The Wooster Blade, Volume MMXXIII, Issue 8

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

In honor of February serving as Black History Month, e Wooster Blade examines in uential black activists and activism movements.

Social media advances movements like Black Lives Matter

OLIVIA HINER co-editor-in-chief

With social media comes a lot of information, regardless of whether it is helpful or not.

Although it is often looked at from a negative viewpoint, it does help spread the word about certain issues especially with movements like the Black Lives Matter movement.

What many may not know about the BLM movement through social media is that it actually started in 2013.

According to History.com in the article titled “The hashtag #BlackLivesMatter frst appears, sparking a movement,” the hashtag began after George Zimmerman killed a black teenager. Alicia Garza posted the hashtag on Facebook, and it spread from there.

More recently, in 2020, following the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, many took to social media to voice their outrage. Blackout Tuesday occurred on June 2, 2020. The movement was initiated by music marketers Jamila Thomas and Brianna Agyemang, as stated in The New York Times article “#BlackoutTuesday: A Music Industry Protest Becomes a Social Media Moment.” Black screens were posted all over social media with the captions “#blackouttuesday” or “#theshowmustbepasued.”

As discussed in The New York Times article listed above, the aim of this silent protest was to disrupt the normal fow of social media and bring awareness to the Black Lives Matter movement. While it had good intentions, the article notes that there was more harm done than good, as the posts got in the

way of actual news outlets, which demonstrates the fact that there are both positives and negatives that come with social media being used as an outlet.

To shed light on social media being used for the BLM movement, Oliver Warren, History Dept. member and WHS NAACP adviser, gave his insight. Warren stated, “..honestly without social media, there would be no BLM. Like never before, we have seen Black folks killed by police (and civilians) time and time again because of cameras and social media. Social media organized those moved by what they were seeing.”

If using social media as a way to follow BLM, Warren recommends following people with good insights, credentials and sourcing.

Warren also mentioned that “The local NAACP has a Facebook group and the WHS NAACP has

an Instagram.”

Brian Questel, History Dept. member, also points out the positives to using social media to spread BLM messages. Questel discusses that “Although there has been a sizable negative social media presence directed toward BLM, I believe the information that gets out through social media uncensored has a positive and long-lasting impact for the movement…”

Warren also addresses that it should be kept in mind that messages on social media are often one-sided and do not tell the whole story, so collecting information from multiple sources is benefcial.

On Feb. 25, Juanita Green, the president of the Wooster/Orrville NAACP mentioned that the BLM group will be celebrating their 1,000th day in memory of George Floyd on the square.

Infuential Black activists inspire generations of activism

Hamer fought for her rights her whole life even when met with discrimination and violence.

Activism, throughout time, has inspired and motivated generations of people to take action against injustices and issues they feel are unfair.

One important Black activist in history, known as Fannie Lou Hamer, was born on Oct. 6 , 1917, in Montgomery County, Miss.

According to an article, titled “Fannie Lou Hamer” by history. com, Hamer decided to attend a protest for African Americans’ right to vote in 1962. This inspired her to join many committees, including the Democratic National Convention and the Mississippi

Freedom Democratic Party.

“Hamer dedicated her life to the fght for civil rights, working for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). This organization was composed mostly of African American students who engaged in acts of what was known as civil disobedience to fght racial segregation and injustice in the South. These acts often were met with violent responses by angry whites. During the course of her activist career, Hamer was threatened, arrested, beaten, and shot at. But none of these things ever deterred her from her work”

Oliver Warren, eighth grade History Dept. member, and adviser of the WHS NAACP chapter, supports Fannie Lou Hamer’s achievements in activism by saying: “Fannie Lou Hamer was an activist in Mississippi, and was part of the Democratic party for a long time, but others in the party were unwilling to seat her due to her race. She actually ended up starting her own caucus within the party because of this. She’s really one of those unsung heroes that hide in the background.”

Warren also notes James Baldwin, Stokley Carmichael, Fred Hapton and Martin Luther King as

infuential Black activists.

Warren expressed that it is important to stand up to injustices.

“By default, many people do not like change. This is usually because a vast majority of people do not stand up or say anything about something that is unfair, because they like to be comfortable and don’t want to ‘rock the boat’ so to speak or lose something they love. That’s why I started activism in the frst place was because all I had was my voice as a citizen, and as a community member.”

Warren said he has been involved in activism since his junior year in college, has helped other local organizations, is the Secretary of the NAACP and is the adviser for the WHS chapter of the NAACP.

Wooster community hosts Black History Month activities

As Black History Month comes to an end, events hosted by organizations in the Wooster community to celebrate also come to a close.

Taking a look back on the month, organizations like the Wooster/ Orville NAACP, the College of Wooster, and the Wayne County Public Library hosted events for people in the community to celebrate Black History Month.

Lillian Evans, Director of Multicultural Afairs at the College of Wooster, shares some of the past and upcoming events the College of Wooster hosted.

“This year our theme is ‘each one teach one’ for Black History Month so we hosted a kickof event Feb. 1, and last week, we hosted a speaker

who does mentoring for Black and brown students within STEM… we’re also having a speaker series, so we’re doing a faculty and staf panel about who was important to them in their journey in life. And, we are doing an alumni event for the last day of Black History Month,” Evans said.

Evans says the goal of these events is to talk about the importance of mentors, what it means to give back, and to get the Black community to understand that their stories are important and valuable.

Hayley Tracy-Bursley, assistant director at the Wayne County Public Library, explains how the Wooster branch of the Wayne County Public Library celebrates Black History Month.

“...the Celebrate Black Voices Reading Challenge is going on now through the end of February…

Participants that complete the

challenge by reading three books win a prize. The Wooster branch also has a variety of displays celebrating black history and authors,” Tracy-Bursley said.

Tracy-Bursley says she hopes the Wayne County Public Library Black History Month programs provide opportunities for community members to learn about black history and black authors through reading.

Diferent from the College of Wooster and the Wayne County Public Library, the Wooster/ Orrville NAACP does not necessarily host events specifc to February for Black History Month, but rather hosts multiple events over the course of the year.

