Andrea Brazis

Jake Mohler

Elise Provident

Benvolio Nichols

Cael Shaw

Abigail Preiszig

Shatara Jordan

Riley Roliff

Megan Mulally

Sophie Farrar

Cameron Mays

Celeste Zirm

Abigail Jarvis

Dorian Firestone

Video

Cameron Mays

SYMPATHY

I know what the caged bird feels, alas!

When the sun is bright on the upland slopes; When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass, And the river flows like a stream of glass; When the first bird sings and the first bud opes, And the faint perfume from its chalice steals— I know what the caged bird feels!

I know why the caged bird beats his wing

Till its blood is red on the cruel bars; For he must fly back to his perch and cling

When he fain would be on the bough a-swing; And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars

And they pulse again with a keener sting— I know why he beats his wing!

I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,— When he beats his bars and he would be free; It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core, But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings— I know why the caged bird sings!

*Written by Paul Laurence Dunbar, poet with Ohio roots and one of the inspirations behind Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”

BLACK AUTHORS of Classic Literature

WRITTEN BY Emma Smallwood DESIGNED BY Jakob Roberts

It’s time to put more Black authors in the high school curriculum.

When reminiscing on your high school English days, you might fondly (or not so fondly) remember authors such as William Shakespeare, F. Scott Fitzgerald and George Orwell dominating the novels in your curriculum. While these authors have crafted influential pieces of literature that have withstood the tests of time, there is something they all have in common (as do most of the authors we read in high school classrooms). Ray Bradbury, Mark Twain, Charlotte Bronte, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway — all of these authors are white and primarily write about a cast of white characters. It’s time to implement the works of Black authors into the curriculum and allow students to relate to, learn about and resonate with characters of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Zora Neale Hurston was a novelist, anthropologist and filmmaker in the early 1900s, and her portrayal of the racial tensions in the South during this time are still commemorated today. She is best known for her 1937 novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” a riveting piece of literature that explores themes of gender roles, independence and the objectification of women. “Their Eyes Were Watching God” is known as one of the foundational novels of the Harlem Renaissance. Hurston’s use of language within this novel is celebrated for its uniqueness, as she writes in a distinctive rural Southern Black dialect. The themes she writes about, the language she uses, and the electrifying cast of characters she presents in this novel has made it into a classic piece of literature, and one that is a fantastic choice to include in a high school curriculum. Beyond “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” Zora Neale Hurston’s other novels and works such as “Mules and Men,” “Sweat” and “Dust Tracks on the Road” highlight racial tensions in the early-20th century South from a firsthand perspective.

An American novelist and journalist, Ann Petry is known for her works that explore womanhood and working class Black people. Her debut novel, released in 1946, was the first novel written by an African American woman to sell over a million copies, and her novels are still studied and referenced to this day. Petry’s most popular novel “The Street” explores the pressures that can trap working-class Black citizens in a cycle of poverty. “The Street” was one of the first novels written by a Black woman to receive critical acclaim. The systemic issues that Petry explores through this work are still present in our society.

Petry’s third novel “The Narrows” is often considered to be her most complex work, delving into the intricacies of relationships, love and the divide between white and Black people in the mid-1900s. Petry’s works place an emphasis on humanity and the effect of relationships on people’s lives; her novels offer a unique perspective of the lives of working-class Black citizens.

Zora Neale Hurston

James Baldwin

The works of James Baldwin have influenced generations of aspiring authors, and his novels provided a voice to the Black civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Baldwin’s works consider themes of sexuality, race and class while creating a fascinating literary representation of the political movements of the mid 1900s, including the civil rights and gay liberation movements. Baldwin’s examinations of crucial political issues, told through a variety of mediums, offers a semi-biographical example of the racial oppression Black citizens faced, and his characteristic writing style still impacts the literary world today. “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” Baldwin’s first novel, has been named in the top one hundred best English-language novels released in the 20th century, and the story remains a classic. “Go Tell It on the Mountain” centers on a 14-year-old boy and the complicated relationship he holds with his family, religion and morality, and the ways in which these relationships affect his life. At the forefront of this novel lies racial tensions in the 1950s, told from the perspectives of multiple characters. Baldwin’s other novels, including “If Beale Street Could Talk” and “Tell Me How Long the Train’s Been Gone” explore themes of race and sexuality that remain relevant, and James Baldwin’s novels would be a great addition to the high school curriculum.

These authors, along with countless others, are examples of Black classic authors that tell the stories of Black characters. Black students need to have representation within the classroom — to have characters who look like them at the forefront of novels. Black authors are too often overlooked in the classroom, a place in which novels that tell the stories of Black characters are vitally needed.

Toni Morrison’s impact on the world of literature is resounding and tremendous. Morrison, born in Lorain, Ohio in 1931, wrote unflinchingly about the Black experience in America — specifically that of Black women. Morrison is remembered as the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, and the first Black editor in fiction at the famed Random House publishing company. Toni Morrison’s works have inspired authors spanning across generations, and her commentary on race relations remains relevant to this day.

Morrison’s 1987 novel “Beloved” tells the story of Sethe, a formerly enslaved woman living in Cincinnati in 1873. “Beloved” is based on the life of Margaret Garner, an enslaved Black woman in the 1950s, and this novel explores the psychological effects of slavery and family relations. This novel (along with so many of Morrison’s works) is an honest and resolute look into the lives of Black people in the aftermath of slavery, and the impact of discrimination on one’s psyche. “Beloved,” along with Morrison’s other novels, including “Song of Solomon,” are important books to implement into the high school curriculum for their unabashed account of the experiences of Black people in American history.

Toni Morrison

“Glass Onion”? More like “Bloomin’ Onion.” But seriously, the last shot of Helen Brand and the exploding glass onion behind her is a masterpiece. This movie is unexpected, with more comedic parts and up-to-date references; it’s catered towards a younger audience in comparison to “Knives Out.” From the get-go, the movie references the purgatory that was quarantine, throwing in Gen-Z references to “Among Us” and wearing masks when greeting strangers. This could’ve been really cheesy and poorly conveyed; however, I feel that this was presented in a simple way that also made audience members crack a smile.

The plot of “Glass Onion” appears to be much more complex than “Knives Out,” which makes it more interesting in some regards, but also leaves room for confusion by trying to shove too much information and too many details into a 2 hour and 19-minute movie. The first half of the movie, to someone who hasn’t watched it before, could be a bit confusing. A lot of information is thrown at the watcher with little context until later in the flashbacks, where the scheme is explained in detail. It took a thorough re-watch for me to grasp the concept of Andi and Miles’s company, and Alpha and Miles’s individual creation, “Klear.” However, watching so many more details come together to fit the perfectly-molded storyline was satisfying and impressive, to say the least.

Maybe I was more ignorant to this in the first movie (or maybe it wasn’t as noticeable) but I heard more profanity being used in “Glass Onion.” I think that the movie is more suggestive in the comments and inappropriate jokes. I feel that this movie is for more mature audiences who wouldn’t mind frequent yet tasteful adult humor. “Knives Out” is more conservative in regards to the direct dialogue and insinuations.

While I still enjoyed “Glass Onion,” I have more fatal critiques for it than “Knives Out.” “Glass Onion '' brings a lot to the table, which also means there’s a lot to take in all at once. If I focused too long on Alpha or Klear, I became lost in the murder portion of it or missed subtle clues that the director planted. Compared to “Knives Out,” it was a bit more chaotic — between some awkward scene jumps and quick changes in dialogue, the film was a bit more difficult to follow.

Overall Review

Overall, I feel that “Knives Out” is the superior movie. While I adore “Glass Onion” and would encourage everyone to watch it at least once, it’s missing key elements that “Knives Out” brings to the table. “Glass Onion” is a little hard to follow in parts, pieces of the storyline aren’t fully explained, leaving room for different interpretations. “Knives Out” is a bit more to the point — every scene is detailed in a basic way that’s easy to follow. The ambiance is more old-fashioned, which caters to the more nostalgic viewers. This is a more “classic” whodunit story, while “Glass Onion” is modernized for the incoming generations, between the humor, the plot, the characters and the pop culture references to “Quiplash” from Jackbox Games or Twitch. “Knives Out,” dare I say, is less controversial than “Glass Onion”: less of the dialogue can be judged or interpreted incorrectly or offensively. In a way, I also found “Glass Onion” to sexualize some of the characters a bit more, which can bode well when done appropriately and tastefully in cinema, but can still make a movie controversial and easily criticizable by certain audiences.

