Imagine breathing in a cloud that feels harmless, smells like candy or other different flavors, and is marketed to be a “safe”  alternative for smoking… yet all the while it’s delivering loads of chemicals directly into your lungs. This is the reality that millions of young adults and teens face. Products like vapes constantly reshape your respiratory health in ways that science is only scraping the surface of understanding. Different resources now link vapes to lung inflammation, reduce lung function and lung disease; moreover, conditions once seen in mainly older smokers are now seen in some parent’s own children.  

The rise of vaping among teens in the United States has become one of the fastest growing public health concerns. What was once marketed as a safe alternative for cigarettes is now under increasing scrutiny as doctors, researchers, and schools report serious health risks tied to the popular devices. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), youth vaping and e - cigarettes remain the most commonly used tobacco product among young people. In 2024, about 1.63 million middle and high school students in the U.S. reported using e-cigarettes, showing that despite recent declines in percentages of teens vaping, the issue is still known to be widespread (CDC). Health experts say one of the biggest dangers is nicotine addiction. Most vape products contain nicotine, a substance that can affect the brain development within a teen. Researchers explain that nicotine can impact the attention span, learning, mood, and impulsive control of a person – these are areas of the brain that are still developing during adolescence. 

The Growing Health Concerns:

Doctors across the country are seeing more and more teens with breathing problems, asthma flare ups, and chronic cough linked to vaping. Some short term effects include throat irritation and reduced lung function. More serious concerns include long term lung damage and increased risk of chronic respiratory disease. 

According to medical experts cited by Loma Linda University Health, vaping can lead to the following:

• Anxiety and mental health issues 

• Chronic lung inflammation 

• Increased heart and neurological risks 

• Impaired lung development

While the simple, traditional cigarettes contain more toxins and chemicals, vaping still exposes users to harmful substances that can damage the lungs over time. A growing body of research suggests that teens who vape are more than likely to start traditional cigarette smoking later in their life, due to addiction factors. A large review of studies show strong links between vaping and future tobacco use along with respiratory and mental health issues. 

Why Teens are Drawn to Vaping:

Experts say that the popularity of vaping among young teens and children is not uncommon nor accidental. Bright packaging, sweet flavors, and social media marketing have made the products more appealing. In fact, flavored products are nearly used by 88% of teens who vape, according to federal health data (Fletcher). 

The U.S. Surgeon General has also warned that nicotine produces a quick dopamine release in the brain, which creates feelings of pleasure and makes addiction more likely. Researchers from Stanford Medicine say teens are biologically more vulnerable to addiction than adults, making early nicotine exposure especially dangerous. 

Recent surveys show that vaping among youth has declined slightly within the past year, but experts warn the problem is far from solved. Federal data found that youth vaping dropped from 7.7% in 2023, to 5.9% in 2024 (NYTS).  However, researchers explain that those who continue vaping are using it more frequently. A 2025 study found that daily vaping among teens increased from a rough estimate of 15% in 2020, to nearly 29% in 2024 (Masonbrink). More than half of daily users also reported unsuccessful attempts to stop vaping. 

Schools across the country are stepping up education programs, counseling, and awareness campaigns. Many educators believe that honest conversations and real stories are more effective than simple warnings. Some communities are also striving to work with healthcare professionals to provide resources and support for teens that are trying to quit vaping. Public health campaigns now focus on prevention, reducing peer pressure, and mental health.  Experts emphasize that parents, teachers, and peers all play an important role in that prevention. Awareness, they say, could be the key to mitigating long-term harm.

While vaping may seem harmless, doctors and researchers  find constant issues and negative effects from it. The long term effects are still unknown, but early research points to serious consequences. Health officials warn that today’s teen vaping trend could lead to future waves of lung disease and addiction. For many young people, the message is becoming more and more clear; what seems like a safe alternative, may carry hidden dangers. As research continues, experts urge teens to think critically, ask a lot of questions, and understand the risk before taking that breath. 

Works Cited

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “E-Cigarette Use among Youth.” Smoking and 

Tobacco Use, CDC, 17 Oct. 2024, www.cdc.gov/tobacco/e-cigarettes/youth.html.

“E-Cigarettes, Vaping & Lung Health - Pulmonary & Respiratory Care | Loma Linda University Health.” Lluh.org, 2018, lluh.org/services/pulmonary-critical-care/e-cigarettes-vaping-lung-health.