Oliver Warren, frst vice president of the Wooster/Orrville NAACP, says the organization will be hosting a few events within the next few months following their Martin

Luther King Day celebration.

“In two weeks [from Feb. 14], it’ll be the 1,000th day that the Black Lives Matter protesters have been on the square. So, we’re holding an event that day on the square to invite more people and things like that…In March, the Wayne County Historical Society is gonna let us do a museum-like display down there about the history of our group, but also about the history of people of color in Wayne County period,” Warren said.

Warren says the purpose of such events is to educate and activate the public and also said he hopes events like these inspire future generations to continue the work of those before them.

According to the Wooster/Orrville NAACP Facebook page, the 1,000 day of protests is on Feb. 25, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on the Wooster square.

JAELYN FREDERICK & LILY CAMPBELL - LEHTINEN staff writers

MATTIE DUNLAP cover editor

Conversations about race confront problems and assist with understanding

BRITTANY WACHTEL co-editor-in-chief

On Feb. 3, WHS hosted a soul food lunch to recognize Black History Month within the school. After the lunch, negative feedback was received from the community, leading WHS to release an issue statement explaining the intent of the lunch.

Due to this event, discussions concerning race have been on the rise on social media platforms. Based on the discussions happening, it is becoming evident that people need to learn how to talk about race.

Oliver Warren, History Dept. member and adviser of the WHS NAACP, says that “We have accepted that we live in a tiered hierarchy based on skin color, and many have decided that they are against that hierarchy…We still have a major problem having these conversations in public, in media and especially in our workplaces.“

Warren says there is never a time where race should not be discussed. “If race is a factor in the topic at hand, it should be discussed.

Oftentimes, resistance to discussing race occurs when someone points out that race is a factor in the topic/ problem in the frst place.”

Brian Questel, History Dept. member and co-founder of the WHS NAACP, says that being color blind is a common occurrence, but that being color blind does more harm than good.

Questel says, “The concept of being ‘color blind’ is seeing the person for who they are and treating people with equality, regardless of race, gender, etc. The problem is people are often unable to do that or truly be honest with themselves about their feelings. ‘Color blindness’ can allow people to ignore practices that are discriminatory in nature, and ignore what makes each of us unique.”

Conversations concerning race often seem to create tense environments, especially in groups of Americans, says Warren. “We shy away because we have a deep and shameful history as a country when it comes to race. To bring race up is to bring up the pain that has been inficted in the past and present. To bring race up invokes shame; Americans are afraid of and

downright angry toward feeling shame.”

In an article in The New York Times by Caroline Crosson Gilpin published on Sept. 27, 2017, three students teamed together to discuss the challenges surrounding race. The African-American student who participated in the discussions, was asked how it feels to be the token black friend, “Being the token is interesting, because on the one hand you want to go against the concept of tokenism and don’t want to be people’s mascot, allowing them to feel more multicultural and progressive than they actually are... The challenge is to turn these kinds of situations into opportunities for dialogue around race and to illustrate the value you bring to a situation. Even… supposedly progressive strongholds, have this problem… Ultimately though, when these situations arise, it is important for me to use them as a teachable moment; and do so with some empathy.”

In order to confront problems concerning race, there needs to be a realization that the discussion of race is not a discussion about which to be afraid.

Douglas Bennett announces retirement

Speech and debate Students qualify for state

On March 2 through March 4, several WHS Speech and Debate members will be competing at the state tournament in Austintown.

The list of competitors includes: Ishaan Gireesh (12), Jacob Hannan (12), Ethan Keating (12), Layne Nelson (12), Ben Stavnezer (12), Xander Amier (11), Leslie Drager (11), Keiryn Keener (11), Allison Snyder (11), Aidan Burke (10), Rhys Florence-Smith (10), Jiawei Ge (10), Megan Kleinhenz (10), Tristan Miller (10), Janelle Poirier (10), Max Stavnezer (10), Luci Dean (9) and Daniel Jeon (9).

Holly Custer, the head coach of the speech and debate team since 2019, explained the two diferent ways students were able to qualify for the state tournament.

“The main way [to qualify] is through our ‘Little District’ tournament which is always the frst Saturday in February… Another way to qualify is to perform well all season and earn four bids at our regular season

“Staying Power.”

“‘Staying Power’ is a tribute to Doug Bennett and the Wooster High School Concert Band and Wooster, Ohio. Mr. Bennett has directed the Concert Band for 33 years. His ‘staying power’ is exemplifed by his continued commitment to the Wooster City Schools music program and 38 years of dedication to music education in the state of Ohio,” Adams said.

ETHAN KEATING staf writer

Douglas Bennett, WHS Concert Band director and Head Boys Track and Cross Country coach, is retiring from teaching after 38 years. Bennett notes that he has been in school for 55 years.

Beginning the fall of 1968, graduating from Perry High School in 1981, Bennett then graduated

from The Ohio State University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Music Education, and then graduated from the University of Akron in 1994 with a Masters of Music Education.

Bennett began teaching at Teays Valley for one year, and taught at Waynedale for four years before making his way to Wooster where he has spent the last 33 years.

At WHS, Bennett has held the position of Concert Band director

and taught beginning instrumental music. Additionally, he has served as the cross country for 25 years and track coach for 24 years, serving as the head coach for 20 years.

Former WHS Band director Dan Adams, who taught band and orchestra at WHS for 29 years, met Bennett when they were members in the same trombone studio at OSU.

In January, the WHS Concert Band debuted Adams’ composition,

Dennis Rice, who is the Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field Coach at the College of Wooster, developed a great friendship with Bennett through coaching.

“Coach Bennett is one of those rare individuals who can enthusiastically and efectively communicate with individuals and provide top-notch program leadership in the classroom and in coaching. He pursues realistic goals

tournaments,” Custer explained. Ishaan Gireesh (12) took the latter option, earning 10 bids throughout the regular season, allowing him to qualify for the state tournament.

