Last Seen Blogs
sobasementtale
Untitled
rise-memory-name-democratic
Untitled
iphone15cellphones
iPhone 15 CellphoneS
avanola
Message Board
l8tof1
late to f1
Text
Final Project - Disney Impact
“If you keep on believing, your dream and your wish will come true” is the final lyric of “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” from Cinderella. This lyric holds a lot of power and gives individuals everywhere the power to curate their destiny. Cinderella and Disney movies throughout the decades have had the power to shape our world view and drive the ambition that we see within ourselves. They give us the permission to be the hero and offer us a variety of lenses to believe in love and friendship. This cultural vehicle comes with disadvantages that have only just begun to be addressed. Through lyric choices and costumes, the roles women have played have changed dramatically.
Hinder
The progression of female leads in Disney films has a direct correlation to women’s rights and advancements in our country. As women continue to possess their well earned seats at the table of change, the idea of the traditional princess dwindles, and “Prince Charming” is nowhere to be found.
In 1937, Disney debuted their first official princess in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Culturally, the movie premiered at the tail end of The Great Depression. Women had a say, but if they said too much, they would face ridicule. They worked but were expected to fall in line by the authority of men who worked around them. They weren’t valued, they were tolerated. By the 40’s, women were expected to make their contributions through the role of the housewife and homemaker. Lyrically, Snow White demonstrates the lack of societal respect that women have received. Men were now the breadwinners, and their ideas were the only ones that mattered. In “I’m Wishing,” Snow White sings:
“I’m wishing
For the one I love
To find me
Today”
These lyrics give young women the notion that they need a man to give them value.
“Whistle While You Work” exemplifies the attitude that men had towards women. Their primary job wasn’t just to uphold the household but do it with a smile.
“Just whistle while you work
And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place
So hum a merry tune
It won't take long when there's a song to help you set the pace”
“Someday My Prince Will Come” shows young women that they should sit and wait for a man to change their lives. The ‘princess’ is supposed to wait for the ‘prince’ to take them away and live ‘happily ever after’ . The discouraging thing is that ‘happily ever after’ is at the hand and action of the prince. The song doesn’t promote the idea that women are capable of making worthy contributions.
youtube
In 1959, Sleeping Beauty premiered with Princess Aurora speaking less than 20 lines throughout the film. This sends a message that beauty is all one needs and to let the man do the rest.
Empower
The most memorable song in The Little Mermaid is Ariel’s anthem, ‘Part of Your World’ Ariel is going against the social norm that her father has set for her and her sisters and promises herself that she will experience the world beyond the shore. In the original film, the conflict stems from two worlds joining as one and the dangers that can come with it. Today, with the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel, Disney has taken joining two worlds a step further. Throughout our history, especially with the BLM protests, black and brown people have been made to feel that they are less than, or that they are a threat. Black women have been made to feel that they need to alter their appearance in order to be considered beautiful. This new version is a game changer because it expands their audience and allows young black girls to see themselves in a way that they didn’t think possible. The reception to the trailer was heartbreakingly beautiful -
youtube
The ‘Prince Charming’ trope ended with Merida in Brave (released in 2012) as she actively pursues her throne and does it without a husband. In ‘Touch the Sky,’ Merida encourages her audience to be bigger than themselves and to not live in fear:
‘I will hear their every story
Take hold of my own dream
Be as strong as the seas are stormy
And proud as an eagle's scream’
2016 brought into focus the political efforts of Hilary Clinton and AOC (to name a few) and it’s only fitting that Disney follow suit with Moana. This film was released at the perfect moment because the possibility of a woman being in power was very real. Both Hilary and AOC are the true meaning of Moana’s anthem ‘How Far I’ll Go’
Where Disney knocks it out of the park is with their introduction of Maribel in Encanto. As the only person in her family to not receive the traditional ‘gift’ Maribel reminds us that the truest gift we can inhabit is deep within. In the song ‘Waiting On A Miracle’ she reminds her audience that through the toughest of times and the deepest moments of adversity, we all can be a hero in our own right. She sings:
I would heal what’s broken
Show this family something new
Who I am inside
So what can I do?
I’m sick on waiting on a miracle
So here I go
youtube
Disney has the power to bring peace to the world. They have sat on their hands for a while with producing the same character in various films, but we are headed in the right direction. It’s clear that the future is female. I appreciate that there are a lot of remakes being done where women are more independent, as seen in Beauty and the Beast with Emma Watson, but having newer stories to tell where women are the change makers is the only way to drive this world in a positive direction. What matters is representation and freeing the voices that have been held back throughout history.
0 notes
Text
Fun Home - Book Report
What Girl Icon does this book represent?
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic is an autobiographical, coming of age story that maps out Allison Bechdel’s journey to self acceptance. Throughout the book, Allison describes in incredible detail her relationship with her parents. Throughout the book, she feels as if she doesn’t have someone to help guide her through her most important adolescent years. She has many questions and feels there is no one to answer them. With her father specifically, she immerses herself in books because that’s what he is interested in.
Does the book's narrative serve to add a new voice to the theme of adolescent transformation previously absent from the literary genre?
I think that the message of this book is one that we have seen in many works of literature, HOWEVER, the execution was transformative.
How would you describe the rite of passage aspects of the story?
There are many moments that are relatable in this book. Her parents clearly cannot stand each other and her mother needs a sounding board. She eclipses Alison on many occasions such as revealing her father’s affair when she decides to come out. When parents don’t love each other the way we think that they should, it can be very isolating. A part that stood out to me was when Alison felt that her father valued their furniture more than her.
