From Animation to Live Action

Written, Directed and Produced by Taylor Donald

February 28, 2019

To Love The Hate You Give

By Taeyon Neal

February 28, 2019

As of the 2018-19 school year, PSM consists of mainly African American students. Although it isn’t very diverse in terms of “color,” students share a variety of cultures and lifestyles. The majority of the students are friends with people who come from a completely different background and set of standards, yet, they embrace each other’s values and are attempting to make the world a better place of peace and harmony.

“I just invite them to my culture and ask them to invite me to their culture. It’s ‘mi casa su casa’ in a sense because we may have a lot in common. The key is to respect every part of it, even if you don’t necessarily agree with it,” said freshman Zaria Primer.

When talking to others about your culture, it’s like letting a person into your home because you let them into a world of your pride and what you have the utmost respect for.

Zaria resides in a western suburb containing a huge amount of people who are racially and ethnically diverse. Some of those people are of Australian, Norwegian, and Malagasy descent.

She has many interactions with her friends of different backgrounds and both parties have had to respect each other’s opinions and cultures. This is also the case for Starr Carter in the novel and film The Hate U Give.

“I can't change where I come from or what I've been through, so why should I be ashamed of what makes me me?” said actress Amandla Stenberg, also known as Starr Carter in The Hate U Give.

The Hate U Give is about a 17-year-old African American who is living in two worlds and attempting to learn how to cope with it. Her best friend was shot and killed by a Caucasian police officer. Since she lives in project homes but attends a white school, she has to decide whether or not to tell her story because her family tell her to do so, but her friends and classmates tell her not to.

At the end of the day, the one benefit that Zaria and Starr have in common is they don’t let social/cultural problems stress them. They both acknowledge that it’s a part of every day and that eventually they’re going to have to deal with it.

Senior Samuel Herenton grew up in Memphis, TN, Norfolk, VA, and Chicago under many segregated circumstances and has experienced a lot.

“I've been able to understand the demographics of these cities, learn that these cities are highly segregated, and that the schools were either predominantly black, white, or highly diverse,” said Sam.

At the end of the day, students recognize the problems that could be present if they don’t know or understand how to differentiate between cultures. If they do know, they are willing to accept the criticism and value their integrity like Starr Carter.

“Our talent, discipline and integrity will be our contribution to a new world,” is a phrase in the mission statement stated by PSM students everyday, and it shows that sacrifice is valued in today’s world, as shown in The Hate U Give.

The novel, written by Angie Thomas, is an astoundingly gifted piece of work that goes in-depth about how it is possible for people to handle the balance of living in two cultures. The film, directed by George Tillman Jr., is a beautiful display that gives a direct output on how “living the best of both worlds” can be a common understatement.

Black Panther: Movie Review

By Nasira Muhammad

May 8, 2018

“A jolt of a movie, Black Panther creates wonder with great flair and feeling partly through something Hollywood rarely dreams of anymore: myth.” - Manohla Dargis of The New York Times

Black Panther was originally written by Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole, and Jack Kirby. This movie became the first to be shown in Saudi Arabia in 35 years. It’s an adaptation of a comic written and designed by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1966. The main characters are T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), Shuri (Letitia Wright), Okoye (Danai Gurira), Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o).

Black Panther is an action movie that takes place in modern day society. It’s about a young king named T’Challa who is adjusting to his new role as king of an isolated, technologically advanced nation in Africa. His claim to the throne was challenged by an outsider named Erik Killmonger, who is his cousin. Killmonger seems to have a deep hatred for T’Challa because of a feud between their parents.

The movie was directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige and David Grant, who were given a 200 million dollar budget to produce this heavily waited on movie. Prior to the 2018 production of this critically acclaimed movie,Wesley Snipes proposed to do this movie in 1992. However, it never came about. Some would say that this was a good thing because it wouldn’t have come out in the best way due to the lack of special effects in the early 90’s. In four days of release, the movie grossed over 242.1 million dollars, making it the second movie to have sold that much. This is the biggest movie debut with an African American director. Presently it has collected 1.2 billion dollars and is still gaining money as it plays in theaters. It has surpassed Titanic and Avatar in ticket sales.

Black Panther is a defining moment for Black Americans because it was originally written with the intent for black readers to have someone in comics to identify with. “Black Panther,” is steeped very specifically and purposefully in its blackness. It’s the first time in a very long time that we’re seeing a film with centered black people. These characters are rulers of a kingdom, inventors and creators of advanced technology. We’re not dealing with black pain and black suffering, and black poverty,” said Jamie Broadnax, founder of Black Girl Nerds .