But what makes these movies stand out from every other detective movie? What makes these any better than “Murder on the Orient Express” or “Death on the Nile”? These movies have one thing in common (besides Daniel Craig): they both retrace the storyline. Both movies give a more up-and-close view of the murder, allowing for varying perspectives and unveiling little Easter eggs. This is often referred to as an “analepsis,” which allows the watcher to gain information critical to the storyline. I’ve seen this tactic used in other movies before, but not to the extent that “Knives Out” and “Glass Onion” do, where the analepsis is 50% of the movie.

Final Ratings: “Knives Out”

4.5/5

“Glass Onion” 4/5

“Glass Onion '' brings a lot to the table, which also means there’s a lot to take in all at once.

Donald Glover’s

Wraps on a High

WRITTEN BY Jake Mohler

In the age of streaming, it has become increasingly rare to see a show end on its own terms. Whether it’s cancellation, a shift in writing teams or the loss of actors, the constantly shifting media landscape makes consistent storytelling extremely hard to capture. Some shows find success by settling on a formula that works and repeating it for as long as they can. Predictability lends itself to marketibility.

FX’s “Atlanta” never aimed for predictability, marketability or even consistency. Through constantly defying the expectations of its format, “Atlanta” explored its characters and world in deeply resonating — yet unconventional — ways.

“Atlanta” ended its four-season run this past fall. The show is best known for its ties to its creator, Donald Glover. It began as a surreal dramedy focusing on the career of rising rapper Al “Paper Boi” Miles (Brian Tyree Henry). Managed by his cousin Earn (Glover), the show follows the dangers and complications of Al’s rising stardom. The cast is rounded out by Paper Boi’s enigmatic best friend Darius (Lakeith Stanfield) and Earn’s intermittent lover, Van (Zazie Beetz). Despite the show’s talented cast, its premise could easily veer into clichés. However, the “Atlanta” team elevates an uninspired format to a series that collects diverse, subversive and culturally significant storytelling.

The first season of “Atlanta” was released at a time when Donald Glover’s popularity was skyrocketing. Between his acting, stand-up and music, Glover had become a prolific and widely recognized artist. He had recently departed a five-season stint on the sitcom “Community” to pursue his own creative endeavors. With a burgeoning hip-hop career and a long history of writing for comedies such as “30 Rock,” a satirical rap series seemed like a perfect fit for Glover.

Season one prioritized comedy and crafting grounded drama for its core cast. Al gains a reputation and promotes his music. Darius does his best to assist Al with his mellow and offbeat spirituality. Van and Earn struggle in their relationship while doing their best to raise their infant daughter. While key scenes have surreal undertones, these are mostly subtle

The eclectic, Emmy-winning FX series concludes as confident and unorthodox as ever

DESIGNED BY Jakob Roberts

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FX Studios

and delivered by eccentric side characters. Early on, Donald Glover described the series as “Twin Peaks with rappers.” The David Lynch influence is certainly palpable, but it became more direct as the show grew.

In season two, Glover strengthened the concepts of the first season by keeping continuous plot threads, but giving more focus to episodes that tell isolated and satisfying stories. The Emmy-winning episode “Teddy Perkins” is almost devoid of comedy, instead functioning like a stand-alone horror film with a Michael Jackson equivalent as the antagonist. It is preceded by “Barbershop,” a purely comedic episode about a smooth-talking barber who procrastinates Al’s haircut.

A key element of what makes “Atlanta”’s approach so successful is its fluctuation in tone. It presents sharp satire of racial inequality with heightened comedy. At the same time, it depicts the effects of inequality with a gruesome realism. Whenever there is tension, the viewer is unsure whether the resolution will be a punchline or an event with real ramifications for its characters.

This balance mirrors Al’s experiences with fame. As a Black man in America, he is constantly looking over his shoulder. Over the course of the show, Al is robbed, attacked and targeted in multiple shootings. These are not treated like grand events. They are depicted as random, brutal aspects of his daily life. With its 30-minute runtime, “Atlanta” has no time to waste beating around the bush.

Glover attempted to extend the scope of “Atlanta” even further for season three, to varying degrees of success. Almost half the season is made up of anthology episodes that center on entirely new characters. This was a result of coronavirus complications and the increasingly busy schedules of the main cast. The season premiere doesn’t feature any members of the existing cast beyond a single scene with Earn at the end. The anthology episodes are heavily tied to the themes of the series, addressing reparations, cross-cultural influence and multiracial identity. Even so, they feel disconnected from the other episodes in the season, which focus on Al’s world tour across Europe. The episodes are bold, and retain most of the sharp writing and direction. They still make an uneven whole, and the season received mixed reception.

Given that season three premiered four years after the second, there was already a large loss in viewership. The experimental nature of the show’s new direction exacerbated the dwindling numbers. However, season four, which premiered only five months after season three concluded, stands as one of “Atlanta”’s strongest. It fuses all the best elements of previous seasons. The story returns to the city of Atlanta, downscales the anthology episodes and presents a renewed focus on the main cast. Its formula feels familiar, but never retreads what the show has already covered. Each character gets episodes that peel back their layers in ways the show had been reluctant to in the past. It is slow and methodical, but ultimately a mature approach.

“Work Ethic!” focuses on Van’s feelings of inadequacy and desire to provide as a parent. “Snipe Hunt” sees Earn opening up to try and establish a family. “Andrew Wyeth, Alfred’s World” centers on Al attempting to escape his career and live a quiet life. The finale, “It Was All A Dream,” is one of the finest episodes the show has ever produced. With Darius as its protagonist, it is an existential — but primarily hopeful — meditation on perspective and the importance of relationships.

Episodes focusing on Al are notorious for his intense and emotional journeys. To thrive, he is expected to compromise with the system. Al and Earn have to navigate a network of predatory tech companies, tour managers and producers for publicity. Much of the humor is derived from the way they are received in a white, male-dominated industry. The oblivious racism, both blatant and subtle, is a prime source for awkward comedy. Its absurdity is a mirror that mocks the irrational treatment Black Americans face as a daily reality.

“Atlanta” never cared to cater to any type of format or expectations, but it is a show that cares deeply for its characters. While their development happens slowly and sometimes abruptly, it is always pointed and profound. The balancing act of genuinely clever comedy and considered character work is not something many shows can accomplish. “Atlanta” built that dynamic at its own pace. In the end, its spontaneity became its greatest asset.

Through constantly defying the expectations of its format, “Atlanta” explored its characters and world in deeply resonating — yet unconventional — ways.

WHERE are the BLACK FEMALE AVANT — GARDES?

Black women remain underrepresented in the art world.

Black women have long been the unsung heroes of American pop culture. From music and fashion to everyday words and phrases, Black women exert massive influence over pop culture — what we watch, listen to, read, say and do on a daily basis. So why aren’t Black women represented in museums and art history textbooks?

Forbes contributor Adrienne Gibbs interviewed Aria S. Halliday on the subject of Black women as cultural muses. Halliday, a University of Kentucky assistant professor, argues that “Black women have influenced every aspect of popular culture since they were brought over on slave ships.” Halliday is not alone in her assessment of African American women and pop culture. Both Halliday and former Vibe editor-in-chief Danyel Smith released successful books on the topic in 2022.

Moreover, the entertainment industry is more concerned with diversity than ever, with social media campaigns such as #MeToo and #OscarsSoWhite leading to dramatic changes in who is given opportunities and recognized for their creativity. Thus, we can only expect interest in Black female influence to grow with each coming year.

Despite their importance in shaping the cultural moment, Black women are rarely applauded with the same enthusiasm as white people or even their Black male counterparts. This problem is especially prevalent in the fine arts, where wom en — specifically women of color —have always been underrepresented in art museums, galleries and textbooks. In 2019, a group of mathematicians, statisticians and art historians at Williams College researched 18 major American museum collections and found that only 1.2% of works were produced by African American artists, by far the lowest share of all demographics studied. Unsurprisingly, white male artists dominated museum collections with 85.4% of works produced by white artists, and 87.4% produced by men. In other words, Black female artists are given almost no room to shine in our cultural institutions.