What aspects of Girl Power does this book explore?
Be who you are and don’t judge others for perhaps taking a different path. Alison has always felt different. She wants to dress differently and wear her hair differently than other girls. She fights her father wanting to put barrettes in her hair just because he feels that is what girls should do. She confesses that she has always wanted to dress like a boy and is determined throughout the book to explore those feelings. Determination is a prominent theme in this book. It’s clear that Alison doesn’t get the support she needs at home, so she turns to books and outside experiences to fill in those cracks. Although I think she sees her mother seeking pleasure in theater to fill her void, Alison wants to take things a step further and ask the tough questions and deal with the answers that she is given. For her father, she is a pillar of strength. As he navigates his own journey, he sees her as the only one to have intellectual conversations with.
What is break-through about the book (design, representation, diversity, etc)?
I found the layout of the book really exciting. I was never a comic reader as a kid so it took me a second to get into the flow, but once I did, I finished in a flash. Making this a visual outlet allows us to take Allison’s emotional journey with her. We see throughout that her parents aren’t looking at her when she speaks. Seeing their nonchalant reactions to her forces us to root for her to find a community that will see her. Another element to note is the representation of the female body. From Allison questioning the changes her body is going through to her appreciation of her college girlfriends body, I feel the representation is done in a tasteful way.
Is there a film, TV or theatrical version of this story? Does it live up to the book?
I unfortunately did not see the musical when it was on broadway, but I remember seeing a lot of the clips and Tony Award performances. What is so special about this performance is that even today, I rewatched it and can pinpoint many moments of my childhood where I felt different and didn’t know what to do with that information. As a musical theater actor, I connect with music more than any other artform so I think that the musical can elevate the meaning of the book to those who operate in a similar fashion.
0 notes
Text
Priya's Shakti and Warrior Girls
1. How would you define the Warrior Girl Icon based on the examples in the PDF series? What icons would you add?
The Warrior Girl Icon hears her higher calling and uses her skillset to make the world around her a better place. Whether through intellect, magic or physical ability, she rises above adversity to ‘fight the good fight.’ This call may not always seem easy and she may upset a few people around her along the way *cough cough* MEN - But she stands strong, holds her resolve and reminds those around her that they are capable of doing better, and with her leadership, she will make that point clear.
I recently viewed House of the Dragon on HBO and I chose Rhaenyra Targaryen to be added to the list. Rhaenyra is fully aware of the resistance that she will face as she ascends to the Iron Throne upon her father’s death. At every turn, she is reminded that she is incapable of being an effective ruler purely because she is a woman and that her place is to pour wine for men and to procreate. What I loved about this role is that she stood strong in her position because it is her birth right and her being a woman has nothing to do with it. In an interaction with her cousin, she was told that the realm had an opportunity to have a queen but rejected it. Rhaenyra tells her cousin “they rejected you”
I don’t love getting political in these discussions but Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a great example for this discussion. She stands firm in her politics and is not afraid to make waves. She reminds us that her generation is the next in line for changemakers on the larger stage of politics.
2. READ Priya's Shakhti graphic novel, watch the videos and write a review (3-4 paragraphs) on your blog.
Priya’s Shakti focuses on the violence that women face on a daily basis. The social norms for women are that they are meant to be home to raise the kids and cook for their husbands. Their main currency is to not go to school, but to procreate. As Priya’s dreams of being a teacher are ripped away from her, she is forced into this cycle. After Priya is raped, she is cast from her home by her father and is forced to live in exile. She prays to the goddess Parvati for help and a quest for women’s equality begins.
The problem of gender violence is not a legal problem, but a cultural problem: The fact that certain cultures don’t fully accept this concept is heartbreaking for me. There are cultures where women are not treated as equals to their male counterparts. Their roles are to clean, cook and take care of the children while the men of the house go out and work. Because these beliefs are so strong, any time a woman would step out of this mold would incite violence from the men in their life.
Culture changes faster than genes: Men need to realize that giving women an education and allowing them to work and develop the skills that are afforded to men will only help them in the long run. The idea that a woman must give her husband a child needs to change from ‘it’s their duty’ to ‘it’s their choice’ and should they make that choice, it’s for them and is a gift to her husband.
Speak without shame and stand with me and bring about the change you want to see: Women stepping up in politics to share their stories and spread the message of inequality is going to lead this country in a positive direction. #Metoo is a great example of women coming forward and letting the world know of the terrors that they have experienced. What’s especially sad is that there have been stories shared of this nature but no one was there to listen. As heartbreaking as it is to hear, we need these stories to inform the changes that need to be made in order to secure women’s rights.
3. Watch the speeches by Emma Gonzales and Naomi Wadler. How do these speeches resonate four years later in the aftermath of March for Our Lives (March 2018)?
I have seen these speeches a number of times and I think that today, with mass shootings and women’s rights being taken away, they resonate so deeply. I currently live in Buffalo, Ny and yesterday, 11/14 was six months since the Buffalo massacre. We still turn the tv on and are hearing about mass shootings in colleges and black and brown lives being taken away on a daily basis. How come we have not learned our lesson? What needs to happen for true and lasting change to be put into action?
What continues to be breakthrough and change-making about these speeches? What has changed?/ How has their presence on the public stage at that time and since then expanded the definition of a fearless 'Warrior Girl'?