This movie helps black people see that we aren’t only stereotyped and have stigmas placed on us by TV shows and movies, but that we are royalty, and we can create and design something great. For centuries, black people have wanted to find or produce something of their own with respect to movies. Black Panther gives them the courage and example to look up to. After children watch Black Panther, they can go up to a poster and say “Hey, which character do you want to be?” They don’t have to feel insecure or think that they won't be a superhero because the character they are trying to be actually looks like them.

Overall this movie is amazing to the point that I saw it twice in two weeks. The only thing I don't like is how the movie portrayed Killmonger, a young black man from America and the struggles he went through living without a father, because that's the usual stereotype blacks have to carry around. Killmonger also had a very deep message about the struggles of African Americans across the nation dealing with “colonizers,” which I felt got lost because of his destructiveness. Even if it was for a good reason, he didn't have the proper plan. Black Panther truly has more pros than cons, and it really makes me have more pride in my community and our creativeness as a people.

Movie Review: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

By Matthew Bozeman

March 2, 2018

For those who love nostalgia or are interested in a story about being transported to another world, JUMANJI: Welcome to the Jungle is the movie for you. The movie is a new spin on the classic Jumanji film that came out in 1995 and starred Robin Williams. To understand the new film, it’s important to know the plot of the original.

In the 1995 Jumanji, a game board is found by a young boy named Alan Parrish who decides to play it with his friend. Creatures from the game are released with every turn of the game, and as such, his friend is scared out of her wits and leaves while Alan is sucked into the game board of Jumanji. Years later, after Alan is presumed dead and his home has been abandoned, a new family moves in and the children, following the sound of drums, find Jumanji and decide to play it. This releases an adult Alan along with a hunter out to get him. The four complete the game and all is returned to normal.

In JUMANJI: Welcome to the Jungle, four high school students, Spencer (Alex Wolf ), Fridge (Ser'Darius Blain), Martha (Morgan Turner), and Bethany (Madison Iseman ) get detention. While there, they find a video game version of Jumanji, and the game begins.

Our four students find the system and pick the characters they want to be in the game. There are five playable characters: Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), Professor Sheldon "Shelly" Oberon (Jack Black), Franklin "Mouse" Finbar (Kevin Hart), Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan), and Jefferson "Seaplane" McDonough (Nick Jonas). After the four students pick their characters, they are transported into the game where they find they must survive and save Jumanji to leave.

This is, of course, where the meat of the movie happens with all the cliches and tropes of a video game and after school special. The first cliches we are introduced to are the stats of characters that show their strengths and weaknesses along with the three lives concept. These cliches are used sometimes for comedic relief as the characters that host the students contradict who they really are and other times to help those characters develop to be more like their avatars. Maybe because I play video games myself, I can understand why some of the more unlikely and random scenes happen. Even with these idiosyncrasies, the film teaches lessons like trust, teamwork, confidence, and sacrifice while still being funny.

The cast was selected beautifully with some in roles that the audience usually see them in, but by also giving them new roles we could never picture them in. There were some changes to characters from the previous film such as the antagonist’s look, though homage was still paid to the orginal with a treehouse with the name of the original protagonist carved into it.

One issue I saw with the movie was how some scenes surpassed video games in absurdity. In one scene the group was attacked by a single mosquito, but when has there only been a single mosquito, especially in a jungle? Also, how can cake be used as a weapon?

Also, some problems were just solved by the end of the movie, but the story gave no context as to how these problems were reconciled. If you didn’t see the first movie, the end may leave you with more questions than answers.

All in all, the CGI was good, there was a Wilhelm scream, which is always a plus, and the story was easy to follow. I recommend the movie because it’s very funny and it has some lessons that can be learned.

Best Album of the Year is...

By Nasira Muhammad

March 2, 2018

The Grammy awards hooked their audience with their nominated albums of the year. They are not the usual Beyonce or Adele albums that are nominated year after year, but they had a good mix of music genres. There were two hip-hop albums, an alternative R&B album and an indie album. All of these have had an impact on the music industry, making them a big deal.

The four artists nominated were Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z,and Lorde. Even before the awards ceremony, I believed that 24K Magic by Bruno Mars was most likely to win album of the year out of those nominated because of the way he brought back old school R&B and made it new. With this new sound, he captured the masses and won album of the year along with five other Grammys.

Bruno Mars has been nominated for 27 Grammys and won 11 awards so far in his very short career in the industry. He made his first appearance at the 53rd Grammy awards in 2011, which was a huge deal, performing a medley of his own hit "Grenade" with rapper B.o.B. and singer Janelle Monaé.