Gireesh, an ofcer on the Speech and Debate team, described the importance of preparation before and during the season, which included his attendance at a twoweek summer camp where he built his speech for the season.

“All of this has given me the experience I needed and tools necessary to succeed,” Gireesh said.

Another state qualifer, Daniel Jeon (9), competes in United States extemporaneous speaking and explained his optimism for the rest of his high school career after qualifying as a freshman.

“As an underclassmen, early success prepares me [to know] early on what the judges want and what competitions to look forward to,” Jeon said.

Gireesh, Jeon, and all other state competitors have the opportunity to qualify for the national competition, which will take place in June in Phoenix.

with great enthusiasm, but never at the expense of others. He possesses excellent communication skills and empowers his classroom and track and feld/cross country programs to achieve success by defning goals and leading in a positive way to achieve those goals. Coach Bennett has amazing passion for teaching, coaching and pursuing life to the fullest,” Rice said.

When asked what he has taken away from his time at WHS Bennett said, “I have most valued the relationships with students and colleagues. My best advice is to always start with kindness. Try to always seek understanding and avoid judgment. Finally try not to lose your temper and try not to jump to conclusions.”

In retirement, Bennett said he plans to volunteer his time in a number of ways and plans to play trombone and tuba more actively.

Speech and Debate members pose together after a tournament. State qualifers pictured above include: Ishaan Gireesh, Jacob Hannan, Ethan Keating, Layne Nelson, Ben Stavnezer, Xander Amier, Leslie Drager and Keiryn Keener.

JACKSON STANSIFER staf writer

Band, choir and orchestra directors Craig French, Elyse Mason, Caren Atanackovic and Doug Bennett celebrate together after a recent student music concert performance.

Photo courtesy of the Wooster High School Music Department

Photo courtesy of Kristin Keating

Head to Head: Should the U.S. have shot down the balloon?

The Grammy Awards receive unique criticism regarding performances

This year’s Grammys had over 12.4 million viewers, according to Statistica the views of the notorious event have declined from the average ever since COVID-19 due to the minimal amount of production or lack of interest. As this year had three million more viewers than last, is there any reason for it? There has been much controversy during some performances of the most prestigious and well known artists.

On Feb. 5, , an F-22 fghter jet shot down a high-altitude surveillance balloon that had been foating over the United States.

As the Navy continues its recovery missions of the coast of California, it is important to review the necessity of shooting down the balloon.

This balloon belonged to China. Its intrusion of our airspace for multiple days is an unacceptable violation of the United State’s sovereignty.

The Department of Defense claims that high resolution imagery from plane fybys showed that the balloon was capable of conducting signals intelligence collection operations and that its equipment did not match the instruments on average weather balloons.

The Pentagon declared that over the past several years, Chinese balloons have been spotted over countries across fve continents. Intrusions violating our jurisdiction and the jurisdiction of the other countries are unacceptable.

A senior defense ofcial stated that “This was a surveillance balloon that purposefully traversed the United States and Canada. And we are confdent it was seeking to monitor sensitive military sites.”

If the balloon is part of an efort by China to gather data about American military bases or American citizens, political and economic actions must be taken to avoid another occurrence. Shooting the balloon down addressed the surveillance threat posed to the nation and denied any intelligence use it could have produced, preventing it from returning its data to China.

The United States downed a Chinese weather balloon recently after tracking its fight into U.S. airspace.

This incident is not the frst time that a Chinese balloon has been sighted over the United States, and three more balloons have been shot down since this event.

According to a timeline by ABC news, the frst balloon was shot down around 2:30 PM on Feb. 4. The weapon used to shoot the balloon down was a missile fred from an F-22.

Wang Wenbin, a foreign spokesperson from China, responded to the attack on the balloon saying, “It is also common for U.S. balloons to illegally enter the airspace of other countries,” going on to state, “Since last year, U.S. high-altitude balloons have illegally fown over China’s airspace more than 10 times without the approval of Chinese authorities.”

Provided these accusations are true, it creates a troublesome president for U.S. credibility with our allies.

In an article by Brian Chow and Brandon Kelley, in National Interest from 2021, in response to China’s original rhetoric regarding Taiwan, Chow and Kelley state, “Left unaddressed, this lacuna in international law and space policy could enable a prospective attacker to pre-position, during peacetime, as many spacecraft as they wish as close as they wish to as many high-value targets as they wish.”

Meaning, if China does develop its anti-satellite weapons due to escalation from a president set by the U.S. shooting down Chinese balloons, will allow China to get a foothold in Taiwan.

The Academy statuette, or the Oscars, started in 1927 and originated as a way to show representation for the flm industry.

As time went on, the Oscars became a very popular show to watch and any movie would become even more prestigious after even just a nomination. The music industry was infuenced by the Oscars and saw the opportunity to uplift their platform via television. Only a few music videos have come out in the 50’s and most were simply slideshows, making the flm and music industry two individuals rather than partners like they are today.

The frst Grammys were celebrated on May 4, 1959, and, according to the Grammys ofcial page, 270 people were in attendance. The second awards show, also in 1959 , was the frst Grammys to be televised. The frst time the Grammys were aired live was the 13th of May in 1971, while before it was just broadcasted a few months later revealing winners, limiting the excitement.

One of the most popular artists of this year is Harry Styles, due to his charismatic personality, fashion and his music ability. He performed his latest hit “As it Was” at the 2023 Grammys. He and about 10 other people were on a revolving platform, on which they did a symbolic dance to the true meaning of the song. Though many fans agreed with Mehera Bonner, a writer who published the story in Cosmopolitan Bonner suggests, regarding the performance, “... And while he defnitely did an amazing job per usual, some fans felt the performance was slightly of.”

Later, news came out from the performers via their social media accounts that the revolving platform had a malfunction and started to turn the opposite way Styles and the dancers had practiced. As Dexter Da Rocha, one of the dancers for the performance, explains in a Tik Tok, this was the worst thing to happen because of the live cameras and the fact that dancers could not do a retake.