Black women have always been at a disadvantage when it comes to succeeding in the fine arts. Historically, white men have been given the educational opportunities and resources necessary to pursue a career in the fine arts. Black Americans, on the other hand, have struggled under the lingering legacy of slavery. Whereas white artists benefit from unbridled freedom, generational wealth, or at least a preconceived notion of competency, Black artists are forced to fight the institutional odds stacked against them.

Black women’s experiences are shaped not only by systemic racism but also by deeply-rooted sexism. This intersection of prejudices (termed misogynoir by scholar Moya Bailey in 2010) means that Black women are not always given their due in campaigns to champion African American and female creative voices. In many cases, African American women remain a subjugated class of creative thinkers whose works are neglected by our cultural institutions. Thanks to the team at Williams College, we can definitively say that there is a misogynoir problem

WRITTEN BY Elise Provident

DESIGNED BY Jakob Roberts

AVANT-GARDES

issue of a lack of representation and opportunity in the fine arts.

AVANT-GARDES

To make matters worse, representation in museums, galleries, journals and textbooks is essential to the success of an artist. In 2018, Columbia Business School professor Paul Ingram and his colleague Mitali Banerjee examined the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) archives to examine the role of creativity and social networking in critical and commercial success. Artsy’s Associate Director of Content, Casey Lesser, analyzes Ingram and Banerjee’s findings: “artists with a large and diverse network of contacts were most likely to be famous, regardless of how creative their art was.” Without the opportunity to make valuable connections in museum or gallery settings, how can we expect underrepresented artists to succeed? As long as their works are overlooked by arts institutions, Black female artists will lose opportunities for financial and critical success.

That being said, many African American women have made their mark on the avant-garde sphere.

Alma W. Thomas, Lois Mailou Jones, Gwendolyn Knight and Faith Ringgold were all active during the avant-garde movements of the mid-to-late twentieth century. Ringgold is perhaps the most famous of

the group for her narrative quilts, but artists such as Howardena Pindell and Suzanne Jackson made works to rival the prominent abstract expressionists of their day. Emma Amos, Mickalene Thomas, Amy Sherald and countless other contemporaries continue the legacy of avant-garde art with work that is just as compelling as that of any white male artist. Their successes show growth (despite limits) in the opportunities for Black women to succeed in the fine arts.

The problem, however, lies in the fact that these great artists are marginalized as Black artists, or women artists, or Black women artists. With so few works of art by Black women in museums and publications, any artwork that does end up in a collection stands out not for its creative merit but for its token role as the diverse work of art. We cannot be satisfied by one or two out of a thousand works of art displayed being created by Black women. Of course, any step towards diversity is a step in the right direction, but including only a few works by African American women is not the win that some think it to be.

The next time you visit a museum, read a chapter of an art history textbook or peruse your local arts magazine, pay attention to who created the works of art. Instead of asking if there is diversity, ask how much diversity is represented and why. Only then can we push arts institutions to be and do better.

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR

WRITTEN BY Andrea Brazis

GRAPHIC + DESIGN BY Gabrielle Wise

Celebrating the year of the rabbit

The New Year’s just begun, but instead of watching a shiny disco-type ball fall from the New York City flagpole, you’re painting the house red, picking your expired dry-shampoo bottle out of the trash and attempting not to swear at your siblings who woke you up from your morning nap. Despite this, you’re also chowing down on dumplings and receiving money in a little red packet from relatives that you’ve never heard of.

Chinese New Year (also referred to as “Lunar New Year”) is a truly beautiful holiday that celebrates “removing the bad and old and welcoming the new and good.” This holiday is rooted in rich Chinese culture and customs dating back about 3,500 years. Each of the Chinese dynasties offered something unique to the creation of Chinese New Year, creating customs and traditions that could be recognized and celebrated for the years to come.

A popular legend associated with the Chinese New Year is that of a mythical beast called Nian (year). He was said to eat crops, livestock and people on the eve of each new year. In order to prevent him from doing this, people would leave food at their doors. At a later time, a wise man found out that Nian was scared of both the color red and loud noises such as fireworks and firecrackers. People then began to put red lanterns and scrolls around their house; they also used crackling

bamboo to scare Nian away. This legend sparked many of the customs that are still practiced today.

Red is the color of the New Year. It’s worn, decorated, discussed — red covers everything. While red is also a primary color associated with both China and its flag, red is more prominent because it “scares off evil spirits.” Additionally, red is the color of luck; since they’re celebrating a new year, they want to begin it with all the elements of “good luck.” Red also symbolizes energy, vitality, good fortune and celebration, among other things.

Throughout the course of the holiday, firecrackers are set off multiple times — including before New Year’s dinner, after the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Day and during the Lantern Festival. The firecrackers set off at midnight are considered the world’s biggest firework presentation in the world, with over 1 billion lighting up the sky. Like the color red, firecrackers are used to “scare away evil spirits” in order to start a more prosperous and safe new year. This festival causes the world’s largest migration annually, bringing hundreds of millions of people from all over China and across continents to celebrate the New Year with their loved ones.

Continue for the DOs and DON’Ts of Chinese New Year

DO clean your house

Cleaning one’s house before the New Year is a way to ensure that all previous bad luck is cleared away to make room for good fortune and luck in the coming year. Emphasis on before the New Year, on the eve of; after the clock strikes midnight, it’s considered very unlucky to clean, as it could “wash away” or “clear away loved ones.”

DO eat lucky foods

The main meal eaten during the festival is the Spring Festival Dinner where the following dishes are served, including dumplings, fish, rice cakes and Mandarin oranges, to name a few. Different countries have different “signature” dishes: sticky rice has appeared popular in multiple countries, specifically Vietnam and Korea.

DO offer sacrifices to your ancestors

Honoring those who have passed is a sacred Chinese tradition; it shows that they’re still with the family and will help them become more prosperous. This is a way for individuals to pay tribute to their family, as family is respected with the highest regard in Chinese culture.

DO share wealth with your loved ones

Sharing monetary gifts tied with messages of encouragement is seen as a way of sharing wealth and bringing blessings of good luck to family and friends alike. These forms of wealth should be packaged in red lai see packets, the color encouraging “good luck.” These red packets can also be gifted from employers to unmarried employees, as a sign of gratitude for their work and devotion.

DO NOT cut or wash your hair

In Chinese culture, the character for “hair” is the same as the first character in “prosper.” Therefore, washing one’s hair during this holiday is seen as “washing away the fortune” and “reducing chances of prosperity.” Similarly, cutting one’s hair is seen as “cutting your life short.” This only applies for the first day of the New Year.

DO NOT cry

Crying is seen as a foreboding of disease and misfortune, so a crying child on Chinese New Year may mean crying throughout the entire year. This day serves as a “free pass” for children, as parents refrain from punishing or disciplining their children during the holiday.

DO NOT swear

It’s believed that whatever you do during Chinese New Year sets the tone for the rest of the year. By swearing during the celebration, this could predict frequent arguments or issues within relationships. Avoiding negative talk of death, poverty or sickness is important to prevent bad luck or misfortune for the coming year.

DO NOT wear black or white

Black and white are colors often associated with tragic events with a negative connotation, such as funerals. Like everything else, this insinuates bad luck for the year; it’s encouraged to wear red instead.

2023 is the year of the rabbit. The rabbit is associated with the Earthly branch, and legends consider the rabbit to be proud and slightly arrogant. An article by Chinese New Year says, “Rabbits are earnest with everything they do; they just ask that others treat them the same way.” It symbolizes mercy, beauty and elegance; it’s also considered the luckiest of the twelve animals.

Chinese New Year’s traditions and customs offer a certain level of skepticism and “good karma, bad karma” philosophy. However, these age-old traditions are rooted in meaningful legends and the core foundations of Chinese values. These practices not only strengthen Chinese culture, but bring families together, creating a strong sense of belonging and familiarity.

Indulging and celebrating cultures outside of your own is a meaningful way to grow socially and emotionally. Even 7,074 miles away, connecting to Chinese traditions, celebrating China’s people and educating oneself on their culture is a beautiful thing. By learning more about those around us and the roots of their history, we can mold a truly beautiful world.

Indulging and celebrating cultures outside of your own is a meaningful way to grow socially and emotionally “

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PHOTO CREDIT GOOGLE IMAGES

The November 2022 midterm races saw dozens of candidates from marginalized groups break barriers with their election wins. To celebrate recent contributions to Black history, here’s a spotlight on a few leaders who continue to make an impact with their careers. When Black Americans have fought for centuries against disenfranchisement and oppression, these recent victories represent progress towards a future in which all Americans have a voice in our government.