Older generations have shielded young people from the truths and dangers of the world because maybe they feel that they don’t want to ‘corrupt’ them or ‘they are too young for that’ - As a result, there is an added pressure on young people to make the changes that are not being made for them. This makes me think of Greta and her “How Dare You” and “you’ve robbed me of my childhood” remarks in many of her speeches. This is the same idea. There are children who are quite literally dying and now others are being traumatized to a point where they are begging for someone to help them. Having young people, especially young women speak on these topics lets us know that we have failed. We have failed to protect our children and things need to be done. Young women have been conditioned to think that this is a man’s world and they should stay silent, but with every speech and every cry, this is changing and it’s pretty special.
0 notes
Text
GIRL INNOVATORS: Final Project Ideas
This could take many forms, but here's my proposal as of now!
For decades, Disney has had the power to change the way people think of themselves and the world. For young women, princesses have served as icons and are used as a roadmap for shaping an ideal future. As women take center stage in society, the idea of the ‘ideal woman’ has changed dramatically. In this paper, I intend to highlight the shifts Disney has taken in order to promote a healthier image for the ideal heroine. I will discuss character flaws in princesses like Snow White and how she promoted the oppressed role women played in the 30’s. I will discuss the ‘fight the power’ energy of Elsa in Frozen and how through lyric and costume choices, she has broken the mold of the damsel in distress. I will also be discussing the empowerment Mirabel in Encanto has provided and how she used her power within to find her true hero. Finally, I will discuss the casting choices of Halle Bailey as Ariel in the upcoming adaptation of The Little Mermaid. I also intend to discuss how the evolution of female characters have allowed young boys to see themselves in that role. Disney has also faced a lot of criticism for the shift they have taken and I think it’s important to mention the criticism from the naysayers of the world.
0 notes
Text
Teen Girls, Witches, Stranger Things and Super Powers
1. What are your thoughts on the evolution of depictions of Supernatural Powers in young women?
This is a really interesting question and this week has made me take a look back into my fascination with magic as a kid. I think the evolution of Supernatural Powers in young women has taken (with work left to do of course) with the journey that women have had in changing, or should I say, strengthening the feminist landscape. The idea of witches in the past have been haggard old women with warts on their noses and speaking in creepy voices. I grew up watching Charmed and until I was well versed on the male gaze, I didn’t realize how wrong the depiction of the Halliwell sisters was. Could it be that the show runners thought they were doing their audience a favor by presenting a show with "sexy but badass" leads. Maybe their intention was for us to believe that we didn't have to choose. This choice falls flat in my opinion.You could wear stilettos and still kick ass? As time goes on, the depiction has gotten more digestible by presenting different women from different backgrounds. You no longer need to be a girly girl who casts a love spell on the high school quarterback, nor do you need to be the isolated loner who wears black lipstick and frequents the local wiccan shop (as we see in The Craft) What’s special about characters like Hermione is that she allows us to believe that their are magical beings who walk among us and blend in. Today, supernatural powers are presented in young women of various backgrounds and they display their powers and varying levels of intensity.
2. How is magical power related to adolescence?
Magical powers are related to adolescence because it allows you to believe that anything is possible. When we see spells being cast, we as spectators are suspending our disbelief and entering their world to dream of what they may not think is possible at that very moment. How many times have we seen a supernatural movie and left the viewing thinking that WE ourselves have that power? I don’t know how many sticks I’ve sanded down as a kid thinking that I was a Hogwarts student who was simply left off the admissions list. In short, magical power allows us to believe and think bigger than our current circumstance.
3. What impact does the depiction of magic and the sense of agency it represents have on real girls and young women in this era of emerging teenage girl leadership?
Women are the future. To quote Elsa in Frozen, “Conceal, Don’t Feel” is not an option anymore. Women have been told to not make waves and to stand in the background so men can handle things. Not anymore! Magical powers are metaphors for what is already inside us. At the end of the day, we may not be able to fly, but we are able to take that energy deep within and transform that into tangible and actionable steps towards a brighter future.
4. Are you aware of additional girl icons with magical powers? Please share in your post with images.
I actually just recently watched The Craft and Nancy is polarizing and bone chilling. She’s the example of how greed can drive us to destruction. When she’s given the ultimate power, she forgets those who stood by her and turns against her support system. This action leads her to turn against herself. This makes me think of the “only use your power for good” cliche. Similarly with our favorite Sanderson Sisters - How many times are they going to try the same thing and keep on failing!? What's the definition of insanity again??
5. Do you see a correlation between the career opportunities of these young women performers, the roles they have played, and their evolution as feminists?
Absolutely. We’ve watched figures like Emma Watson and Alyssa Milano on our televisions for years. We’ve gained familiarity with them and that results in the buy in for our support. Figures like Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain and Bryce Dallas Howard deliver their messages and count on their audience to stand behind them. Whether they are giving speeches or being intentional about the roles they take, they want their audience to walk away from their experience changed and inspired to create a better world.
0 notes
Text
Women Filmmakers and the Girl's Eye View
Who is the director? (a brief bio)
Greta Gerwig is a California born actress, writer and director. Originally from Sacramento, she attended an all girls Catholic school and had dreams of becoming an actor. Ultimately, her work brought her to New York City where she studied English at Barnard College. From 2008-2016, she went on to star in small roles including Jackie, starring Natalie Portman. She received an Oscar nomination for her screenwriting and directing skills in films Lady Bird (2017) and Little Women (2019)
What do you identify as unique to the female perspective and the 'female gaze' in the film?