According to BuzzFeedNews, many viewers were disappointed in Styles’s singing and also criticized his rather timid performance. Many of the dancers responded to comments, including Da Rocha, arguing, “We were just

trying to f****** stay standing.” All of this information was reported after the Grammys, so the news about Grammy winners got much attention even after the reveal. Though the revolting platform was an accident, many religious viewers are upset about the performance of “Unholy” by Sam Smith and Kim Petras. The song won the award for Best Pop Duo/ Group performance and is a very uplifting win for the transgender community because it was the frst trans women to win in that category.

As the festivities continued, it was soon time for the duo to perform. Smith was dressed as a red demon and while they were singing, dancers dressed as satanic nuns. Petras’ verse had her in a cage climbing on it while people would dance with her outside the cage. Many people viewed this performance to be disrespectful to others or their religions and also too raunchy to be held at the Grammys for it was deemed as a satanic ritual. Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator, said in an interview that he believed their demonic and sadistic themes were completely disrespectful to other people’s beliefs.

The Grammys main focus is that no matter what race, religion, sexuality or gender, people are united with music and it brings people together despite their diferences.

The purpose of the Grammys is not only to appreciate diferent artists but to also bring people together through music. Lizzo, a very famous songwriter, performed a gospel performance and there was no speculation if that may be ofensive.

So, shouldn’t all beliefs be treated the same?

Rittman faces fnancial situation

TRISTAN MILLER

The City Of Rittman has found itself in a dangerous fnancial situation in the beginning months of 2023 due to overtaxing and budget issues.

The problem that has caused issues for the Rittman community today began back in 2007 when an income tax raise of 1.5 percent ended after being in efect for 30 years. The city council and leadership at the time didn’t notice that the income tax had been legally lowered to 1 percent and continued charging the higher rate as usual. This over-collection of income taxes went on for more than 15 years until

the shocking discovery was made by the city in late 2022 according to fox 8 news in an article from Jan. 31.

The article from Fox8 News on Jan. 31 also states, “The error was discovered when city leaders were considering a ballot measure to raise the city income tax to 2%,”

This discovery was shocking for many community members, even the City Council in charge of managing the city.

Chuck Wyatt, member of the City Council, stated, “he {Rittman fnance director} immediately went to the law director and the city manager because he just couldn’t believe it, and they couldn’t either.”

Not only is the city now responsible to repay last year’s over collected taxes back to citizens, which is worth nearly $1 million, but they

must begin to charge the legal 1 percent income tax according to city ofcials.

The City Council is now attempting to pass a desperately needed ballot measure to secure the city’s fnances and future. Wyatt stated, “If that extra 0.5 percent isn’t passed, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to fgure out we can’t run the city on 1 percent.”

Wyatt emphasized the importance of the community voting for this measure. “If we have to cut services or trim back and stuf, then that’s gonna hurt the town and everyone in it all around.”

With the measure not being voted on until later this year, Rittman will begin to charge a reduced income tax of 1 percent, leaving its fnancial future ambiguous.

BEN STAVNEZER feature editor RHYS FLORENCE-SMITH staff writer

LAYNEE ESLICH staff writer

Black directors and flms make an impact on the flm industry Music by Black artists evolves throughout history

CALEB KOSTOHRYZ staff writer

The modern music that we hear today has probably been infuenced in some way by African American music.

still holds its religious roots. “In its earliest manifestations, gospel music functioned as an integral religious and ceremonial practice during worship services.”

Throughout history, many wellknown and popular flms have been directed by Black creators and flmmakers.

Jordan Peele, Oscar and Emmy Award winner, is most known for his work within the horror genre. Having worked on notable titles such as Nope, Us, Get Out and Candyman, Peele has brought a new spin to the well-known genre by taking a unique approach and including commentary surrounding important issues within his flms.

In one of his most notable titles, Get Out, Peele uses the flm as a way to make commentary on issues surrounding everyday racism. While Get Out has the ordinary jump scares and horror elements, the fear factor within this flm is centered around the racism that

takes place within the movie.

In an interview with Vulture, Peele shared his thought process surrounding the flm.

“I had never seen the uncomfortableness of being the only black guy in a room played in a flm,” shared Peele. “That notion is a perfect state for a protagonist of a horror flm to be in, to question his own sanity.”

Ryan Coogler, the director of Black Panther, has also made a name for himself as a notable creator within the flm industry. With the release of Black Panther, Coogler made history as the frst Black director in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In a 2018 interview with Josh Eells from Rolling Stone, Coogler talked about why it was important for him to create this flm the way he did.

“I was very honest about the idea I wanted to explore in this flm, which is what it means to be African,” shared Coogler. “That was one of the frst things I talked

about.”

Following Coogler making history within the MCU, Nia Decosta, director of The Marvels, will become the frst Black woman to direct a Marvel flm.

Julie Dash, a well-known flmmaker and director, became the frst Black woman to have a wide theatrical release for her flm, Daughters of the Dust. This flm was the recipient of When talking about the flm with Emma Specter from Vogue in a 2022 interview, Dash shared her ideas behind the flm and why she made it the way she did.

“I always felt that the stories of others were told with such elegance and grace, and our stories were just kind of brutal,” said Dash. “I was determined to re-imagine how we are on the screen.”

Many Black creators throughout history have used flmmaking as a way to express themselves and share their stories on screen.

Black community infuences the fashion industry throughout history

JAMIE OGLE staff writer

Throughout history, Black fashion has been leading many trends that many may not know of.

The Black fashion movement, according to an article from theblackfashionmovement.com, “... was created in February 2020 as a grassroots social media campaign to celebrate, promote, and support Black-owned fashion brands during Black History month. Due to the discovery of many amazing Black-owned brands, the movement continued.” Many

trends come from Black fashion, and the usage of Black fashion has become mainstream, but has not been recognized. Black fashion originates from fashion many years ago.