Fletcher, Lisa, et al. “Vape Products Target Kids with Flashy Tech and Flavors. Why Hasn’t the Government Shut It Down?” Baltimore Sun, 12 Oct. 2024, www.baltimoresun.com/2024/10/12/vape-products-target-kids/. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.

Masonbrink, Abbey R., et al. “Trends in Daily Nicotine Vaping and Unsuccessful Quit Attempts in Youths.” JAMA Network Open, vol. 8, no. 11, 3 Nov. 2025, p. e2541061, jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2840812, https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.41061.

NYTS. “Results from the Annual National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS).” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2025, www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/youth-and-tobacco/results-annual-national-youth-tobacco-survey-nyts.

The death of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson (1941–2026) marks the loss of one of the last leadership figures still closely tied to the Civil Rights Movement (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2019). Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson’s life reflected much of the Black American experience in the twentieth century. He grew up in the Jim Crow South, attended the University of Illinois before transferring to North Carolina A&T State University, and later worked alongside Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as the movement expanded its focus beyond segregation in the South to broader struggles against racial and economic inequality across the country (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2019; Glaude, 2026).

Jackson’s importance goes beyond his role as an activist. He helped shape political and intellectual debates in the decades after the Civil Rights Movement. Historian Keisha N. Blain notes that Jackson used a mix of strategies, including economic pressure campaigns and public protest, to improve conditions for Black Americans and other working-class communities (Glaude, 2026). His support for the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment Act showed how deeply he was influenced by the lessons of the 1960s, especially King’s Poor People’s Campaign, which pushed for economic justice as a central goal (Glaude, 2026). Beyond these legislative and economic efforts, Jackson also focused on empowering the individual through cultural symbols and affirmations like his "I Am Somebody" mantra, which he famously recited with children on Sesame Street in 1972. The poem reinforces that despite poverty, youth, or social standing, everyone deserves respect and possesses inherent value (Globedale, 2019).

His presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 brought ideas of economic and racial justice into national politics (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2019). They reflected Bayard Rustin’s call for the movement to shift from protest into political power. Jackson’s campaigns built a broad coalition of voters that included labor groups, civil rights activists, and emerging movements such as LGBTQ advocates (Glaude, 2026). At the same time, his runs exposed growing divisions within the Democratic Party between more moderate leaders and a progressive wing rooted in earlier social movements (Glaude, 2026). Jackson also stood out for his positions on global issues, including his support for Palestinian rights and his backing of sanctions against apartheid South Africa (Glaude, 2026). 

His connection to historically Black colleges and universities is another important part of his story. Scholars such as Jarvis McInnis, Crystal Sanders, and Jelani Favors have shown how HBCUs helped shape generations of activists and thinkers. Jackson, as a graduate of North Carolina A&T, was part of that tradition and carried its influence into his national work (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2019). Much of Jackson’s impact came through the organizations he built. He first gained national attention as the head of Operation Breadbasket in Chicago, a program started by King to push for economic justice (Rainbow PUSH Coalition, n.d.). In 1971, Jackson founded Operation PUSH, which focused on improving economic opportunities in Black communities. The organization used boycotts, negotiations, and education programs to push companies to hire more Black workers and support Black-owned businesses. It also worked to support young people through initiatives like PUSH Excel, which encouraged students to stay in school and prepare for jobs (Rainbow PUSH Coalition, n.d.).

After his 1984 presidential campaign, Jackson revived the National Rainbow Coalition, previously led by Fred Hampton, to bring together a wide range of groups fighting for social and economic equality. The coalition pushed for voting rights, stronger social programs, and more investment in underserved communities, especially in response to the policies of the Reagan administration (Rainbow PUSH Coalition, n.d.). In 1996, the Rainbow Coalition merged with Operation PUSH to form the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which continues to focus on civil rights, economic opportunity, and global justice.

Jackson’s passing is also a reminder that many leaders of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements are no longer with us (Glaude, 2026). As their voices fade, the responsibility of preserving their stories becomes more urgent. Historians, journalists, teachers, and everyday people all play a role in keeping that history alive. At a time when the teaching of history, especially Black history, is often debated, telling the full story of figures like Jesse Jackson matters even more. His legacy is complex and will continue to be discussed, but his impact on American politics and social movements is clear. His life offers a way to better understand the ongoing struggle for justice and equality in the United States.