Lady Bird’s gaze is fixated on anything that seems cookie cutter. She and Julie spend a significant amount of time standing outside of the beautiful blue home, which we later discover is Danny’s grandmother’s house. Lady Bird doesn’t feel that her life as it is is anything to brag about. She spends her time thinking about getting out of her town and dreaming of a different life on the East Coast. She attempts to have the All-American family look when she enters into a relationship with Danny, but when she discovers that he is gay, that dream is crushed. Her rebellious phase with men leads her to Kyle. Kyle is the ‘bad boy’ and takes her to a different level of consciousness. She becomes enamored with him, but her dreams are once again crushed when she realizes that he is not a virgin when they sleep together for the first time.
What rite of passage in the protagonist(s) life/lives does this story explore? What fresh perspective, if any, does the director bring to this story? Are sexual or gender taboos traversed in the process?
In terms of rite of passage, there are several. I think it’s completely normal for someone to dream about a “cool crowd” and completely lose themselves in the allure. When Lady Bird kind of dropped Julie to hang out with Jenna, it really struck me because it’s a normal teenager thing to do. I’ve been the Julie in that situation and I’ve realized that as people explore the “more” of a situation, that you sometimes get left behind. Another rite of passage is feeling like you need to have sex and that you’re ‘in love’ at 17 years old. I think that Greta brings her perspective to the role, mainly because the film is autobiographical, in the sense that we feel Lady Bird’s need to explore the world. Nothing is good enough for her and she wants to be amongst creatives who have done ‘more’ with their lives. A final rite of passage i’d like to note is that, (and this doesn’t apply to everyone) most kids have to have that moment where they are at a party and they drink a little too much and they need a “come to Jesus” moment where they realize their life isn’t as bad as they may have thought.
Does this film shed new light on the mother/daughter and family relationships? How?
The relationship between Lady Bird and her mother, I feel, is a classic example of a teenage daughter and mom. They are fighting one moment and crying in eachothers arms the next. One of my favorite scenes is when they are in the store looking for a Thanksgiving dress and then a sudden argument erupts between the two of them, Lady Bird calls her mom ‘infuriating’ and then they are bonding over a beautiful dress. Her relationship with her father is a treasured one. He is her safe space outside of the chaos of school and her mother. A great example of their love is when Kyle is picking her up for prom, honks the horn and her father says “You’re not going to get into a car with a guy who honks, are you?” Despite what she goes through with her mom, her father wants to calmly remind her that she is worth the effort and she should believe in her value more.
Describe the most startling/indelible/breakthrough scene of the film.
There are many scenes that stand out in this film but the main one that broke my heart was when her mom realized that she was waitlisted for a school in New York without telling her. All throughout the movie, her mom has worked tirelessly to get Lady Bird to see the work the family has put into her. She notes that she doesn’t realize how much money it costs to raise her, but still is behind her the whole way. When she was upset about her night with Kyle, her mother was there for her to cry to. She took her around to open houses as a symbol for their favorite activity. There was a moment where her mom stands in the kitchen and looks around with a somber look on her face as if this is a life she could never provide for her family. When she realized that Lady Bird went to her father without telling her, she was crushed.
Their conflict in quotes
Lady Bird: I’m sorry I want more
Marion: Money is not life’s report card
Has the film received the recognition it deserved? Why or why not
I think this is a yes AND no question. It got recognition in terms of it being nominated for several awards across many platforms. When talking about what everyone cares about, The Oscars, it won nothing…and I don’t think that was fair at all.
The film ends in “Thank You” and I don’t think there was another perfect way to end it. Lady Bird is now going by Christine and recognizes the work that her family, especially her mother has put into raising her. “Thank you” encapsulates her gratitude and sets her on a path to being better and being ‘more’ for herself internally instead of seeking things to prove her worth.
0 notes
Text
Eco Warrior Girls
Assignment #1
Watch the Van Gogh Soup incident videos and respond to the question posed on TikTok: Is She Right? What is your impression of this form of activism? is it effective? Did the action have the intended impact? (one sentence for each)
This really shook me when I first saw it. I definitely think that art is worth preserving because of its historical value, but life is certainly more important, especially with the turn our climate is taking. My impression of this form of activism is “WOA!!” It’s shocking. It makes people stop and really think. Even watching the video, I had to rewind it and watch it again because it was just so shocking. So yes, I think it is effective. I think it’s heartbreaking that people have to go to such lengths to get others to listen, but when it comes to the planet, this shows me that something drastic needs to happen in order to get people to open their eyes and ask themselves some very real questions.
Assignment #2
No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference is a collection of speeches written by Greta at her appearances. The book takes us from September 8th 2018 to September 27th 2019 and with each speech that is written, the fire within her grows stronger. I would assume it was written this way so the fire within the reader would grow with hers. In ‘We Are Fighting for Everyone’s Future’, Greta emphasizes the sacrifice that young people have taken having missed school. She notes that this it is necessary for young people to stand up and take action because “our future is at stake”
The noting of the dates is really important because it shows the reader that anything can happen within a short period of time. A constant theme throughout her speeches is that in order to make things better, accountability is a MUST and not a MAYBE. Her voice is strong and despite what people say about her, she keeps going. She brings her reality to her speeches and recognizes the calling that she has been tasked with. She notes that the people in power will take her words in one ear and out the other and continue doing what they are doing is not saving the world. The concept of running out of time is frightening. The amount of times she delivered this message to receive criticism about herself as a person is heartbreaking. But she continues to do the work and if she gave up after feeling ignored by those who have the power to change things, wouldn’t that mean that they were right? Those who have called her a brat? Those who criticize her appearance? They want her to go away, but she shows up and fights for what she believes in.