Around the time of school dances, students at WHS may get their nails done with acrylics; however, what many students may not know is that these long nails actually originated in Egypt. According to Jonquil Lawrence, a writer at Bricks Magazine, “...Dating all the way back to 3000 BC, Egyptian women were thought to have worn nail extensions created from ivory, gold and bone…”

In fact, the frst African American woman to be on the cover of Vogue

magazine wore acrylic nails. These long and elegant nails, “...became associated with black ‘70s Disco stars such as Diana Ross and Donna Summers, who wore colorful square tipped nail designs.” Today, acrylic nails are everywhere and can be seen as a form of expression of creativity.

Lawrence also stated in her article that “Creative nails are everywhere from runways, to fashion magazines and bustling salons, and although not necessarily black conceived, we must remember black women have been instrumental in leading this cultural wave.”

According to a blog post from black-owned business D’IYANU on February 22, 2022, “...this time

According to The National Museum of African American History and Culture, “The earliest form of black musical expression in America, spirituals, were based on Christian psalms and hymns and merged with African music styles and secular American music forms. Spirituals were originally an oral tradition and imparted Christian values while also defning the hardships of slavery,” stated by The National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Spirituals played a major role in African American life. From spirituals came Gospel music. Gospel started in the Black church, and quickly spread and became a popular genre of music. Gospel music started as religious, but has moved to contemporary and

Now, gospel music is also marketed commercially and draws on contemporary, secular sounds, while still conveying spiritual and religious ideas,” said by The National Museum of African American History and Culture. Not only is there Spiritual and Gospel, there is also Blues.

Blues originated in 1916 when African-Americans were moving from rural areas to the city. R&B is a culmination of blues, jazz, boogiewoogie, and gospel. During the 1960’s soul was born. According to the Music Forward Foundation, “Soul combined elements of blues and gospel with a driving bass line and percussive energy.” Soul came after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr, the Vietnam War, and other events that made the music refect how people were feeling and what was happening around them.

roughly 120 years ago to when Louis Vuitton started using the iconic LV monogram on their luggage.”

Louis Vuitton printed the logo “LV” on everything they made, popularizing it.

However, Louis Vuitton had a small range of products, causing there to be a smaller selection.

According to D’IYANU, “Starting in 1980s Harlem, Dapper Dan began constructing an assortment of goods, from shower curtains to jackets and accessories for anyone who wanted these luxury logos on an array of products. However, he did all of this without the consent of the brands, which came with consequences.”

Dapper Dan went through a series of lawsuits with the luxury brands he copied. However, the luxury brands in which Dapper Dan copied took note of the extensive range of products and brought the logo-covered products to wear their logos more. Dapper Dan allowed Black people to wear luxury designs at a cheaper price and allowed the brands to increase their range of products. However, in later years, the same luxury brands ended up collaborating with Dapper Dan.

In short, many popular trends have come from the black community. It must be recognized that many current trends originated from Black people.

STELLA POWERS trends editor

Fair use courtesy of @GetOutMovie Fair use courtesy of Universal Studios Fair use courtesy of Marvel Studios

New Antman flm loved by fans

acting, it is a movie that is great for all.

Quantumania follows characters

Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), Hope Pym (Evangeline Lilly), “Hank”

Pym (Michael Douglas), Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeifer) and Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton).

REBEKAH LAY

staff writer

Antman and the Wasp:

Quantumania is a need to be seen movie. With the humor, easy to follow plot, and the on point

These characters try to navigate the quantum realm after they were sucked into it following an incident.

While in the quantum realm, secrets are revealed about Hope’s mother, Janet van Dyne, who was rescued in the last Antman and the Wasp movie.

With little to no experience in this new world Antman, the Wasp and

the rest of the crew try to fght a new villain, played by Johnathann Myers, who brings a cynical portrayal of Kang the Conqueror. This movie has a good and easy to follow plot, which is quite impressive, seeing as it is very hard to understand something so complex as the multiverse and the quantum realm, so all applause goes to the producers, directors and scriptwriters for making this movie an easy, but amusing, watch.

This movie also has amazing acting, especially with the onscreen father-daughter relationship between Cassie and Scott (Antman). With heartfelt moments between the two, but with regular scolding of Cassie by Scott Lang, the dynamic between the two shows a familiar relationship to which any father and daughter could relate.

This new Antman and the Wasp movie ties in nicely with the last Antman and the Wasp movie, and is a better flm. This movie is action packed and never has a dull moment, as opposed to the last movie where there were lulls. Quantumania sets up the next movies for Marvel perfectly and I am very eager for the movies to come.

80 For Brady: A touching flm about the power of friendship and football

Knock At The Cabin: When the apocalypse comes knocking at your door

to prevent the apocalypse.

Knock At The Cabin’s greatest strength is the way it builds suspense. Herdís Stefánsdóttir’s soundtrack and Shyamalan’s directing style combine perfectly to create intense moments where the audience is sucked into the story and can feel the intense pressure that the characters are under.

a&e editor

M. Night Shyamalan’s latest flm, Knock At The Cabin, based on the novel The Cabin At The End of The World by Paul G. Tremblay, was released Feb. 3.

The flm tells the story of a couple, Eric and Andrew (Jonathan Grof and Ben Aldridge) and their daughter, Wen (Kristen Cui) whose vacation at a cabin by a lake is interrupted when four people, Leonard, (Dave Bautista) Adriane, (Abby Quinn) Sabrina (Nikki Amuka-Bird) and Redford (Rupert Grint) break into the cabin and demand that the family sacrifce one of their own in order

The flm’s cast also gives very strong performances, especially Grint’s acting as he delivers one of his best performances in the time that he is on screen.

Knock At The Cabin does have some weak points, however.

Although the flm does a great job of building tension, suspenseful moments are often interrupted by fashback sequences that do not add much to the plot.

Knock At The Cabin also deviates quite a bit from its source material. While the book is more ambiguous about the possibility of the apocalypse, the movie is not, which at times makes the movie seem goofy instead of suspenseful.

Overall, Knock At The Cabin is a good movie and I recommend it to anyone who likes thrillers.