References

Brief History. (n.d.). Rainbow PUSH Coalition. https://www.rainbowpush.org/brief-history 

Gobledale, A. (2019, May 5). I am…Somebody — Jesse Jackson, Chicago, Illinois USA | Worship Words. Worship Words | Creative and Refreshing Liturgy for Today’s Church. https://worshipwords.co.uk/i-am-somebody-jesse-jackson-chicago-illinois-usa/ 

II, R. G. (2026, February 18). Remembering Rev. Jesse Jackson - AAIHS. AAIHS - African American Intellectual History Society. https://www.aaihs.org/remembering-rev-jesse-jackson/ 

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2019). Jesse Jackson | Biography, Accomplishments, & Facts. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jesse-Jackson 

The “Fallen Angel”, my favorite painting for numerous reasons. The character depicted is Lucifer, a fallen angel who disobeyed and rebelled against God  (Maksimova). In religious and popular culture, Lucifer is associated with Satan and the Devil, often referred to as a demon (Maksimova). Lucifer was the highest archangel and God’s most beautiful creation, such circumstances made him question his own powers and his place in the angelic hierarchy (Maksimova). He wanted to be equal to God, in turn, committing blasphemy: forever cast out of Heaven and imprisoned in Hell (Maksimova). Alexander Cabanel, the artist, decided to depict the very moment when Lucifer had fallen from Heaven; he is someone who  just lost everything, and who has gone from being God's favorite to a rejected archangel banished to Hell (Maksimova). The “Fallen Angel” is one of my favorite pieces of art as it depicts anger, pride and rejection. It’s “very sad and beautiful. It’s a painting one never forgets. And maybe we are all a bit like fallen angels, lost and alone, wanting to be loved” (Medeiros). 

Art in Politics

Art is formed through cultural experiences; “it is a way to connect with others and provoke thought and emotion” (Miroslavo). Art is the music we love, the colors we see, the morals we have. Art comes in many forms, writing, painting, singing, fashion, theater, even math. Art can be found in everything, on the side of buildings, played in a restaurant, worn on your face, humanity even. Humans are works of art sculpted, though still flawed. Meaning, art will affect politics. “Art can contribute to political discourse by supporting the current political and ideological views. However, more often than not, art is a disruptive form, that serves as a tool for changing existing political and social realities” (Didenko).

Street artist Banksy is famous for his politically-charged art pieces. It deals with a variety of topics including war, migration, and other forms of inequality (Didenko). His activism reached its peak in 2015 when he went to Gaza; there he created several murals to raise awareness about the still ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, followed by a series of artworks in the vicinity of Calais in France depicting the ongoing migrant crisis (Didenko). Depicted on the right is a piece Banksy made in London comenting on the genocide (Dendrinos). 

Art can support, and even create certain political alternatives to the status quo; art inspires and empowers people to become change-makers in their surroundings (Didenko). Okay, I get it, you like art. So what? What’s the point in any of this? Well, art can also negatively affect politics, while positive change is always possible, negative change is just as effective. 

Political Propaganda

Art can be used to make the wealthy seem invincible, the poor seem insignificant, and the government as obsolete. Throughout history, art has been used to diminish others, from racial stereotypes to the justification of mass genocide. “By stirring an individual’s imagination and emotions whether it is for better or worse, figures in power who create campaigns of propaganda imagery can drive a population towards their end wants” (Norwich University). Propaganda can be described as thoughts, ideas, allegations or facts, spread to further one’s cause or with the intention of causing damage to an opposing cause (Norwich University). Propaganda involves any medium that strikes an illicit emotional reaction to one’s thoughts or views; a form of biased communication that is expressed through forms of art that do not always depict one set of thoughts in a clear way (Norwich University). Propaganda is a way to stir the emotions of a populace and drive a one-sided opinion (Norwich University). Historically, art has fueled hatred from Nazi propaganda, made to have patriotism to a harmful extent; to war time propaganda permitted by the U.S. (“Propaganda and the American Public”). The picture above depicts Hitler as fearless and powerful, fueling fear into the hearts of many to change the view from him being nearly a man to a god (Stauber).