Assignment #3
I Am Greta
‘I Am Greta’ is a powerful film for multiple reasons. This documentary outlines the highs and lows that Greta has experienced as she works tirelessly to have her message heard. What makes her stand out and likely drives her passion is knowing that as she learned about the state of the planet, she went on a three year selective mutism campaign, choosing to only speak to her parents and her sister.
Having been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, Greta recalls always feeling left out in her community. She notes that she’s not someone who likes to interact via small talk and can stay silent for hours. She had trouble finding community within her school, but filled that void with her calling for spreading awareness for the climate crisis and becoming “The Girl That Started It All.” Speech after speech, her message grew across Europe and the world and as she gained notoriety, she faced a wide level of praise and criticism. As a viewer, I was forced to understand the message of following one’s own mission and to not pay attention to the noise of outside forces. What is special about her is that she persisted despite any name she was being called.
Her relationship with her father gave her the comfort of familiarity and reminded her that she is only human and taking moments out of the day to eat is the only way to continue along her journey. Seeing her in pain from being hungry and wanting to go out there and make another speech and join those who follow this cause was very sad. Having an eating disorder and pairing it with her devotion to saving her planet almost seemed Shakespearean.
One of the most powerful moments was when she is on the boat before she arrives in New York and realizes the toll that this has taken on her mental health and her childhood. The charge is admittingly too heavy for her at times but she sees it as her responsibility to share her message and raise awareness. “If you see a threat, it is your responsibility to sound the alarm.” As she delivers her speech at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit, she describes her dreams as being ‘stolen’ but her passion outweighs all else. “If you choose to fail us, we will never forgive you.”
Personal Reflection
I think this movie is important for this class because, similar to Malala, action and heroism can come in any form at any age. I think Greta is a strong figure because she’s not someone who will smile and nod in front of everyone. She means what she says and puts a tremendous amount of thought behind every word she chooses to say. She calls us out on the performative actions that we may take towards this cause and reminds us that words mean nothing if there is no action behind them.
0 notes
Text
Black Lives Matter: Darnella Frazier, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor
1. What are your thoughts about Darnella Frazier's role as a bystander who chose to document a crime and became a brave citizen journalist in the process? What would you do in a similar situation?
I want to think that I would do the same but I don’t know if anyone knows this until they are put in that situation. I think what she did was extremely important and incredibly brave. As a black man, I felt that this video illuminated the prejudice that we experience every single day and the violence that can come from it. I feel that this has shown our non black neighbors the real trauma that we face on a day to day and has allowed them to shift their mindset and spring into action if they felt passionately enough. I think her attitude after the video went viral and news outlets across the country were requesting a comment is really telling of the kind of person that she is. We all watched this unfold on the news, but to be the person who held the camera and stayed there throughout the experience must have been extremely tough. I commend her on this act because if this didn’t happen, it would have been just another death of a black man that the police sweeps under the rug and the country ultimately forgets.
2. Have you participated in Black Lives Matter marches and protests? Please share your experiences and your photographs in your post and in the thread below.
This is a tough subject for me and many. I have participated in protests, but ultimately, my charge at the time was to share my experiences with my then boyfriend (now husband) who happens to be white. I had retreated into myself and found many quiet moments during this time. This was one of the first times in my life where I found myself frozen, afraid and deeply emotional. I lived in Park Slope, Brooklyn at the time and I’ll never be able to forget the screaming and the chants outside my window. I’ll be honest when I say that I did not participate in social media activism and it's 100% within my rights to not. I think that there were many occasions where individuals felt that posting a photo was enough where there were many others who felt that going to a rally was enough. I found many moments of conflict and the solution for me was to stay off the internet.
I had many “friends” approach me and send me DM’s condemning me because as a black man, I have to feel a certain way and their version of feeling a certain way was getting up, snapping a photo and posting it. That has never been me and since I wasn’t “going live” at a protest, or posting a black square on my feed, I wasn’t a real black man. My husband experienced the same thing, he received condemning messages because he’s married to a black man, and how can he not be posting or going live or anything like that. What I found interesting is that there were many who did not ask how I felt about what was going on, but it was more important for them to see something on my feed.
3. Choose one of the following young women BLM leaders who began their activism as teenagers and write a one-paragraph bio about them. Post a one-line summary in the thread: Zee Thomas, Shayla Turner, Brianna Chandler, Tiana Day.
Tiana Day was 17 years old when she saw a post from Mimi Zoila on instagram that called for a member of the black community to lead a protest across the Golden Gate Bridge. The protest would be in response to George Floyd’s murder and Tiana jumped to the challenge. In an interview with The New York Times, Tiana states “For me, I was never really an activist before. But this movement lit a fire in me.” Growing up in California, she always felt out of place and would go out of her way to look like her non black counterparts. There was an amazing turnout at the Golden Gate protest and the positive responses inspired her to lead more protests across the area and eventually inspired her to start the non profit organization “Youth Advocates for Change” which aimed to inspire other young people to share their experiences in their communities and be the next pioneers for change.