Season four of You makes Joe the detective

On Feb. 3, the heartfelt comedy surrounding four friends and their adventure to see the Super Bowl 80 for Brady was released.

With an all-star cast, this flm stars Academy Award winners Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Rita Moreno and Lily Tomlin, with appearances from Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and even Guy Fieri. The entire cast does a wonderful job, giving their all to this performance by incorporating both hilarious and emotional moments throughout.

Inspired by a true story, this

hilarious, and oftentimes touching flm, follows four friends, three in their eighties and one who is very vocal about still being in her seventies, who are major fans of football player, Tom Brady, on their chaotic and entertaining journey to go see the Patriots play in the Super Bowl as one last adventure.

The friendship of these women was formed by their love of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, with them spending the kickof of every game together in

the same room, in the exact same position they were in for their frst game as a group. This impactful and inspiring story is a must see for anyone who enjoys a nice, feel-good flm, regardless of opinions surrounding football or of Tom Brady.

80 for Brady is a hilarious and upbeat comedy; however, it also has many heartfelt and, oftentimes, emotional moments as a brief change of pace from the constantly moving and fast-paced flm.

American literature. In hopes to keep his past hidden, he changes his name to Jonathan Moore. Despite his attempts to change his old ways, it does not take long for Joe to get wrapped up in a series of murders and become the subject of a stalker.

For part one of this season, Netfix only released the frst fve episodes of the series, with the second half being released March 9.

Penn Badgley returned to Netfix on Feb. 9 as his infamous serialkiller character, Joe Goldberg. Part one of Season 4 of the hit series You was released with a new twist to the plot.

Joe’s character is most known for his stalking behaviors, as well as his tendency to kill those he loves, but this season, Joe experiences how it feels to be on the receiving end of his behavior.

After moving to London for a fresh start, Joe changes his identity and is now a professor of

As a viewer, it is interesting to see Joe as a victim instead of the perpetrator, especially because he is attempting to be a hero this season, as he, once again, wants to turn over a new leaf.

This season of You is one of my favorite seasons so far. It is very intriguing and keeps you on your toes.

It will be interesting to see what the second part of season 4 will look like, but as of right now, it seems as though Joe will not be the character that viewers saw in the frst three seasons.

BRITTANY WACHTEL co-editor-in-chief

LAURA RAPPORT

STELLA POWERS trends editor

Promotional Material for M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock At The Cabin

Fair-use courtesy of Universal Pictures

Promotional material for Antman and the Wasp: Quantamania

Promotional material for 80 For Brady, starring Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field

Promotional material for season 4 of You starring Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg, courtesy of Netfix. Part 2 of season 4 premieres on Netfix on March 9, 2023

Current internet trends

Mental illness romanticized on Tik Tok

LAURA RAPPORT a&e editor

When one thinks about romanticizing mental illness, they probably think about shows like You and Monster: The Jefrey Dahmer Story, which both received criticism for its portrayal of psychopaths.

Romanticizing mental illness goes beyond problematic portrayals of serial killers, however.

On social media, especially Tik Tok, mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression are often glamorized and joked about.

According to data collected by the CDC, 9.4% of children sufer from anxiety (approximately 5.8 million) and 8.9% of children sufer from depression (approximately 2.7 million)

The CDC also reports that 11% of adolescent deaths are a result of suicide.

Considering how many teens sufer from mental illness, it is concerning that feelings of anxiety and depression are often not taken

Recommendations:

seriously on social media.

One popular Tik Tok audio features a young woman saying, “I would check myself into a mental hospital, but I have things to do.”

This sound bite has been used in over 250,000 videos on Tik Tok.

Although the audio is most likely meant to be a joke, it is concerning that work or school is a priority to some over mental health, especially when one is contemplating suicide.

Tik Tok is full of young people joking about mental health

Crazy Ebay fnds examined

struggles. When I open Tik Tok and go onto my “for you” page, I can easily fnd videos where teens make casual references to suicide, depression or anxiety.

One trend on Tik Tok features a user reacting to something, often with the caption “This is my thirteenth reason,”a reference to the controversial Netfix show, 13 Reasons Why, which tells the story of a teenage girl who dies by suicide, and makes 13 tapes where she explains her reasoning as to why she took her own life. The show has received criticism for the way it portrayed depression and its graphic depictions of self harm and suicide.

Romanticizing mental illness, especially anxiety and depression, can be very dangerous to teenagers who are sufering from mental illness. Tik Tok needs to better regulate its content to avoid inappropriate jokes about mental illness, as well as work to boost content made by creators who advocate for taking care of your mental health.

TikTok recommends skincare products

COSRX Snail Mucin 96%: $20

This item is targeted to skin concerns like large pores, uneven skin texture and acne. Three active ingredients in this product are Salicylic Acid (helps with acne blemishes), green tea (soothes irritation) and methylpropanediol (visibly hydrates skin).

MOLLY BYRNE

staf writer

As TikTok continues to infuence everyone around the world in various areas, skincare and beauty is very high on the list. Many infuencers have shown their favorite skincare items, these are some of the most talked about skincare items on this app.

Good Molecules (Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide): $6-12 Both of these serums are at a very afordable price point for serums with active ingredients.

Hyaluronic acid is used to draw in moisture to the skin, which is why when applying this product, it is recommended that you apply it onto wet skin. Niacinamide helps to improve skin texture and improve the skin barrier to treat pigmentation and reduce lines and wrinkles.

This product includes snail mucin at high concentrations, which reportedly helps the skin by adding moisture, reducing redness, and reducing acne scars. The product helps to bring a glow to the skin, with hyaluronic acid, it also helps to draw moisture into the skin.

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5: $14.99

The cicaplast balm is targeted to help with dry and cracked skin. This item drew attention of many people because of its benefts on skin concerns, including eczema. Ingredients in this product are Vitamin B5, Shea butter and glycerin. A key component in this product is the inclusion of dimethicone, which is used to provide a barrier to protect damaged skin.