Karen Bass

California - Mayor of Los Angeles

After almost two decades of political service in California, Karen Bass was elected as the first woman and second Black mayor of Los Angeles. She garnered national media attention in 2020 as a potential vice presidential nominee, praised for her leadership and compromise skills. Bass served in the California State Assembly from 2004 to 2010 and as speaker of the Assembly from 2008 to 2010, becoming the first Black woman to lead a state legislature in the U.S. She was recognized with the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for her achievements negotiating a California budget during the Great Recession in 2010. Bass went on to represent California’s 37th district in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving for six terms until her mayoral victory. While in Congress, Bass wrote legislation promoting foster youth welfare, criminal justice reform and humanitarian aid to countries in Africa. In her first months as mayor, Bass has focused on initiatives to provide housing and other support resources for homeless individuals in L.A.

Andrea Campbell

Massachusetts - Attorney General

Former Boston City Council President Andrea Campbell is the first Black woman to serve as attorney general of Massachusetts. As a councilor for Boston’s District 4, she proposed an ordinance which would lead to the creation of the city’s Office of Police Accountability in 2020. Campbell was also the first Black woman to preside over the Boston City Council. She holds degrees from Princeton University and UCLA School of Law, and practiced law for an education nonprofit before entering politics. Campbell was endorsed in the race for attorney general by the previous attorney general, Maura Healey, who was elected in 2022 as the first female governor of Massachusetts and one of the first out lesbian governors in U.S. history. Campbell’s priorities as attorney general include housing security and access to education.

Maxwell Alejandro Frost

Florida - U.S. Representative

Elected at age 25 to represent Florida’s 10th district, Maxwell Alejandro Frost is the first member of Generation Z to hold a seat in Congress. Frost became involved in activism and politics at age 15, in response to the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. He served as the first national organizing director for anti-gun violence nonprofit March for Our Lives, which was founded after the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Frost’s campaign drew on his multicultural, AfroCuban background with a television ad in Spanish and English, addressing the bilingual voters of his district. His top issues include gun violence, access to healthcare and environmental justice.

Hakeem Jeffries

Seven Black leaders elected to political firsts in 2022

History-Making Midterms History-Making Midterms

New York - House Minority Leader, U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries is the first Black leader of a major political party in Congress. The Democratic caucus elected him as successor to Nancy Pelosi, who broke barriers in 2007 as the first woman elected speaker Benvolio

WRITTEN BY Lynn Nichols

PHOTOS BY P rathinav Dutta

of the House. Jeffries has represented New York’s 8th district since 2013. Before he was elected to Congress, he served for six years in the New York State Assembly. Jeffries is known for promoting open communication with his constituents, including through his annual State of the District address. Widely regarded as a centrist in the House, he has co-sponsored several bills working with Republicans, including the Veterans and Family Information Act and the Patents for Humanity Act of 2022. Jeffries is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and previously served as CBC whip. His legislative priorities include intellectual property law and access to affordable housing.

Summer Lee

Pennsylvania - U.S. Representative Summer Lee is the first Black woman to represent Pennsylvania in the House of Representatives. In 2018, she became the first Black woman from southwestern Pennsylvania elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, serving for two terms. She won two contests in November — the U.S. House race in the 12th district, as well as reelection to the Pennsylvania House in the 34th district — and ultimately resigned to accept the U.S. House seat. Lee graduated from the Howard University School of Law. She has been endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. While a member of the Pennsylvania House, Lee co-sponsored legislation to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour and prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of natural and protective Black hairstyles. Her other legislative priorities include reproductive rights and disability justice.

Wes Moore

Maryland - Governor

U.S. Army captain, author and philanthropist Wes Moore is the first Black governor of Maryland and the third Black governor elected in the United States. His book “The Other Wes Moore” received national acclaim for contrasting the author’s experiences and successes with the life of another Black man from Maryland, also named Wes Moore, in a narrative which emphasizes the importance of personal role models and community support. Moore studied as a Rhodes Scholar, served in the Army from 1998 to 2014 and worked as CEO of the New York City charity, The Robin Hood Foundation from 2017 to 2021. He supports enacting measures against redlining and housing inequity, protecting the right to abortion in the Maryland Constitution and federally expanding healthcare benefits for wounded veterans.

Raphael Warnock

Georgia - U.S. Senator

After a nail-biting runoff during the 2020 election, the Rev. Raphael Warnock became the first Black American to represent Georgia in the Senate. Because he won his seat in a special election, Warnock soon faced a second race, this time against Republican Herschel Walker. Despite Walker’s multiple scandals, polling remained close until Warnock finally won his second consecutive runoff with 50.4% of the vote. Before running for office, Warnock was an advocate for social justice through his role as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, the church previously led by Martin Luther King Jr. Warnock is a prominent voice in the Black protest tradition of today, who was once arrested for his leadership role in a demonstration to expand Medicaid in Georgia. As a self-identified “pro-choice pastor,” he has supported abortion access and marriage equality, while advocating against gun violence and capital punishment.

When Black Americans have fought for centuries against disenfranchisement and oppression, these recent victories represent progress towards a future in which all Americans have a voice in our government.

FEATURES

R Y BLACK and

How and why Black History Month is not one-dimensional

It’s easy to understand that most social issues are multi-dimensional — but what does this mean, really? It means that most of the issues in societal America (and even in political America) are intersectional. Where there is an issue of race, there is an issue of gender, sexuality, class and more. During the height of the abolitionist movement, great abolitionists like David Walker, William Wells Brown and Frederick Douglas were fighting to abolish the institution of slavery, while powerful women like Sojourner Truth, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mary Ann Shadd were advocating for the women of the nation — Black, white, Indigenous, Latinx, etc. These issues are all connected to each other; they always have been, and they always will be.

I had the privilege to take a look at Black History Month through an intersectional lens by leading interviews with several Black and African American leaders in our Cleveland community. I sat down and talked to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Regional Director Marquez Brown to get a perspective from the labor movement. I also talked to Cleveland Municipal Office of Equal Opportunity Director Tyson Mitchell to see a government perspective.

*The following questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity*

In my talk with Tyson Mitchell (he/him), I asked several key questions involving Black History Month from a municipal government perspective:

Cael: What does Black History month mean to you through the lens of public administration?

Mitchell: As a Black man and public administrator,

Black History Month means 28 days to acknowledge the contributions and history of African Americans that occurs over a period of 365 days. A time where we can celebrate the beauty of Black History that includes Black art, Black contributions to society and even Black love. Black History Month helps us understand where we have come from which helps guide where we are going.

Cael: Black history increasingly intersects with Latinx, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, Women’s history, and more. Why do you think so many white people do not see it this way?

Mitchell: There is an undeniable intersection between Latinx, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, Women’s history, immigrants and many other underrepresented groups. The history of all these groups help shape the historical and continued development of culture within the United States. I would hope that we all understand from Black History Month the historical context that relates to present day issues, such as the impacts of poverty, colonialism and structural racism has had on Black people’s lives. Ask yourself, why did these historical injustices occur and do the vestiges of that historical treatment manifest itself today?

WRITTEN BY: Cael Shaw

DESIGNED BY: Jakob Roberts

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Unsplash

“Where there is an issue of race, there is an issue of gender, sexuality, class and more”

Mr. Mitchell’s final response makes one think. Almost three years ago, the murder of George Floyd sparked several months of civil unrest and protests reminiscent of the civil rights movements of the 60s and 70s. It was during this time that a lot of young people opened their eyes to the widespread inequities of our “great” nation. We began to deepen our understanding of issues facing our fellow Americans and, more importantly, we renewed the fight to right these wrongs. We are growing to understand that climate change, poverty, COVID-19 and other healthcare issues disproportionately affect Black and African American communities.

One of the largest communities that intersects with Black history in the United States is the labor force. Through my conversation with Mr. Brown (he/ him), it became clear that while we are all workers, the historic labor movement and Black history are distinctly connected:

Cael: What does Black History Month mean to you as a labor leader?

Brown: Black History Month is truly a time to reflect on where we have been as Black people and Black workers, where we are and how much more there is to do. I believe that Black leaders and workers played a key role in organizing labor unions and rising in the ranks to help secure and improve pay and working conditions. We do all of this while fighting against ongoing discrimination; there are times where I am the only African American person in the room and yet I am still fighting for what I believe and fighting against injustices.