4. What is your assessment of Amy Sherald's portrait of Breonna Taylor and the ensuing exhibition held at the Speed Museum? Does it do her justice? (see video clip)
I think the portrait is gorgeous, strong, poised and reflects the person that she was and not the state in which her life ended. Her mother being involved is extremely important and the timeline of her life highlights the work that she has done. She died a brutal death and she shouldn’t be forgotten. I appreciate the “Say Her Name” campaign because it forces the world to recognize the fact that she had a promising future and now that has been taken away. This exhibition is important because being able to witness the truth of the black experience allows visitors to really connect and not just be a spectator.
0 notes
Text
I AM MALALA: Changing the World Through Girls Education
I want to start by saying thank you for this assignment this week...
Part 1
Period: End of a Sentence is an amazing initiative that goes beyond being able to provide women with necessary products that will elevate their health. They strive to educate communities and provide support to those especially where there is shame around menstruation. There are many places in the world where women are meant to serve a specific role and are not encouraged to ask questions. Continuing to shame women for experiencing something that is natural is what divides communities. Imposing shame around menstruation gives men the idea that because they don’t go through it, they must be superior and that’s most certainly not the case. Having equal access to these products and this knowledge is not only helpful, it is essential.
Part 2
1. If you could describe this book in one word what would that be?
The one world that I would use would be HOPE. This book was so descriptive about her home. I found many moments where I would shut my eyes and try to envision what she was seeing. I also found that as negative aspects of her life, such as conflict arose, she would revert back to those descriptive words providing the reader with a sense of “it’s going to be okay.” Her relationship with her parents, especially her father, is extremely important to her development. In Chapter 4, her father tells her “I will protect your freedom, Malala. Carry on with your dreams.” Her father took notice of the power that she had to make a difference and wanted to afford her every opportunity to turn those dreams into a reality.
2. What does this book reveal about Islam, women, girls and education?
Women are not given the same opportunities as men are. Malala is extremely aware of the outdated customs. She speaks out on injustice and leads her life outside of the general mold that is set for her (within reason) On pg. 54, she writes “ I am very proud to be a Pashtun, but sometimes I think our code of conduct has a lot to answer for, particularly where the treatment of women is concerned.”
Within the household, women are responsible for cooking, cleaning and making sure the men in the house are provided for. She makes mention that women are rarely given the prime cut of meat and don’t receive cream for their tea until the men have had theirs. Education for women is far from prioritized. She writes “There seemed no point in going to school to just end up cooking, cleaning and bringing up children…” (pg. 32)
Arranged marriages are the custom and women are often treated as currency to resolve civil disputes. I found it heartbreaking that the mind of a woman is not valued outside of the meals that they cook or producing children. The pressures of quality wedding jewlery stood out to me and to read that women would sell their jewelry to help their husbands open their businesses affirms the notion that the husband is the priority and women giving up their rights and freedoms was seen as a sign of devotion.
Side note: there are many examples of this throughout several cultures. I come from a Puerto Rican household and my mother and aunts were raised to think their place is the kitchen preparing dinner for the brothers and husbands. There are outdated customs in wedding vows (the use fo the word obey) from the wife’s side insinuates that a woman’s place is to do whatever the husband tells her. I’m glad these trends are changing as time goes on and the mold of a “perfect household” changes.
3. What elements of chance are crucial to her story?
On pg. 45, Hidayatullah says “Malala was a lucky girl. When she was born our luck changed.” I think the inspiration shared between Malala and her father was reciprocated. Watching him go through his journey to fight for education influenced her decisions. His unwavering support allowed her to think that there are no limits to what she could do. Another example is her entering the public speaking competition and the topic being “Honesty is the best policy.” This was a topic that she was very passionate about as she worked on being the best daughter and friend possible. Delivering the speech also influenced the way she wrote speeches in the future. Instead of having a man write the speech for her, she wrote her own.
4. Unesco estimates over 160 million girls worldwide are not educated due to refugee status, war relocation, poverty and gender preference. What would the world look like if all girls were educated? What do you think would change?
I think there would be an initial shock because men have this idea that they created this world and they should dictate what should happen in it. No one likes change at first and they need to be subject to change to realize the positive outcomes that can come from it. Ultimately, this would be extremely beneficial for a multitude of reasons. Having more educated women leads to more women in power. Women having a “seat at the table” of change would offer a perspective that many men were either too stubborn or too uneducated to see the value in. Women like Vice President Kamala Harris and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson are paving the way for women and women of color to bring this world into a new era. I believe that with more educated women, leading to more women in power that there would still be conflict in the world, but there would be less casualties as a result of the conflict.
5. What is your favorite quote from the book? Please explain why.
“Teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat.” This quote stuck out to me and is so prevalent to what we are going through today with the Jan. 6th hearings and our former president’s claims. We’re constantly inundated with news coverage that a peaceful transition of power was not achieved and had it been, a lot of legal action could have been avoided.
Malala continues to write that we are human and humans make mistakes. I think this quote teaches us that we should honor history. Learning from the past, both from victories and atrocities is the only way we will know what worked and what didn’t. Another great quote that I liked was when Malala says “No, the chicken is innocent, we should not kill her.” There is a purity to the way she sees the world. She’s obviously beyond her years and understands a lot more than what people give her credit for. She believes that just because it is custom, doesn’t mean it’s right.