Politics in Art

Activist Art has harnessed artistic creativity to move its audience to bring about social change (Smith). It's art on a mission to make a difference to public life, with artists working to generate pieces that address political or social issues (Smith). Opposition to the Vietnam War lit a creative fire in many: Peter Saul, Norman Carlberg, and Nancy Spero; producing artworks that raised awareness and called for responsibility. Ai Weiwei’s art, as seen on the left, used his art to critique the Chinese government’s stance on democracy and human rights (Smith). In the 20th century, many witnessed incredible social and political change; with the art of the time having reflected political realities (Smith). Artists critiqued war and consumerism, advocated for social justice, and called for equality; raising awareness of these themes, art in the 20th century has shaped public opinion and mobilized support for political causes (Smith). “In a time of great change, art’s versatility in expressing ideas and political themes represents the power of the image and has helped us gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between art and power” (Smith). 

Artful Inspiration

Art has inspired revolutions to begin bringing upon new ages of thinking. “The Guernica is a painting by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso that was completed in 1937” (Talley). The painting, being 11 feet tall and 25.6 feet wide, “depicts the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica by Nazi Germany during the Spanish Civil War” (Talley). This painting is widely regarded as one of the most important works of art in the 20th century; it helped to raise awareness of the horrors of the Civil War and served as an anti-war statement (Talley). “Art requires open hearts and open minds. Art requires brutal honesty and transparency. Art asks us to see ourselves and our neighbors from a new perspective. Art causes people to think and feel in new ways” (Sipher).

Current Art that “Happens” to be Political

As stated previously, art will be political, all aspects of life are political, especially in this day in age. So where are these forms of art today? I took some pictures of the art I saw around me in my daily life. I'd like to ask you to reflect on finding some yourself. 

Diversity                                        

As stated previously, art also has to do with humanity. In the picture below you can see the students Mia Regojo Vazquez (on the left) and Olivia Probst (on the right). Mia is an immigrant from Cuba. Immigrants have a political impact in the U.S., especially in the 21st century. Our current president, Donald Trump, campaigned on and won re-election with immigration as a top issue (Bush-Joseph). The president has kept it at center stage in the first year of his second term; his administrations advanced sweeping changes to immigration policy, unprecedented in their breadth and reach (Bush-Joseph).

“These changes have made the United States more hostile to unauthorized immigrants while also altering how the government treats immigration and immigrants of all legal statuses and the communities in which they live. The impacts on individuals, families, workplaces, and the nation’s overall economic outlook and global standing will be felt for years ahead” (Bush-Joseph). In just a picture alone, there is so much to unfold. Nothing is simply just there, it’s something bigger and represents both the past and the present. 

In the picture to the right,  you can see a student at Brown, Aniya Hughes. She is a Black woman who expresses herself through different forms of fashion; that is political. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s-70s, it was defined not only by protests, legislation, and powerful rhetoric, but also by cultural expression that reshaped identity (Saleh 1). Fashion is a powerful political tool, tracing its evolution from the polished Sunday Best to the Afro and militant style of the Black Panther Party (Saleh 1). “By examining respectability politics, the rise of the ‘Black is Beautiful’ movement, and the Black Panthers’ visual Strategies, . . . clothing and style reflected shifting approaches to resistance” (Saleh 1). Black Americans have used fashion to challenge Eurocentric standards, reclaim heritage and express pride, leaving a legacy of empowerment that continues to influence social movements (Saleh 1).

Food Abundance

The concept of food being accessible to everyone has canonically been a foreign concept to humanity. While bakers and chefs hone their craft, practicing their artistic skills in presentation and preparation; it is still a political act to have food so easily at hand. Many people in the U.S., primarily the wealthy, believe that if you're a citizen in America, it’s your fault you're not fed.  However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. When people go hungry in the United States, it's because of policies that legislators are choosing and practices that politicians are putting into place to keep people hungry (“The Politics of Hunger : It’s Been a Minute”). “When it comes to means-tested programs like SNAP, the design of the program is to only restrict it to low-income folks so they can be cordoned off and stigmatized as folks who aren't doing what they're supposed to do. This has a long history in the U.S. And, you know, part of this also gets conflated with racial stigma, unsurprisingly” (“The Politics of Hunger : It’s Been a Minute”). The welfare state in the U.S. has always been shaped by race and racism with the original welfare programs in the New Deal during the 1930s, excluding Black Americans by categories of workers (“The Politics of Hunger : It’s Been a Minute”). “Domestic workers and agricultural workers were excluded from Social Security. In the 1960s, you have the Civil Rights Movement. Part of what people were fighting for were full economic rights, including welfare benefits. So you have incredible movements like the National Welfare Rights Organization, which was led by Black women, who were fighting for the right to get welfare benefits”  (“The Politics of Hunger : It’s Been a Minute”). 