Bruno Mars fell in love with music at a very young age when he started entertaining at his father's club. He has written and co-written for many Grammy winning artists including CeeLo Green (“Forget You”), Jay-Z & Kanye West, Snoop Dogg (“Young Wild Free”), Brandy, and Melanie Fiona (“Johnny”). Bruno’s first break out song was “Grenade” and was a huge hit on the billboard charts and debut album.

"It's just all love. That's what music is. That's why music was created. To make people feel good, to uplift people," said Bruno Mars. (accredited by grammy.com)

24K Magic is the third studio album by Bruno Mars, released November 18, 2016. His album is a mix of R&B with jazzy funk and pop. This album is distinct for his old school style, inspired by the biggest 80’s and 90’s songs. This had a big impact because no one else was bringing back the old sound. He set the tone for the new era of singers coming in. 24K Magic has 9 songs in total and each one stands out on it’s own because of it’s old school influences. His album starts off with “24K Magic,” then “Chunky,” “Perm,” “That’s what I like,” “Versace on the Floor,” “Straight Up & Down,” “Calling All My Lovelies,” and “Finesse.”

The lead song on the album and first single from the album has an amazing collection of sounds. It stands out from all the songs he has ever written, but you can see the connection to the old 80’s funk that captivated the air waves of that era. You can see the slight inspiration from the great Zapp & Roger who were one of the biggest artists surrounded by electro-funk. If you listen to “More Bounce to the Ounce” by Zapp you can see the little notes of comparison, even though it not a dead ringer.

The second song on this album is called “Chunky.” It has a slow-and-easy strut, based on the sweet set and gently popping bass. It gets you up and ready to dance, which connects directly to the pop-funk that the 80’s era was completely about. It takes you directly to the sound of Cameo with a mixture of the Gap Band. They were big front runners for the soul influenced funk era in the 80s.

“Music is not math. It's science. You keep mixing the stuff up until it blows up on you, or it becomes this incredible potion,” said Bruno Mars. (brainy quotes)

Marshall: Movie Review

By: Nasira C. Muhammad

December 13, 2017

With amazing memories of learning about Thurgood Marshall, we finally get a movie that shows and revisits his early cases. Marshall is an adaptation of Thurgood Marshall's early life, long before he became the first African American supreme court justice. This movie centers around one of his most defining cases (Spell vs. State of Connecticut) . The main characters are Marshall (Chadwick Boseman) and his partner, Sam Friedman (Josh Gad).

Marshall is a drama that takes place in 1941 conservative Connecticut before Thurgood tried Brown vs. The Board of Education. He was in the NAACP and was sent down to Connecticut to help a black man, accused of attempted murder and the rape of a wealthy socialite named Eleanor Strubing (Kate Hudson). The man accused was her chauffeur, Joseph Spell (Sterling K. Brown).

In the movie, they had to take factual liberty, meaning they had to make up most of the dialogue. This is because what was going on in the courtroom wasn’t documented. The Director, Reginald Hudlin, did a good job of creating a script using information from newspaper articles and other sources.

Hudlin created this movie because he wanted to bring Thurgood to the forefront. He believes that Thurgood Marshall is the most underrated hero in American history. Thurgood challenged the idea that all people in America were created and seen as equals under the eyes of the law.

When children see the movie they want to become lawyers because young Thurgood has a lot of swagger and confidence. You see him have a lot of fun, but also be the smartest person in a room. This movie teaches that you can make a difference and be educated, but still be young and alive and crack jokes.

I recommend this movie because Boseman became a carbon copy of the young Marshall with confidence and a dogged devotion to truth and justice. I think this would connect with a lot of people, no matter the color of their skin. Even though Hudlin is portraying racial tensions in the 40’s, he brings in topics that connect to modern society. For example, the injustice in the judicial system, which you will see through the entire movie. This movie overall was a drama that offers mystery and a gripping storyline with great flashbacks.

Sister Act: Review

By Breanna Bonslater

December 13. 3017

Let’s set the stage.

Imagine groups of people pouring into a theater filling every seat available. Friends and family sit together, brimming with excitement to see people they know on stage. You can hear the whispers of everyone in the theater.

Then the lights go down. The theater becomes so quiet you could hear a pin drop. That silence is immediately cut by the sounds of the actors singing and the roars of laughter spreading throughout the audience.

Sister Act was the number one topic of discussion as the date for the show neared. From the makeup crew, to the cast, to the audience, everyone swelled with excitement for the show.

Just a few days before the show, cast and crew members shared their anticipation for the long awaited show.

“I think a lot of people are getting more excited that it’s getting closer, and a lot of people are excited to go and see the musical,” said Mia Williams, Set and Makeup Crew Member .