6. What positive global messages does this book provide, and why does it continue to be relevant?
This book can be seen from multiple angles. For me, it was her relationship with her parents that allowed her to step outside of what was initially expected of her. A great passage from the book is when she was caught stealing from Safina. The guilt that she had for the act and for lying to her parents led her to a life of honesty and purity. I think it’s interesting that she doesn’t wear jewelry today and it strengthens her message that the most powerful thing a woman can have is her mind. The Ghandi quote her father passed on to her was spot on in the way she lives her life: “Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.” (pg. 58) This adds to what makes her so special because she chooses forgiveness and empathy as she navigates her world. She knows that there is a lot of work to be done to correct the mistakes of the past and with encouragement from her parents, she takes on the task and leads the charge. I think everyone should read this book (it’s also on audible) more than once because there is so much descriptive language and she takes us down so many moments of her history that we’re bound to learn more with each time we read it.
0 notes
Text
MONUMENTAL WOMEN AND FIRST WAVE FEMINISM
···::
I actually just moved to Buffalo this week so I was excited to read about her!
For this week, I chose Mary Talbert. At 19 years old, Mary graduated from Oberlin and took on one of the most honorable jobs, being a teacher and teaching multiple subjects. She was also the first black woman in Arkansas to become principal of the high school.
After marrying William Talbert in 1891, she moved to Buffalo and was a founding member of The Phyllis Wheatley Club of Colored Women which was Buffalo’s first NACW affiliate programs.
Below are but few of Talbert’s accomplishments:
In 1900, Talbert organized a rally at the Michigan Avenue Baptist Church so an exhibition can be showed that highlighted the accomplishments of the black community since the Emancipation Proclamation
Talbert was also a pioneer in an anti-lynching campaign that called for “the barbarous custom of lynching and burning at the stake be stopped now and forever.”
She was a founder of The Niagara Movement, which established civil rights for African Americans. The Niagara Movement would soon be followed by the NAACP
Talbert died in 1923 in Forest Lawn, Buffalo and is buried in the cemetery of the same name.
What I find so interesting about this monument is that she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2005 and until then, she only had a headstone at her grave. I think monuments are extremely important and I took this as a sign of oppression in the African Community because she did so much and, while her work was recognized and she had several buildings named after her, she didn’t have a monument like her non-black counterparts.
According to my research, a group of high school students had petitioned to have her monument erected and I think it’s extremely important because she was a high school teacher. I’m glad that women are getting their due respect more and more but jeez…it feels like “better late than never” isn’t enough for this kind of stuff. We talk about men who do great things and we erect monuments and name colleges after them and they receive this fanfare, but it honestly made me sad to read about all the good that she has done and it took so long for her to be recognized.
0 notes
Text
Seeing Double: Venus and Serena Williams: Tennis Warrior Gamechangers
1. Do you think the film was appropriately titled? If not, what title would you suggest?
I loved the title of the film. The King looks after his kingdom and I felt that Richard did just that. Through some tough decisions, and maybe to his detriment, he made sure his ‘heirs’ were well taken care of as they became adults.
2. Comment on the sisterhood of Venus and Serena as depicted in the film. Does it gibe with their public personas as you perceived them over the years? How have they changed the notion of 'sisterhood' and competition in the sports landscape?
One of the most beautiful moments was, at the end of the film, Venus grabbed Serena’s hand and had her sign autographs with her. I think that their connection is unbeatable and they have continued to support each other through their careers today.
Something really special is the focus that was on Venus, where today, I feel that many keep their eyes on Serena.
3. When did you first become aware of the Williams sisters? What was your reaction when they first arrived on the tennis circuit? How did it impact you personally?
I knew them at a young age. My father was one who highlighted people of color who were crushing it in their perspective industries and encouraged my sister and I to do the same when we found something that we really loved. I remember watching them on tv and thinking that it was so special because it was unusual…black women who were at the top of their game in the time that they were coming up wasn’t a thing and they normalized it in their industry. It impacted me in a really positive way because I saw that it was done…so why couldn’t I do it?
4. How did the Williams sisters disrupt global tennis? Why does it matter?
Tennis was considered an upper crust sport, so two women of color who don’t come from a wealthy background and are as good as they are really opened up the eyes of the spectator. I LOVED seeing Venus come out with her beads because she wasn’t willing to morph into what others thought she should be. She stood true and wore her heritage proudly.
5. Would you consider Venus and Serena to be 'warrior girl icons'? Explain why, and provide examples from the film.
Absolutely. The way they trained was unbelievable. I loved the scene where they were training in the rain. As a person of color, I frequently feel like I have to work twice as hard to get to where my non black cohort gets to easily. Another great moment is at the end where Vicario tries to get inside of Venus’s head. I think it’s a great example of her being a great icon because, while she ended up losing the match, she was composed and trusted in her ability.
6. Do you think it significant that they were both named after goddesses? Discuss how they stepped into a reinvention of Greek and Roman mythology. Does the film address this adequately?
The film definitely depicts this accurately. I would say, especially for Venus that people fell in love with her instantly and as her gift strengthened, so did her reach. I also think it’s important to note what they have done for people of color and them finding their own self love.
6. How is their mother represented in the film? Is she given equal status to the father? Thoughts on this depiction?
What I thought was so spectacular about their mother is the balance she brings to the family. She not only reminds Venus and Serena that they are loved and respected equally, but she also keeps Richard’s feet on the ground. A particular moment I thought was great was her telling Richard “never dive off on my kids again” after they watched the movie. She respects him as a husband and visionary, but she is a mother and that protective instinct is alive inside of her and her first priority is to protect.