Music

Michael Jackson, arguably the most famous person in modern history, has made many pieces of music; one of his most famous being “Billie Jean”, a song about women Micheal’s brothers have been plagued with over the years (“Michael Jackson – Billie Jean”). “I could never understand how these girls could say they were carrying someone’s child when it wasn’t true” (“Michael Jackson – Billie Jean”). Yet even through all of his fame, many disregarded his best music. His influence today proves him to be one of the greatest creators of all time, but Jackson's art, like that of many Black artists, still doesn't get the full respect it deserves (Vogel). Historically the dismissal of Black artists (and Black styles) as somehow lacking substance, depth and import is as old as America (Vogel). A common criticism of spirituals, of jazz in the '20s and '30s, of R&B in the '50s and '60s, of funk and disco in the '70s, and of hip-hop in the '80s, '90s and still today (Vogel). “The cultural gatekeepers not only failed to initially recognize the legitimacy of these new musical styles and forms, they also tended to overlook or reduce the achievements of the African-American men and women who pioneered them. The King of Jazz, for white critics, wasn't Louis Armstrong, it was Paul Whiteman; the King of Swing wasn't Duke Ellington, it was Benny Goodman; the King of Rock wasn't Chuck Berry or Little Richard, it was Elvis Presley” (Vogel). Michael Jackson is one of the greatest examples of racism affecting even the wealthy. The racist history America has is one of the most political examples; to be Black is inherently political as America has failed in properly applying their promise of freedom. 

Art that is Purposely Political 

Stated before, art often takes inspiration from the political world around it. Many don’t recognize the instances as they are not as politically aware of the things around them. I’d like you to think more about how politically active you are, it’s important. Many around you are directly affected by the current policies being put in place; last year I and the other millions of Americans, lost their medicaid due to the “Big Beautiful Bill” (By the Numbers: Harmful Republican Megabill Will Take Health Coverage Away from Millions of People and Raise Families’ Costs). The bill was anything but beautiful; it caused widespread harm by making massive cuts to Medicaid, Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace coverage, and SNAP; raising costs on families and making it harder for Americans to afford the high cost of groceries and health care (By the Numbers: Harmful Republican Megabill Will Take Health Coverage Away from Millions of People and Raise Families’ Costs).

Protests

The picture on the right is of me, holding a homemade sign for the Anti-ICE protest that happened February 6th, at Brown. My sign was purposely political, highlighting the historical repetition we are currently seeing with this new administration. I used art to my advantage.  History is not just repeating itself, it is accelerating (Perez-Jordan). The thing Nazi’s, Maga, ICE, and the KKK have in common is the concept of a superior race. “White extremists are committing a growing proportion of U.S. political violence   . . . In 2020, such groups were linked to 13% of all U.S. extremist-related demonstrations and acts of political violence, or 57 of the events ACLED tracked. By 2024, they accounted for nearly 80%, or 154 events” (Roston and Urquhart). “We cannot allow our government to recycle the injustices of the past under new names and policies. We must organize, resist, and demand a country that protects all families, regardless of where they were born” (Perez-Jordan). 

Music, a form of protest against injustice. The picture on the left is of the artist KIRBY, and her album “Miss Black America”; my personal favorite (“Spotify – Web Player”). “An ambitious concept album, KIRBY describes it as a record ‘about growing up in Mississippi and understanding how the fight of your ancestors, the love of your family, the blood on the land and the joy of the Sunday choir shaped how you see the world” (Mehr). Her album was made to comment on the racism in Mississippi and its effects on her and her heritage. “Throughout history, music has been an integral component of Black Americans’ ability to overcome their oppression. The Civil Rights Movement was no exception; in the absence of social and political freedom, African Americans expressed their grievances and disseminated the purpose of their movement through music” (Donaldson). Music has and continues to be shaped by the political world around the artists. 