Cael: You say that sometimes you are the only African American in the room, so how would you say elevating Black voices can be a benefit for us all?

Brown: Once you elevate other voices, you get to see how to make things better. It’s about bringing together different lived experiences and cultures. When you look at some jobs that, traditionally, African American folks have, they are the lower paying jobs. When no one is there to ask, “how do we build a pathway to bring them to a career path that elevates them from poverty or whatever situation they are in?,” we are going to have a continued cycle of problems in the workforce until someone brings that up.

Cael: Piggy-backing off of that, in what ways does the labor movement intersect with Black history?

Brown: When you look at activists like A. Philip Randolph who was someone who went on to really be the voice of Black workers throughout the civil rights movement. So much now that we have the Randolph Institute that deals with a lot of civil rights

issues within the modern labor movement. The work and pressure that Randolph was able to do really led to the likes of Presidents FDR and Harry Truman ending discrimination in the defense industry and armed forces, and it established the fair employment practices commission to enforce these policies. I feel like a lot of people don’t see the connection between the labor movement and Black history; people don’t realize that when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, he was in Memphis, Tennessee to support 1,300 Black sanitation workers who were on strike. Or when people look at his “I Have a Dream” speech, it was MLK’s March on Washington, but you have to look at the rest of the name which was “For Jobs and Freedom.”

I wrapped up these interviews with a similar question: “What can young people, specifically Cleveland State students, do to celebrate Black History Month other than simply posting on our Instagram stories?”

The answer? Get involved! Find and support a local Black-owned business, Black artists or nonprofit organizations. Read books by Black authors, attend events that benefit African American communities and truly learn about the history of African Americans. Learn about all the different ways you can be an ally!

None of this matters if you only do it in February. Celebrating and learning about Black history should not be limited to one month. Being an ally for everyone year-round is the way to celebrate Black History Month (February), Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May), Hispanic Heritage Month (Sep. 15 - Oct. 15), Women’s History Month (March), Pride Month (June), Indigenous Peoples Month (November) and so many other American and international communities who have just a month to celebrate. Learn something new this month and do something other than a social media post to support the Black and African American community!

“Celebrating and learning about Black history should not be limited to one month”

Celebrating The International Day Of Women And Girls In

Highlighting women in science at CSU and beyond for International Day of Women and Girls in Science on Feb. 11

WRITTEN BY: Abigail Preiszig DESIGNED BY: Jakob Roberts

Feb. 11 marks the eighth International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a day to promote “full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls, and further achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls,” according to the United Nations.

This international day of observance is intended to put a much-needed focus on the gender gaps that have persisted throughout the years at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines — some of the fastest growing career fields. It is a day to advocate for, bring awareness to and inspire action toward this important global issue.

In the past two decades, efforts have been made to inspire and engage women in STEM, yet they continue to be excluded from and underrepresented in both leadership and technical positions. For example, it was found that female researchers tend to have shorter, less well-paid careers and that their work is underrepresented in high-profile journals. They are also passed over for promotions, less likely to be invited to speak on scientific panels and given smaller research grants than their male colleagues . Women represent 33% of all researchers, yet only 12% of members of the national science academies are women, according to a UNESCO Science Report. Having women in science is important. It makes sure that their needs and perspectives are considered in research and development of products that impact daily life.

The inauguration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science came on Dec. 22, 2015, after the World Women’s Health and Development forum in February of that year. It was at this forum, where most guests and speakers attending were women, that the topic of an international day of observance of women in science came to be.

In April, Her Royal Highness Princess Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite, executive director of the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT), wrote a letter to the U.N. General Assembly requesting on behalf of all participants of the World Women’s Health and Development Forum that they take steps to declare Feb. 11 the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

“From today, I very much hope that I will be called a scientist rather than a woman in science, and to be recognized by my achievements rather than my gender,” El-Hashemite said at the inauguration at the U.N. “Every Feb. 11, we celebrate the achievements of women, known and unknown, remembered and forgotten, who have forged the way for those of us in science today.”

The theme for this year's International Day of Women and Girls in Science is “Innovate. Demonstrate. Elevate. Advance. Sustain.” or “IDEAS: Bringing communities forward for sustainable and equitable development.” At a U.N. Headquarters event, participants will review the impact of clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; industry, innovation and infrastructure; and sustainable cities and communities of fictitious communities.

To commemorate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, The Vindicator connected with Cleveland State University scientists Kenya Wilcots, Abigail Ansah-Zame, Lauren Lottier and Hala Osman to discuss their research and what it means to be a woman in science.

*Responses have been edited for length and clarity*

Kenya Wilcots

Tell me a bit about your research?

My doctoral research focused on light-sensing photopigment melanopsin which has been associated with blue light recognition. Before my research, melanopsin was well-studied for its role in blue light detection and its behavioral implications on the human body. My research aimed to study the loss of melanopsin and its effects on the eye. My findings revealed melanopsin loss resulted in retinal damage.

What led you to this point in your career?

During my undergraduate matriculation, I found chemistry to be a challenging subject. The continuous challenge occupied my interest and inspired me to tutor others. Shortly after graduating, I sought to explore a career in teaching, prompting me to seek a graduate degree. I applied to Cleveland State University with the initial intention of pursuing a master’s degree. What attracted me to Cleveland State was the ability to seamlessly switch my discipline from biology to chemistry.

What inspired you to pursue this career path?

My inspiration to pursue this career path was the result of two very influential women in my life. My grandmother Alice and cousin Dr. Handford incessantly encouraged me to stay true to myself and have courage.

What does it mean to be a woman in science? What challenges or advantages have you faced?

To be a woman in science means bringing your unique understanding to your field of interest. Converting experience into innovation is the true advantage. I love functioning through my feminine lens, because it allows me to go beyond superficial interactions and explore the complexity of professional relationships creating valuable connections. As a woman in science, I can effortlessly harness my cooperative ability to lead and delegate with grace. I enjoy the ability to recognize emotional barriers and build meaningful and lifelong relationships.

What advice do you have for other women in STEM?

Stand in who you are and what you believe, integrity is unwavering.

“Stand in who you are and what you believe, integrity is unwavering.”

Tell me a bit about your research?

My research focuses on the role of certain enzymes and how they affect metabolic pathways. My aim is to find out if the enzyme our lab studies plays a role or not in metabolic syndrome.

What led you to this point in your career?

My career path hasn’t been a straight route. I graduated with a Bachelor of Sciences in chemistry and worked in the manufacturing industry as a quality technician for two years. I didn’t see myself growing there because it became a routine and not challenging so I decided to go back to graduate school, hence my enrollment in the clinical chemistry program.

What inspired you to pursue this career path?

I loved translational research, so when I first enrolled in the program, I talked to Dr. Kalafatis about research opportunities as a master’s student and his response inspired me so much into pursuing this career path. I switched from the master’s degree after my first semester to the Ph.D. I have met great mentors in my research career who have been so helpful for my success. My mom has no college degree, but she believes in higher education. I am originally from Ghana and growing up we didn’t have much, so being here with all these opportunities inspires me to push forward and be a role model for my children and other women as well.

What does it mean to be a woman in science? What challenges or advantages have you faced?

It’s amazing to be a woman pursuing a career in science. Here in Cleveland State, I haven’t met any professor who is not interested in students’ success. Every professor I have reached out to, be it with research or career questions, they are always available and willing to talk. I love talking to my female mentors and they give the greatest advice all the time: Dr. Bond, Dr. Weyman, Dr. DePaoli, Dr. Sandlers, Dr. Moravick and Dr. Traughber.

What advice do you have for other women in STEM?

You are amazing and you are doing a great job. Don’t give up and enjoy the science.

Abigail Ansah-Zame

Tell me a bit about your research?

As a biomedical engineer the focus of my study was to develop quantitative and behavioral measures of responses to induced falls to assess fall risk and fall resistance. Such a practical biomechanical stability measure does not currently exist, and it will be a valuable tool for research and clinical work in falls prevention.

My doctoral research project combined the science of physical therapy and biomedical engineering to understand the mechanisms underlying recovery from a stroke to serve as the foundation for developing functional rehabilitation strategies that can offer stroke survivors a greater possibility of improvement.

Currently, I am working as a postdoctoral fellow to gain further expertise, skill, and efficiency to further my career to become an independent principal investigator mentoring young scientists, while contributing to the scientific community in better understanding stability / stroke rehabilitation research.