8. What role has Serena played in raising awareness of maternal health issues specific to women of color?
An even bigger display of Serena being an icon is her Elle essay discussing her history with blood clots.
She notes that “black people are nearly three times more likely to die during or after childbirth than those who are white.”
What broke my heart is her feeling that she needed to push through her pain. She was so aware of her higher calling that she put her own feelings aside in order to show up for those who admired her.
She also recalls feeling as if she wasn’t being heard by medical professionals around her and how their negligence resulted in a more severe recovery time. “I know those statistics would be different if the medical establishment listened to every Black woman’s experience.”
0 notes
Text
WEEK TWO: Gen Z Abortion Rights Activist Schools the World
A good week to all! This has been some incredible content and I really got fired up while diving deeper.
1. What is Roe v. Wade and when was it passed? Why is it important?
Roe v. Wade was passed on Jan 22, 1973 and is a legal decision that solidifies a woman’s right to have an abortion. Because of the 14th Amendment, it also supports a woman’s right to privacy should an abortion take place. Having this overturned by the Supreme court this year is an absolute disaster and sets us back so many years. It’s important for women to have the right to choose to do what they want with their bodies because pregnancies happen for a myriad of reasons and, in many situations, have significant medical complications.
2. What is the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution? Which US Congressperson recently publicly revealed her ignorance about this amendment? What are your thoughts about this?
On August 18th, 1920, in the height of women’s suffrage, the 19th Amendment was added to the Constitution. The Amendment grants women the right to vote. While a monumental moment, this came with some red tape as there were still restrictions placed on women of color. It wouldn’t be until 1965 that all women would be able to vote.
Lauren Boebert is…in a word…polarizing? I think that if you’re entering a field, especially politics, that you should know what you’re talking about. I’ve taken a deeper look into her speeches and it’s a lot of noise. I also think if this happens publicly, she should, as a public servant, own up to it and carry on.
3. Are you registered to vote? (For U.S. Citizens) If not, please register as soon as possible here: TurboVote (Links to an external site.)
Yes I am :)
4. Visit Olivia Julianna on Twitter (Links to an external site.) or TikTok (Links to an external site.). Choose a Twitter thread or TikTok video to upload for messaging effectiveness. Explain why you chose it. Does her work inspire you to take action? How? (1-2 paragraphs)
What I like a lot about her work is that not only is she knowledgeable, but she delivers her message in a very engaging way. I scoured Tiktok (for the first time in my life) and chose this video because she lays out the information in a punchy way, if that makes sense. It does inspire me to get more involved and I'm more inclined to use Tiktok to find more videos like this. She hits important points, such as gas prices and inflation and she lets her viewers know the different cracks in the political system.
5. Who has the nickname #RapeyMcForehead and why? Do you think it's justified or an example of negative polarization? (1-2 sentences) - Matt Gaetz and I absolutely think it's justified. Hearing that he sought a preemptive pardon as well...he's gross.
6. EXPLORE THE GUTTMACHER INTERACTIVE MAP (Links to an external site.): What are your thoughts on the restictive abortion laws recently passed in Idaho, South Dakota, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi? Will this backfire in the 2022 mid-term elections? Choose one state and summarize their abortion rights or protections. It's okay to edit from Guttmacher's text. (1-2 paragraphs)
I chose Utah for this exercise. Utah has banned abortion at 18 weeks and after. For minors, parental consent is required and the circumstance in which one can use private health insurance is very restricted. Patients are also required to have an in-person counseling session within 72 hours of having the abortion.
I think the restrictive laws are insane and put women on display for what should be a very personal and private decision. I think those who wanted to make waves and create chaos will realize that this country is stronger and will withstand any of that nonsense.
0 notes
Text
Hey there!
Hi All,
My name is Jay Marlow and I am really excited to be a part of this class. I am in my final semester here at TNS and seeing the “light at the end of the tunnel” is really exciting! But the learning never ends, right? I have been in NYC since 2009 and graduated from AMDA in 2010. I worked as an actor for many years but have made the transition to Human Resources and have been in that field ever since. Fun fact about me is that I am actually moving to Buffalo NY at the end of the month! So things are a little nuts!
There are a few innovators that really inspire me and the first is Gloria Steinem. Steinem was one of the pioneers of the second wave of feminism. Her many speeches pointed out the inequality women were facing at home and in the workplace and she emphasized that without women, this country would not be in the place that we are in today. One of my favorite speeches of hers is Living the Revolution and she notes: “We survived Nazi concentration camps better, are protected against heart attacks by our female hormones, are less subject to many diseases, withstand surgery better, and are so much more durable at every stage of life that nature conceives 20 to 50 percent more males just to keep the balance going.” This quote runs through my mind and, while there is progress, it’s appalling that women STILL have not been given their due space in society.
Another inspirational female figure is…and I know that some may come at me about this…Meghan Markle. Say what you want about her but she has changed and continues to change history AND doing it world wide. She has changed the way that people view The Royal Family and although she has faced constant criticism, racist remarks and death threats, she sees the greater good and stands for what is right. As I write this, The Queen’s health is on the decline and there was a headline that read “Meghan to not join Harry at The Queen’s bedside.” This is really interesting to me because the news will do anything to make her out to be the bad person in this scenario. The British press spends more time talking about what she does NOT do, rather than the massive change she has made for the good.
2 notes
·
View notes