Television

The Boondocks, as seen on the right, is a T.V. show depicting political commentary about being Black Americans. “Lookin' at the White girl, that's a foul. Speakin' to the White girl, that's a technical foul. Touchin' the White girl... oh-ho-ho-ho-ho... that's a lynchin'!” (“The Boondocks Quotes”). Commentary on the lynchings in America, typically acted upon for minimal reason, many for just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. They also have commentary on internal racism and how it harms others, “You heard me. . . , [Black people] can't fight. They don't possess the strength of character or the mental quickness to be a great fighter. That's why all the best fighters in the world have always been White men. Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Sly-vester Stallone, and don't forget Ralph Macchio! Name me one great, Black, heavyweight fighter. Name one, go ahead, try, name one. See there? Ya can't do it. . . . oh you wanna pull Ali out . . . ? That what you thinkin' 'bout? Muhammad Ali? Well, if that [guy] so tough, then why he didn't go to Vietnam? I'll tell you why. 'Cause he was scared, that's why” (“The Boondocks Quotes”). This was spoken by the character Uncle Ruckus, seen on the left. “Uncle Ruckus is the epitome of the self-hating, self-deprecating Black man” (“A Character Case Study of ‘the Boondocks’: Uncle Ruckus”). The character consistently trashes the mere existence of everything that is Blackness or even related to it; simultaneously exalting everything that White people stand for, believe in, speak and do (“A Character Case Study of ‘the Boondocks’: Uncle Ruckus”). This is political; in commenting on the effect slavery has on Black people is relevant. So many Black Americans self deprecate purely because they're Black; believing that it is the worst thing to be in the world. How America has treated and continues to treat Black people is systemic, systems were put in place to continue this reality. “Obi-Wan Kenobi once said ‘your eyes can deceive you, don’t trust them.’ It seems to be getting harder. Distinguishing reality from the illusions people make for us, or the ones we make for ourselves. I don’t know, maybe that’s part of the plan, to make me think I’m crazy…it’s working” (“Huey Freeman Quotes-Author of Who Shot Nick Ivie?”).

So in the end, what is Art?

“Enslaved people created art through music, dance, and the embellishment of their few personal items. Prisoners of war likewise found ways to create art through their ingenuity and creative resourcefulness. Citizens of communist nations continued to share their perspectives through art in non-government-sanctioned ways” (Sipher). Art is seen all throughout history, around the globe; from an attic with art that touched the hearts of billions, to a painting you gave to your mom. In a world so full of strife, conflict, and opposition on personal, systemic, and global levels, hope can sometimes be hard to find (Sipher). And while “propaganda has been a tool for the powerful to convince and push the less powerful towards a purpose,” it does not have to be (Norwich University). Art has been called into action in times of great hardship. During the “sinking of the Titanic when the musicians ‘played on’ or in more recent times, during the first days of COVID-19, when videos surfaced of Italian citizens singing on their balconies in unison during quarantine” (Sipher). Art is beautiful and harmful and most importantly, political. “Art has the power to move people and evoke emotions that words can never do justice to. Whether we are looking at a painting, admiring a sculpture, or listening to an opera, art makes us feel alive in ways we thought were unimaginable. But what is more astonishing is that art truly has the potential to shape our world” (Talley). We need art that makes us question the world around us (Didenko).

Works Cited

“A Character Case Study of ‘the Boondocks’: Uncle Ruckus.” Joshua Lawrence Lazard, 16 July 2010, uppitynegronetwork.com/2010/07/16/a-character-case-study-of-the-boondocks-uncle-ruckus/.

Bush-Joseph, Kathleen. “Unleashing Power in New Ways: Immigration in the First Year of Trump 2.0.” Migrationpolicy.org, 9 Jan. 2026, www.migrationpolicy.org/article/trump-2-immigration-1st-year.

“By the Numbers: Harmful Republican Megabill Will Take Health Coverage Away from Millions of People and Raise Families’ Costs | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 20 June 2025, www.cbpp.org/research/health/by-the-numbers-harmful-republican-megabill-will-take-health-coverage-away-from.

Dendrinos, Tanya. “Banksy Makes Gaza Statement in London.” ABC Listen, 9 Sept. 2025, www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/pm/banksy-makes-gaza-statement-in-london/105755146.

Donaldson, Julia. “A Soundtrack for Success: How Music Fueled the American Civil Rights Movement.” The Nonviolence Project, 25 Oct. 2025, thenonviolenceproject.wisc.edu/2025/10/25/a-soundtrack-for-success-how-music-fueled-the-american-civil-rights-movement/.

Fuchs, Eric. “The Boondocks Returns!” Blogspot.com, 2026, bluehighwind.blogspot.com/2010/05/boondocks-returns.html. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.