What inspired you to pursue this career path?

I have always been fascinated by biological science and engineering and I developed a passion and interest in the field of biomedical engineering, as it is truly a broad multidisciplinary area. I am interested in interdisciplinary research

“‘You are amazing and you are doing a great job. Don’t give up and enjoy the science.”

because it bridges the gap between clinical and engineering worlds with innovative solutions for critical problems. Throughout my pre- and post-doctoral research, my passion for improving the quality of life for others has only been strengthened. The people who inspire me the most are the same people I am working to help. Individuals who have limited mobility due to stroke deal with difficulties daily that to most people are trivial, and yet, they exhibit incredible ingenuity and perseverance. They inspire me to continue to innovate and are the source of my passion for research.

What does it mean to be a woman in science? What challenges or advantages have you faced?

It is no secret that women are put under pressure to take care of their family. As a mother of two young girls, I must be on my toes to prove to them that a woman can be and do many extraordinary things. As a female scientist, I want to be a role model for my girls and young scientists, and teach them how to thrive and achieve their full potential.

What advice do you have for other women in STEM?

My advice would be to always remember that a diversity of ideas is often essential to solving complex problems. Find strong mentors that you can lean on for career opportunities, professional advice and expanding your skill set. Together with a confident mindset and robust networking, you will be set up for success in STEM.

Lauren Lottier

Lottier is currently doing rotations and is not doing specific research.

What led you to this point in your career?

After my first engineering introduction class, I fell in love with the problem-solving factor of engineering as well as all of the possibilities it held. There is so much imagination and creativity in the field. I learned all about design and development in my mechanical engineering undergrad at Youngstown State University and have built on my knowledge in the biomedical engineering field at Cleveland State University in my graduate studies.

What inspired you to pursue this career path?

Before being introduced to engineering, I always thought I wanted to be a doctor. I wanted to be able to help and improve the lives of others. While going through my mechanical engineering degree I knew there was something missing from it. When I learned about biomedical engineering, I knew it was the perfect bridge connecting engineering to the medical field and it served as my missing piece.

What does it mean to be a woman in science? What challenges or advantages have you faced?

Women make up such a small percentage of STEM fields and that number is even smaller for women of color. To be a woman of color in this field means so much to me. It often could feel very overwhelming and intimidating to be one of only a few females in classes. But, through the years, I learned how to turn my feelings into a driving factor, which was an advantage for me. This was something that really pushed me to be better, especially in undergrad when I was just getting started in the field.

What advice do you have for other women in STEM?

My advice would be to not let anyone make you feel inadequate. As long as you are happy and doing something you love, you should be able to be comfortable and confident in your field. One thing that really helped me to build my confidence was taking charge in group projects or other leadership roles. This forced me to find a voice and learn how to communicate better to help the group succeed.

I am so happy that more women are getting involved in STEM. I was not exposed to any STEM-related fields until my freshman year of college so seeing girls as young as elementary school age learning about and falling in love with STEM is amazing to me. I hope that all girls are able to see that it is 100% possible to occupy and succeed in male-dominated spaces.

“‘...with a confident mindset and robust networking, you will be set up for success in STEM. ”

“ I hope that all girls are able to see that it is 100% possi ble to occupy and succeed in male-dominated spaces.”

“When A Poet Loves” is a short film created by Shatara Jordan. The project is devoted to celebrating Black love and joy, and to provoking conversations about love and its ability to heal humanity. The representation of Black love and poetry hardly gets its light in the media, so a piece like this should serve as a platter of healing and enlightenment for those with an admiration for what the production has to offer. The film is finished and set to release in 2023. Updates can be found via Instagram @whenapoetloves.film.

Black love movies with an element of poetry have always ended up as classics. A few of the most popular classics are “Love Jones” and “Poetic Justice.” Movies like these,however, are in a small category of representation for Black love, poetry, or both combined. Black stories in the media tend to be more saturated with distorted portrayals of Black people according to the Washington Post article, “News media offers consistently warped portrayals of black families, study finds.” Some might argue that a film like “Love Jones” was ahead of its time, considering it didn’t do so well in the box office. Today has never been a better time for Black love stories and poetry to have its light in the media. The “America’s Got Talent” season 15 winner was Brandon Leake, who is the first spoken word poet

to win, making him a part of Black poetry history. Amanda Gorman received international recognition for reading her poetry at the 2021 presidential inauguration. She is the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, and another poet contributing to Black history. As of 2022, the Grammy Awards has given spoken word poetry its own category. The world is beginning to see how influential poetry is.

The intersection between Black love stories and artistic mediums is also making its way into the media, with Netflix movies like “Entergalactic” and “Really Love.” The Black community is tired of watching films that depict our struggles, and want to see more love, joy and triumphs. This was the purpose of “When A Poet Loves.” The film has received over $5,000 in match funding thanks to the IOBY Cuyahoga Arts & Culture Match Fund. Brandon Leake, who also contributed to the film’s production, was interviewed on his perspective of love to help me further develop some of the film’s poetry.

The creation of “When A Poet Loves” took six drafts, not including smaller revisions right before the start of production. I took the liberty of interviewing over 20 men on their perception of love, so I could accurately write from the perspective of the male protagonist. Some of my favorite quotes from the interviews were:

“If you pay too much attention to someone it’ll annoy you, but not with this person,”

“It’s like being in ecstasy,”

“Is the worst part of myself what I allow her to see?” Working with the cast and crew was amazing. Everyone was committed and patient throughout the process, and film production is not easy! It’s always good to work with other artists who see the value in the art you’re trying to make.

The two protagonists are played by Ma’Lon Smith and myself. The phenomenal supporting characters are played by Lexa Lenae and Chanda Bynum. The film was beautifully captured by cinematographer Trent Naylor. The creation of this project took a little over a year, and I’m excited to show a piece that portrays an intertwining of Black love and poetry. I noticed in movies like “Love Jones” and “Poetic Justice” that only one of the characters was a poet, and throughout both movies we only hear a few poems. Inspired by these classic motion pictures, I wanted to create a story where both love interests were poets, and poetry was more frequent throughout the film.

I hope for people to take away how powerful and influential love can be, even through the ups and downs of it all. I also hope this film gives people

the chance to consume poetry in a way they haven't before. I truly believe that poetry is one of those artforms that can be impactful and received in more than just traditional writing. This film is for the Black community, the poetry community, and anyone who believes in the uniting, healing and evolving power of love.

Here are some poetry pieces inspired by the characters and story, written by myself:

How hard would you fight for love?

How hard would you fight for love?

Everything in this world is a battle

But how much is love worth?

Expensive as one can imagine

You choose the cost

It is not love alone that makes it valuable

But what it comes with

Trust, patience, and understanding

Are only a few jewels among it that make love such a treasure

Lexa

She screams savage through her softness

Whatever she wrecks shall woo her if it’s to bring her bliss

Crack under her cuddles she uses to cradle you

Her name is Lexa

She’ll love you like how fire burns

Destructively

With warmth

Mason

His name is Mason

He was a breathing dream

Driven by desire

Desired by she

And she, shifted his soul

He was a shipment of souls swimming for safety

Wondering which self swam in the right direction

Because he knows what it’s like to drown

He is the complexity of charm

Alarming and the star we can’t stop wishing on

Isabella

She stares at a cold hearted microphone

It glistens off her eyes

She blinds herself

This is Isabella

Sometimes struggling to speak

Sometimes struggling to see

Sometimes struggling to sing through her heart

She holds onto hope

FEBRUARY 2023

Like how she holds onto happy ever afters

The Host

Welcome back to our poetry slam!

My name is Chanda, I’ll be your host! Hoarding the shackles in my spark

I’m here to make you smile after a long day of being alive

Who wouldn’t want to take off their life for another one if it means you get to feel just a little bit happier?

I’ll be your portal to another dimension Destination, a reality check Poetry isn’t limited to what you always thought it was

PHOTO CREDIT UNSPLASH IMAGES

The NON-REFORMIST REFORMS of #8toAbolition

WRITTEN BY: Riley Roliff DESIGNED BY: Jakob Roberts

The mass protests following the murder of George Floyd brought once-radical ideas into the spotlight

The mass mobilizations that occurred in response to the police murder of George Floyd unleashed radical ideas once relegated to the political fringes. These ideas came together through the #8toAbolition campaign, which is a series of “non-reformist reforms” seeking to “reduce the scale, scope, power, authority, and legitimacy of criminalizing institutions.” These non-reformist reforms include defunding police, demilitarizing communities, investing in public services such as housing and healthcare, promoting community selfgovernance and more.