“I’m just excited to perform for everyone- just being on stage, putting the show on, and getting to act, sing, dance in front of the audience,” said Cast Member Richard Harrison.

After seeing the show, I can say that it lived up to all we thought it would be. If you didn’t make it to the November 10th or 11th shows, then you definitely missed one the best musical put on by Providence St. Mel.

The costumes, the casting, the props, the acting, the lighting- everything was professional grade. I’d never seen such a beautiful performance from PSM, and I have seen every musical since Godspell (PSM’s 2012 musical production), another truly masterful performance by PSM.

“Sister Act was filled with comedy, and I loved it. I am always honored to be in the PSM musicals because I feel like it prepares me for my future career, which is to be on Broadway,” said Richard.

After many months of hard work, the cast and crew were able to see the fruits of their labors.

“This musical was much more comical. It really got the audience up and going and laughing. Every part of it was so good,” said Mia.

The energy poured off the stage right into the audience. You could feel the anticipation, the joy, and the excitement of everyone in the theater.

“The musical was very relatable to today’s society compared to other plays that took place years back. The main characters were hilarious and kept me laughing every minute. I was actually upset when the acts ended,” said audience member Brianna Pickett.

Many people said they loved the musical because of its relatability. This play also has a movie adaptation that many people are familiar with.

“I’m a Sister Act aficionado, so I was excited to hear that Providence St. Mel was putting on the show. I was a little skeptical that their production wouldn’t be as good as the movie, but they did a really good job,” said parent and audience member Shunda Smith.

All in all, this was a wonderful production by PSM. Every year PSM puts on a dazzling show. No two musicals have looked the same. After such a wonderful production, it seems that everyone is even more excited to see what PSM will put on next year.

Uniform Bedazzle in the Castle

By Sharp M. Barnes

November 9, 2017

Chanel was once the girl who roamed the school halls blending in with her peers. She wore the same traditional khaki pants and white shirt to school on a daily basis. She didn’t know how to express her unique sense of style through her plain uniform until she met Dior. She immediately noticed how much he stood out from others regarding his style and confidence. Even though Dior was a male, he was able to help Chanel with her uniform aesthetic by giving her trendy tips. Ever since her first encounter with Dior, she’s been able to flaunt her style, appreciating the dress code simultaneously.

Don’t we all want a friend like Dior? Luckily for you, this article can get your life together like Dior did for Chanel. At Providence St. Mel, it can be a struggle trying to express your personality, since we are all in uniform. High schoolers are given more freedom with their attire. To be more expressive, statement pieces can be added to show one’s creativity. Statement pieces are eye-catching items that represent who you are. For instance, a bright red tie or hair bow makes you instantly chic and unique from your peers. Those who suffer from a lack of confidence may find expressing themselves with their uniform helpful.

“You can add jewelry - specifically necklaces, earrings, rings,and headbands. You can also add a cute blazer or sweater,” said senior Nasira C. Muhammad.

Accessorizing is all about being creative and having fun. Using statement pieces can quickly turn your bland uniform into something fabulous. The simpler the accessories, the better. You don’t want to wear too many trendy items at once, because then the look seems forced. Your accessories should be complementary to your outfit and not distracting.

“I always wear hairstyles that have volume and personality. I love braids, twists and big, curly hair. Lastly, I completely adore lipstick, and I wear it everyday to look good for myself,” said senior Karinton Triplett.

The uniform goes beyond just the apparel; it also involves grooming. Your hairstyle is a clear representation of who you are here at school, so choose your styles wisely, keeping in mind that it should be combed neatly.

“I incorporate my personality into my uniform by wearing very vibrant socks, and PSM athletic-themed gear, such as my track jacket and track sweater,” said Karinton.

Gentlemen in our school often overlook their options when it comes to adding accessories. Caring about your appearance as a young man is something to be proud of. For those who want to look more professional, a watch and a tie/bow adds a nice touch. For those into athletics, wearing some school sportswear is appropriate.

“We can design our hair a bit more freely now that we can get a part in our hair. We can also now wear necklaces and chains,” said senior Benjamin Dobbins.

Though many argue that uniforms will always be restricting, they are more convenient and decrease the risk of bullying.

“Having a uniform helps others with time because they don’t have to spend time trying to figure out what they are going to wear for school, and they can spend that time either sleeping or doing homework,” said Nasira.

These small additions may not make you feel completely free, but they do allow some expression of creativity. Who knows, maybe like Chanel, your confidence will boost a bit when you try to add creative pieces to your uniform.

“Caring about your school attire is important because people will always return to the impression they first had with you as a basis for everything you stand for and then some,” said Benjamin.