HANNAH LOGUIDICE on campus editor

Nostalgia is a powerful feeling that fuels constant TV show reboots, ‘80s and ‘90s themed restaurants and, more recently, a strange drive to own part of your childhood.

The force of nostalgia is not a new phenomenon, but with the closing and remodeling of one of the most beloved Disney rides, Splash Mountain, the force of nostalgia has caused people to sell and buy what they claim is authentic splash mountain water.

According to a Nan. 26 USA Today article written by Natalie Neysa Alund, some ebay listings, made by people who are quick to fnd a way to proft of of other people nostalgia, include a reusable 10 ounce bottle for $7.99, a plastic bag for $25, a four ounce mason jar for a whopping $149.95 and, maybe the most ridiculous, a 16.9 ounce

bottle for $10,100.

Water is not the only strange nostalgia fueled thing found on eBay, a common category is nostalgic food, or food from people’s childhoods, that was either discontinued or, in some cases, banned. People are willing to spend money to get a taste of their childhood, and some of the more ridiculous examples include a Michael Jordan Gatorade line from 1991 that costs $11,000; Ghostbusters Hi-C Ecto Cooler juice from 1989 for $550; Reggie bars, a candy bar based on Reggie Jackson from 1978 for $4,500; and OG Taco Bell sauce packets from the 1980s, with three of these mild packets costing $89.99.

The power of nostalgia has caused many people to spend absurd amounts of money to try and own a piece of their childhood and has allowed some lucky people who were able to save this food or water a great fortune.

De-infuencing becomes trend on social media

BRITTANY WACHTEL co-editor-in-chief

In a world full of content creators who are meant to infuence their viewers, the trend is now changing, as recently, on Tik Tok, deinfuencing has become a trend.

Many Tik Tok content creators are now posting videos that tell their viewers what not to buy, instead of the typical video form that promotes products.

Shelbi Orme, a content creator, posted on her Tik Tok account that de-infuencing has the power to help reduce unethical labor practices and the overconsumption of money.

Content creators are now telling their viewers to save their money and only buy products that will not be unpopular once the current trend cycle burns out.

Many creators, such as Instagram star Indy Blue, are also reminding viewers that the internet was

created as a space to connect with others. Blue says in her Sept. 4, 2022, blog post, titled “Welcome back, I hate the internet,” that she misses the connection that the internet once created.

Blue says about social platforms, “Instagram came out a few months ago, announcing that they are transitioning from being a photo app, to a video app. Moving forward, they will be highlighting and pushing video content, specifcally reels… Putting hours of time and emotion into building a community on one platform, only to bail and start all over, when everyone inevitably gets sick of it and moves on to the next one? The truth is…I love the internet, okay? But I desperately need something new. I need more connection. I need more life.”

With de-infuencing becoming the new wave of social media, viewers are now allowed to utilize social media for what people view as its original purpose, connection.

Paula’s Choice AHA 2% Toner: $34

ONE POPULAR TIK TOK AUDIO FEATURES A YOUNG WOMAN SAYING, “I WOULD CHECK MYSELF INTO A MENTAL HOSPITAL, BUT I HAVE THINGS TO DO.”

Boys Basketball -

Record: 9-13

OCC Standing: 4th place

Tournament Result: Loss to Elyria in the sectional semifnal

Boys Swimming -

Winter Sports Wrap-up

Girls BasketballRecord:13-11

OCC Standing: 2nd place

Tournament Result: Loss to North Ridgeville in the sectional fnal

Record: Placed in the top three

13 times

OCC Standing: 1st place

Tournament Result: 4th Place in the district meet

Next Meet: State Meet - Feb. 24 at CT Branin (9 a.m.)

Boys Bowling -

Record: 10-4

OCC Standing: 3rd place

Tournament Result: 2nd place in the sectional tournament

Next Match: Feb. 25 at Stonehenge Lanes (10 a.m.)

Girls Swimming -

Record: Placed in the top three 12 times

OCC Standing: 1st place

Tournament Result: 11th Place at the district meet

Next Meet: State Meet - Feb. 24 at CT Branin (9 a.m.)

Girls BowlingRecord: 8-6

OCC Standing: 3rd place

Tournament Result: 3rd place at sectional tournament

Next Match: District Tournament Feb. 26 at Stonehenge Lanes (10 a.m.)

Wrestling -

Record: Placed in the top three 8 times

OCC Standing: 5th place

Next Meet: Sectional MeetFeb. 25 at Massillon Perry (9 a.m.)

Gymnastics -

Record: 4-1

Tournament Result: 12th place in the sectional meet

Wheelchair Basketball -

Record: 11-0

Next Tournament Game: State

Final - Feb. 25 at Kent State University (5 p.m.)

Photo By Phil Raber

Photo Courtesy of Caleb Kostohryz

Photo Courtesy of Caleb Kostohryz

Photo By Nora Levy

Photo Courtesy of Molly Byrne

Information collected from ohiocardinalconference.org and gowoo.org

All Photos by Marty’s Studios and fair use courtesy of @alwaysageneral on twitter, unless otherwise specifed

Corridor Question:

East Palestine residents deserve compensation and explanations for avoidable environmental disaster

On Feb. 3, 2023, a freight train storing the toxic chemical vinyl chloride derailed in East Palestine, Ohio.

According to the National Cancer Institute, vinyl chloride exposure is associated with an increased risk of liver cancer, brain and lung cancers, lymphoma, and leukemia.

To prevent exposure, members of the East Palestine community were evacuated between Feb. 3 and Feb. 5.

During this time, emergency ofcials conducted a controlled burn of the wreck, which, according to npr.org, sent hydrogen chloride and the toxic gas phosgene into the air.

On Feb. 8, 2023, only fve days after the derailment the evacuation order was lifted and residents of East Palestine were told that it was safe to return home. However, residents are skeptical about how safe it truly is.

According to a Feb. 14, NPR article written by Juliana Kim, “there have been a growing number of reports about people experiencing a burning sensation in their eyes, animals falling ill and a strong odor lingering in the town”.