The first and most publicized demand of the #8toAbolition campaign is defunding the police. Defunding became a major talking point of the mass mobilizations that occurred following the police murder of George Floyd. Excluding federal grants and resources, over $100 billion is allocated to police each year. Officials commonly defend large budgets by citing violent crime. Despite this, there is littleto-no evidence pointing to increases in police funding affecting violent crime. What evidence does show is that increasing the number of officers leads to an increased amount of misdemeanor offenses, which disproportionately affect people of color and those dealing with poverty. Roughly 95% of arrests each year are for low-level offenses such as marijuana possession, traffic violations and unlawful assembly. In addition, both violent and property crimes are at historic lows and have been steadily declining since the 1990s.

The large sums of money allocated to police is money that is not spent elsewhere, such as on reforms that would reduce the United State’s record levels of inequality and therefore increase public safety.

The second demand calls for demilitarizing communities. A recent study analyzing 9,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies found that, despite claims from police officials, police militarization does not lower violent crime rates or help to protect officers. SWAT teams, militarized police units specializing in military equipment and tactics, were originally meant to deal with hostage situations. They now spend a large majority of their time dealing with low-level drug investigations. SWAT teams are

The campaign was a response to another campaign titled #8CantWait, which was a series of policy suggestions meant to mitigate the harm caused by policing. These included demands such as banning chokeholds, requiring alternatives be exhausted before using deadly force, requiring extensive reporting of uses of force and more. These demands were quickly met with criticism by activists who pointed out that many of these reforms have already been implemented in some of the most brutal police departments, largely to no effect.

infamous for excessive violence, including harming civilians, creating property damage and killing pets. Unsurprisingly, studies have shown the SWAT teams are disproportionately deployed against people of color and those dealing with poverty.

The third demand calls for the removal of police from schools. This demand partly seeks to address the school-to-prison pipeline, which refers to the tendency for minors from disadvantaged communities to be funneled directly or indirectly into the criminal justice system. This can largely be traced to zerotolerance policies initiated by the 1994 Gun-Free Schools Act, which sought to create mandatory minimum punishments for students caught with firearms. Zero tolerance policies quickly expanded far beyond that, being used for anything from dress-code violations to tardiness and truancy. These policies disproportionately impact Black youth, and studies show that zero-tolerance policies have no impact on school safety while leading to increased dropout rates, suspensions and expulsions. In addition, resources allocated to policing in schools are resources not allocated to things such as counselors, nurses and social workers. A recent study found that 10 million U.S. public school students attend a school with police but no social workers, and three million attend a school with police but no nurses.

The next demand calls for freeing people from jails and prisons. The United States incarcerates higher rates of citizens than any other country. This is despite the fact that incarceration does not reduce reoffending, and in some cases can increase it. Incarceration also disproportionately affects people of color. For example, African-Americans are 3.73 times more likely than white people to be arrested for marijuana possession, despite the fact that African-Americans and white people use marijuana at roughly equal rates.

In addition to being ineffective and disproportionate, prisons are rife with corruption and abuse. A recent Senate investigation found that Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees sexually abused female inmates in as many as two-thirds of federal prisons in the past decade. The perpetrators include prison wardens and chaplains. The investigation found that a large majority of complaints regarding sexual abuse had never been investigated. In the rare cases that officers were tried and admitted to their crimes, they often escaped criminal prosecution and were able to retire with benefits. Abuse is also rampant among the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) employees in immigrant detention centers. An investigation by The Intercept found over a thousand complaints of sexual abuse in immigrant detention centers from 2010 to 2017, with most of the allegations against employees. Most of the complaints were not investigated, and many of the victims faced retaliation when they attempted to file grievances.

So, if policing and prisons don’t stop crime, what does? Multiple studies make the case that expanding social services does just that. Many inmates struggle with drug abuse and mental illness, with up to three out of five jail inmates having a problem with substance abuse. Half of state and federal prisoners and two out of three jail inmates experience serious psychological distress or have a history of mental illness. A recent study found that increased numbers of drug treatment facilities lower both violent and property crimes. This is likely because violent crimes can be motivated by drug use and property crimes such as theft are often committed to fund one’s drug addiction. Another study found that states that expanded Medicaid access to low-income adults with children from 2001 to 2008 saw a decrease in both violent and property crimes. The increased access to insurance helps people afford needed treatment and lessens people’s financial insecurity.

“The large sums of money allocated to police is money that is not spent elsewhere, such as on reforms that would reduce the United State’s record levels of inequality and therefore increase public safety.”

BENEFITS OF CATS

How your new furry friend can help improve your mental health

WRITTEN BY Megan Mullaly DESIGN + IMAGES BY Gabrielle Wise

Have you ever watched a cat curl up on your lap and began to feel all warm and fuzzy inside? Now imagine having that to look forward to after a long day of classes. If you are a dog person, you might not understand what us cat people find so appealing about the pet. I will admit, my cat can be a little freak, but that does not change how much happiness she brings me.

For example, I got a cat in October 2020 during the first completely-remote semester of Cleveland State University’s classes. I had moved into an apartment before the fall semester and quickly realized how much I missed my family cat at home. Throughout August and September, I spent most of my time going for walks or doing homework outside. As the weather cooled towards the end of September, I found myself stuck indoors and experiencing those quarantine blues.

I started browsing the Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL)’s website and would obsess over every other cat. While every cat popped out to me, one kitten — Silkworm-9c — stood out the most. She was a tiny 2-month-old black kitten, and one of the only cats with a description.

It said, “Silkworm is a gentle kitten that loves being held. She can be playful and energetic but also quiet and calm once her energy is spent.”

I was in love. I bookmarked her page and could not stop visiting it. If the page stalled while loading, my heart dropped because I was sure she had been adopted. After three days of trying to talk myself out of adopting a cat, an ad popped up on the APL’s website stating that during the next three days, kittens were $50 instead of the normal $125.

I caved. I completed the adoption form, Amazon Prime’d everything I needed and picked her up the next day.

Maybe I should have considered why she was on sale, because this cat was definitely defective.

As soon as she was out of the carrier, she chased her tail until she was so dizzy she ran into the wall, hit her head and laid on her back for the next two minutes, completely out of breath.

Even though she is the dumbest cat I have ever seen, it is amazing how much she has impacted my mental health. With classes remote due to COVID-19, it had gotten boring sitting alone in my room all day. Having a kitten to run around my room during classes or cuddle up with while watching TV provided the companionship I was missing out on during lockdown.

I know the dog people are probably rolling their eyes, but cats are scientifically proven to positively impact a person’s mental health. This became apparent to me after adopting my cat. The feeling of companionship I felt after adopting her was not just me going crazy after months of isolation. In fact, cats provide much more than companionship.

Illness-Healing Purr

Now, I would not count on your cat’s purrs to make your flu go away, but cat purrs have been proven to be therapeutic for humans. A cat’s purr is between 20-140 Hertz, which lowers stress in both the cat and their human. When your stress levels are reduced, your body is able to heal faster, since it is not under additional strain. Many studies show that cats purr not only when they are happy, but also as a way to rejuvenate pain in muscles in joints. This is one reason why cats are able to fall from so high without displaying the signs of pain another animal would. A cat’s residual purring is able to provide a human with the same benefits it provides the cat. So, next time you have a sprained ankle, skip the urgent care and find yourself a cat to purr on it instead.

Comedic Relief

Another benefit of cats is their ability to provide comedic relief. Not all cats have been trained in the art of comedy, but if yours has, you hit the jackpot. There is nothing better than a cat’s antics to brighten your day. According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter provides both short and long-term benefits.

In the short-term, laughter activates and relieves your stress response, soothes tension and stimulates your organs, which improves their ability to function. In the long-term, laughter can improve your immune system, relieve pain, increase personal satisfaction and improve your mood. Next time you’re feeling down, get yourself a snack and sit down with one of YouTube’s finest cat compilations!

Companionship

In my opinion, the best benefit a cat provides is companionship. When you are having a rough day, your cat gives you something to look forward to when you come home. Looking after an animal provides a feeling of purpose and the love your animal shows for you can boost your mood.