'Hidden Figures' Review

By Nakeya Harris-Rosenthall

April 24, 2017

Hidden Figures was written to publicly give recognition to three forgotten and unheard of trailblazers in the African American community. The film was directed by Theodore Melfi, starring Taraji P. Henson as Katherine Johnson, Octavia Spencer as Dorothy Vaughn, and Janelle Monae as Mary Jackson.

This film is based on a true story about three African American women who contributed to NASA’s launching of the first American on the moon. The film is a history lesson in itself. “Human Computers” were more reliable than technology, and America and Russia were butting heads. This is where some of the most important women of NASA came into play.

Katherine Johnson’s story discloses a woman looking for nothing more than credit for the work that she’d invested into a system that was as rightfully hers as it was any caucasian man’s.

The film emphasizes the impact segregation had during this time. Several scenes consist of Katherine Johnson running a half a mile across Langley's Research Center to go to the “colored restroom”in heels.

Two of Ms. Johnson’s best friends, who also struggled due to the color of their skin, patiently waited for their turn to make a mark in history and opportunities to work in their favor.

“Every time we (black people) get ahead, they (white people) move the finish line.” This quote, said by Mary Jackson expresses one of the most prevalent themes in the film.

These women didn’t dwell on the racism at NASA because, to them, it was a minor detail in comparison to the bigger picture.

“I was only doing my job,” explained Katherine Johnson.

As a reviewer, one critique I had was that Janelle Monae’s bold character seemed out of place considering the time period.

Nonetheless, the movie never had a dull moment. One highlight was when an astronaut refused to be sent into space without Ms. Johnson checking the accuracy of the “numbers” for his landing position. It was unheard of for a white man to put his life in the hands of a black woman.

The African American community, as well as people of all cultures have been impacted by this movie. The public raves about how long it took for this stepping stone to come to light, as expressed in the New York Times. As a reviewer, I felt deprived of my capacity of knowing the extent of my potential.

Henson states that she feels robbed of her history and her opportunity to be something greater; she had no clue how important these women were or who they were before the film.

“I could’ve been anything,” Henson said.

I recommend this film because regardless of ethnicity; it instills a drive to do something out of the norm that will hold relevance centuries from now. This film gives hope to African Americans and courage to women. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re missing out on a relevant history lesson and a rousing movie.

Let's Talk About Hair

By Alea Sewell

April 24, 2017

Kendall, Alea, Krista, Tia, and Sharp show off their hair styles. Photo by Azaria Muhammad.

Do you ever wonder why some girls prefer to wear natural hair, extensions, and/ or braids? All of these hairstyles take a lot of work to maintain. From the bonnets, flexi rods, and edge control to the coconut oils, youtube tutorials, and thousands of moisture bottles, maintaining black hair is a time and money consuming, yet rewarding experience.

Some girls choose to have braids. A braid is taking three strands of synthetic hair and twisting it into your own natural hair. Extensions consist of hair being threaded into your braided hair.

“I wear my natural hair because I love my curl pattern and the different styles I can wear with my natural hair. I always refer to Youtube for DIY's [Do It Yourself] and other things for my natural hair to maintain the moisture and styles,” said sophomore Taylor Donald.

Girls with natural hair face daily challenges with their hair. These challenges are what we enjoy most about wearing these natural styles.

“I started off with some heat damage, but overtime, I trained my hair to go back to its original curl pattern. It was a struggle and still is, but I feel like it's worth it to show girls and myself that wearing your natural hair is okay,” said Taylor.

Braids are another style used frequently across the black community as well. “Braids” is a broad name for the actual style, but when people say braids they can also mean box braids, cornrows, twists, feed in braids, and more.

Braids are a protective style that helps black girls grow their hair out and keeps them from flat ironing or damaging it.

“I wear braids because I like how they look on me. They also grow my hair out, so when I want to wear my natural hair, I'll feel more comfortable doing so,” explained junior Crystal Lily.

Extensions not only promote our beauty even more, but they are our secret to growing our hair out as well. Some people don't know that extensions are actually a protective style that allows us to not put any heat or damage on our hair for a certain amount of time.

“I wear my natural hair, braids, and weave. Black girls have amazing hair. I wear braids from time to time to switch my look up and weave mostly to grow my hair out. Also, I don't like straightening my natural hair because that causes heat damage. Instead, I would get straight weave so my natural hair is protected and my hair that is showing looks fabulous,” explained sophomore Divine Riley.

Some girls wear extensions, natural hair, and/ or braids. Whatever it is, they do it because it makes them comfortable, it makes them confident, and it is what makes them who they are.