The Ohio environmental protection agency has conducted tests on the water and air in East Palestine and released a statement

Youth sports build strong foundation for later success

practicing good health.”

Having these important skills and qualities developed at a young age can dramatically impact life in high school and beyond.

As a kid, I participated in many youth sports, most of which I did not continue in high school and even middle school.

However, I cannot understate the impact those experiences had on my life.

NORA LEVY sports editor

It is no secret that childhood activities have an impact on our lives. However, according to a January 31, 2023 article from healthnews, “in 2018, 38% of children participated in a team sport, down from 45% in 2008.” What we learn as children can impact how we see the world and the qualities we develop. Youth sports can be an infuential portion of our childhood and can help us develop leadership skills, perseverance, determination and self confdence. According to a Sept. 19, 2021 article from IMG Academy, “Kids who play sports understand proper nutrition, rest, and other positive health habits that impact their athletic performance. When a child learns from a young age that there’s a direct correlation between how they treat their bodies and how they feel and perform, they develop an appreciation for

Without participating in many sports, I would not have faced diferent types of adversity or gotten a chance to meet diferent people who have diferent interests.

Youth sports can also provide a safe space for children to be themselves. Having a fun and supportive environment free from pressure is a great outlet for children to exert themselves and spend their time free from screens.

It is important that every child participate in youth sports, despite what they may end up doing in high school. Even if children may eventually stop playing sports, the lessons and experiences they will have gained from youth sports can be instrumental in their resiliency.

Additionally, my mental fortitude has been strengthened by the confdence I gained from youth sports and the challenges I had to overcome. That mental fortitude has given me the tools to get through tough moments in my life and has made me a stronger person.

saying they are, “confdent that the municipal water is safe to drink”; however, residents are still wary about trusting government ofcials and companies that may not have their best interest in mind.

In a New York Times article written by Campbell Robertson and Emily Cochrane, several residents expressed their concerns. Mike Routh, a resident of East Palestine stated, “I just don’t trust anybody.” Protests against the train company, Norfolk Southern and government ofcials, began in East Palestine with residents holding signs that read “Profts

over people/ They Poisoned the Community.” and “The EPA nuked a town to open the Railroad #OhioChernobyl.”

The residents of East Palestine are calling for transparency from government ofcials and from Norfolk Southern. They are asking why Norfolk Southern was allowed to carry dangerous chemicals through the town without notifying them about the contents of the train.

Norfolk Southern should be held responsible and should be required to pay adequate compensation and the government should ofer more transparency on the magnitude of the situation.

Limited runs: Networks leave fans unhappy

canceled early in current times is the popular Disney show, The Owl House The show was made by Dana Terrance and was planned to have three full-length seasons.

However, fans found out after season two ended that season three was getting limited to just three specials.

CALEB SINGER-HOLDEN staf writer

In America watching television is cultural. There is a huge focus on trying to make the best show possible, trying to get big ratings and getting as many people to watch as possible which then gets them more money.

However, the practice of just wanting a show to make money can lead to major negative consequences. Nowadays, shows will be canceled just by not being the new number one show. They also begin to not have as much time to talk about their show in promotions until they die of if the show has done something the network does not like. These shows are often canceled before the end of their story. An example of shows being

Fans of the show have spoken online that they believe that it was due to the bisexual main character Luz fnally kissing her girlfriend, Amity.

After that event is when the show began to lose its promotion by Disney as well as the news it was going to be shortened.

This show is not the only example of shows getting limited runs.

The show Inside Job was a Netfix original show, made by Shion Takeuchi, which was canceled after the second part of their frst season.

This cancellation left viewers with a clifhanger for what would have started season two.

The show was already renewed for the second season, but Netfix revoked the renewal.

The worst part of these shows being canceled before they fnish is that there is often no explanation for why shows are canceled.

Making sure to stream shows and showing support to the creators is so important to keep the shows alive.

How do you feel about the new policy allowing underclassmen to go to Prom?

“I appreciate the policy change because it is fair to inter-grade relationships. I don’t think it will be a problem so long as students remain respectful and do not take advantage of the opportunity.”

Camryn Nelson (10)

“Personally, I don’t care all that much, but if I had to pick, I’d say they should be allowed. They can only come if brought by an upperclassmen, so it’s not like there will be a ton of underclassmen there.”

Deah Bresson (12)

“I disagree with the new policy allowing underclassmen to attend Prom, as it takes away from what the seniors get to experience.”

Gavin Bucheger (12)

Editors-in-Chief Brittany Wachtel, Olivia Hiner • Graphics Editor Nora Levy, Ben Stavnezer • Feature Editors Ben Stavnezer • Cover Editors Mattie Dunlap, Molly Byrne• On Campus Editor Hannah LoGiudice • Focus Editor Grace Kostohryz • Sports Editor Nora Levy • Trends Editor Stella Powers • A & E Editor Laura Rapport • Views Editors Brittany Wachtel, Olivia Hiner • Staff Writers Lily Campbell-Lehtinen, Laynee Eslich, Rhys Florence-Smith, Jaelyn Frederick, Ethan Keating, Caleb Kostohryz, Rebekah Lay, Tristan Miller, Jamie Ogle, Caleb Singer-Holden, Jackson Stansifer • Head Photographers Nora Levy, Ben Stavnezer • Photographers Brittany Wachtel, Ben Stavnezer, Nora Levy, Lily Campbell-Lehtinen, Hannah LoGiudice, Ethan Keating, Molly Byrne, Caleb Kostohryz, Rebekah Lay, Laynee Eslich, Caleb Singer-Holden • Adviser Kristi Hiner

The Wooster Blade is a biweekly student publication printed every other Friday by the Newspaper Production classes at Wooster High School. The paper is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established in a district-wide publications policy protecting students’ freedom of expression. All copy, art and photography are property of The Wooster Blade and cannot be reproduced without permission. Letters to the editor are limited to 300 words and The Wooster Blade reserves the right to print and edit as per length and content. The Wooster Blade is a member of Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691. The Wooster Blade can be contacted at 330-345-4000 ext. 3210.