While any pet can provide companionship, I would argue that cats are the best companion because they require so little from you. If you have had a rough day, the last thing you may want to do is take your dog for a walk or play fetch. However, a cat is happy as long as they have food, water and a clean litter box. Cats can provide the same love as a dog, without as much work.

If you are feeling lonely or blue, I would recommend looking into adopting a cat. Obviously, a cat is not going to solve all your problems, but they may be able to relieve some of the unnecessary stress in your life.

If you are interested in bringing a cat into your home, remember — adopt, don’t shop. Browse the Cleveland APL’s website and see if any of their cats jump out to you like my cat did for me.

Obviously, a cat is not going to solve all your problems, but they may be able to relieve some of the unnecessary stress in your life. “

Black History Month In Cleveland

WHAT TO DO IN DISNEY AS AN ADULT

WRITTEN BY Celeste Zirm DESIGNED BY Daria Hordiushyna

Visiting Walt Disney World in Your Twenties

Ah, Disney World — the perfect place to meet your favorite characters, dress up like a princess, ride Dumbo the Flying Elephant and eat a Mickey-shaped ice cream bar. Wait, none of that sounds fun because you’re in your twenties? Not to worry: this guide is filled with all the fun things to do in your twenties at Disney,. I’ve been to Disney 13 times, so, as a Disney connoisseur, here are my recommendations for fun things to do as a young adult in Disney World.

EATING AND DRINKING AROUND THE WORLD IN EPCOT:

EPCOT’s World Showcase is a walking path with pavilions for 12 different countries. These pavilions feature cultural representatives along with authentic food and drinks. For example, you can get margaritas and tacos in Mexico, schnitzel in Germany, gelato in Italy and so much more. This is a super fun way to try foods and drinks from around the world without needing a passport.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS:

Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe in Norway for schoolbread

Rose and Crown in the United Kingdom for fish and chips

• Les Halles in France for creme brulee

AMAZING DINING EXPERIENCES:

World-class dining experiences aren’t just limited to EPCOT. All four parks have a range of dining experiences, from quick-service carts to multi-course sit-down meals. The table-service restaurants across the parks and resorts feature uniquely themed storytelling and mouth-watering dishes. These are experiences you won’t get anywhere else.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS:

• ‘Ohana in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

• Skipper Canteen in Magic Kingdom

Beaches and Cream Soda Shop at Beach Club Resort

THEMED LOUNGES AND BARS:

Disney lounges and bars are the perfect places to sit back and relax in the middle of a hectic park day or while resting at your resort. These highly themed experiences give you the opportunity to unwind without feeling like you’re missing out on your vacation. (Pro tip: many lounges feature menu items from the restaurants they’re attached to, so if you couldn’t get a reservation, be sure to check out the lounge.)

MY RECOMMENDATIONS:

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto in the Polynesian Village Resort. Have you ever wanted to order a drink that upsets a tiki god? If so, this is the place for you.

• Nomad Lounge in Animal Kingdom. I recommend the bread service and churros.

• Oga’s Cantina in Hollywood Studios. This Star Wars

themed bar has a droid DJ, out-of-this-world drinks and in-character waiters.

UNIQUE SHOPPING:

Shopping in Disney World isn’t limited to just Disney-themed merchandise. In Disney Springs, you can check out mall must-stops including Sephora, Lululemon and Free People, as well as unique stops like Basin and the M&M’s store. Over in EPCOT, you can shop for Helly Hanson jackets in Norway or buy perfumes in France.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS:

Laila perfumes in EPCOT (Norway)

• Helly Hanson in EPCOT (Norway)

• Pandora Jewelry in Magic Kingdom

EPCOT FESTIVALS:

Every year EPCOT is home to four different festivals, including International Festival of the Arts (January 13-February 20), Flower and Garden (March 2-July 4), Food and Wine (July 14-November 19), and Festival of the Holidays (November 25-December 30).* These are unique opportunities to check out fun foods, beverages and other activities that aren’t available year round.

*Dates are subject to change

MY RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Do the cookie stroll during the Festival of the Holidays. Purchase 5 of the official cookies, get your Festival Passport stamped and win a prize.

• Walk around the unique gardens during the Flower and Garden Festival

See a celebrity narrator do the Candlelight Processional during Festival of the Holidays. This year, I got to see Neil Patrick Harris.

THRILL RIDES:

Us Clevelanders are accustomed to the thrill rides of Cedar Point, and while you won’t be getting anything like that at Walt Disney World, there’s still plenty of thrills to go around. One of the things that sets Disney rides apart from any others is the storytelling that happens throughout each ride. Pay special attention to the pre-shows and details of the ride queues to be fully immersed in the story of the thrill ride.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Tower of Terror in Hollywood Studios

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Magic Kingdom

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom

STAR WARS:

Have you ever wanted to drink blue milk, get interrogated by a Stormtrooper and fly the Millenium Falcon? Well, you can actually do all of these things in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios. This highly immersive land exists in the timeline of the sequels and you get to live your own Star Wars story.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Ride Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run. This ride allows you to be a pilot, gunner or engineer, and actually fly the Millenium Falcon.

• Ride Rise of the Resistance. This trackless ride gives you the chance to escape the First Order.

Build a droid at Droid Depot. Pick from an R-series or a BB-series and put it together.

RESORTS:

The Disney Resorts provide comfortable accommodations without ever having to leave the “Disney Bubble.” Resorts come at a variety of price-points, with a variety of theming so you can pick the place that works best for your group. You’ll definitely want to do your research to find the right resort for you. Some advantages of resorts include proximity to the parks, complimentary transportation and early park entry.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS:

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort: French Quarter. This resort is brimming with New Orleans vibes, beautiful scenery and beignets.

• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. This resort has fun restaurants and a beautiful pool.

Any of the EPCOT Area resorts. These include Disney’s Yacht Club, Beach Club and Boardwalk Resorts, as well as the Swan and Dolphin Hotels. The ability to walk to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios makes these resorts an ideal location.

TRANSPORTATION:

Navigating between the parks and resorts is a breeze. All Disney resorts offer complimentary buses that drive you to and from the parks and many resorts have other transportation options as well, including boats and ferry service, monorail and the Skyliner. As long as you know where you want to go, you’ll be able to get anywhere on Disney property easily.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS:

• If you want to “resort hop,” or visit a restaurant at a different resort than the one you’re staying in, take transportation to the nearest park and get on a bus for your desired resort. Boat transportation is slow, but scenic.

• Buses are the most common form of Disney transportation, and buses arrive approximately every 20 minutes.

BE

SOME WAY OF

THERE MUST OUT HERE

Declaring Independence to Cure the Post-Election Depression

The best lesson I learned in Boy Scouts was sleep equals trust. It is precisely this lesson for why I will never sleep in Columbus. I never want to grow comfortable with that city. I would not say I despise Columbus, but it regularly tests my moral compass. For example, is it okay to steal bread for a starving family if that family is from Columbus? This sort of moral quandary fills my head when I visit Arch City.

At first, I thought Columbus was the botoxinfused duckling in the brood of ugly ducklings. The buildings are too sterile, corn is grown too close to major metropolitan centers and there are too few factories producing abstract concepts. It is a city where table salt blandness is the modus operandi. It is Dallas without the cowboy hats, San Diego without the yachts, Jacksonville without the large reptiles, and Indianapolis without the polis. In the 1970s, Cleveland entered financial default, while Columbus entered cultural default.

I have come to learn that it is not Columbus that is the lost sheep of weird Ohio but Cleveland that is the weird sheep of Ohio. In Cleveland, monolithic corn statues are not art but a waste of concrete. The Cleveland college experience is not spent following doomed athletic pursuits, it is spent cultivating a lifelong love affair with alcohol and nicotine. In Columbus, a car is requisite for public discourse. In Cleveland, a car is used to drive to a Park-n-Ride parking lot.

Every day we spend conjoined to Columbus is another day suburban standards erode our trust in industrial decay and bygone era. The same city that determines the national trends in fast food also determines the draconian laws that disproportionately impact the underrepresented. The people that decided the Chicken McGriddle is an appropriate breakfast should have no power in deciding the House Districts or accessibility to reproductive healthcare in northern Ohio. It is time we consider breaking free from Columbus. We must fill our ears with wax to stop the siren’s song of a consistently good football team and sail onward! Where shall we chart our course? Watch my video to find out!

WRITTEN BY Cameron Mays

DESIGNED BY Jakob Roberts

Firestone