“Huey Freeman Quotes (Author of Who Shot Nick Ivie?).” Goodreads.com, 2025, www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/560399.Huey_Freeman.

Inna Didenko. “How Art and Politics Influence and Shape Each Other.” LEVEL, 23 Feb. 2021, different-level.com/how-art-and-politics-influence-and-shape-each-other/.

Maksimova, Alina. “Fallen Angel by Alexandre Cabanel: The Story behind the Provocative Painting • Art de Vivre.” Artdevivre.com, 27 June 2023, artdevivre.com/articles/fallen-angel-by-alexandre-cabanel-the-story-behind-the-provocative-painting/.

Medeiros, Julian de. “The Fallen Angel.” Substack.com, Julian de Medeiros, 13 Aug. 2024, julianphilosophy.substack.com/p/the-fallen-angel.

Mehr, Bob. “Why KIRBY Chose to Embrace Mississippi Roots When Making New Album, ‘Miss Black America.’” The Commercial Appeal, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 21 Aug. 2025, www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/music/2025/08/21/new-music-kirby-miss-black-america/84351808007/.

“Michael Jackson – Billie Jean.” Genius.com, genius.com/Michael-jackson-billie-jean-lyrics.

Miroslavo. “What Is Art and What It Means to Me? — Miroslavo®.” Miroslavo.com,

2020, www.miroslavo.com/what-is-art-and-what-it-means-to-me/.

Norwich University. “History of American Propaganda Posters: American Social Issues through Propaganda | Norwich University - Online.” Online.norwich.edu, Norwich University, 2024, online.norwich.edu/online/about/resource-library/history-american-propaganda-posters-american-social-issues-through-propaganda.

Perez-Jordan, Carmen. “History Is Repeating Itself—We Can’t Let It.” The Gathering for Justice, 2024, www.gatheringforjustice.org/history-is-repeating-itself.

“Propaganda and the American Public.” Perspectives.ushmm.org, perspectives.ushmm.org/collection/propaganda-and-the-american-public.

Roston, Aram, and Jim Urquhart. “American Nazis: The Aryan Freedom Network Is Riding High in Trump Era.” Reuters, 8 Aug. 2025, www.reuters.com/investigations/american-nazis-aryan-freedom-network-is-riding-high-trump-era-2025-08-08/.

Saleh, Ava. THE POLITICS of STYLE: HOW BLACK FASHION REDEFINED IDENTITY in the CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT (1950S-1970S). Digital Commons, 2025, digitalcommons.wayne.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=rushton#:~:text=While%20activism%20was%20at%20the,and%20form%20a%20new%20identity.

Sipher, Catherine. “How to Use Art as a Defiant Act of Revolution.” Blossom Piano Studio, 30 Nov. 2023, www.blossompianostudio.com/post/how-to-use-art-as-a-defiant-act-of-revolution.

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Stauber, K. “Creating a Demigod: Nazi Art, Adolf Hitler, and the Cult of Personality.” Arsof-History.org, 2020, arsof-history.org/articles/v4n2_creating_a_demigod_page_1.html.

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History

Women have been objectified and oversexualized throughout history. Allusions to sexual topics are found in everyday material. As an example, Carl’s Jr advertisement from the 2000s portrays two women, barely clothed, using sexual mannerisms while eating a burger. This strategy has been used by multiple companies in order to sell more products. Another example includes a Calvin Klein ad featuring Brooke Shields who was 15 at the time, dressed in jeans and a top exposing her torso, Brooke Shields was placed in a sexual position, asking the audience, “You want to know what comes between me and my jeans? Nothing.” The idea that “sex sells” is used throughout every industry, including children's media. Though the issue of sexualization is more common with women, it has been widespread to everyone. Sexual innuendos in media create unrealistic expectations and stereotypes that harm youth.

Current Issue: Video games

Despite that 20-30% of all video game players are children, 83% of Gen Alpha play weekly contrary to 60% of adults playing weekly, and 76-85% of children play video games in total. However, there are multiple kids who sneak their way past video game restrictions that statistics don’t count for. A popular video game advertised for ages 13 and up, Marvel Rivals, has faced backlash from many disturbed players and parents. Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play third person shooter, where you can choose your favorite characters and superheroes from the Marvel universe. While this may sound like a fun way to play with friends, the character design is the rooted issue. Male superheroes and marvel characters like Deadpool, Loki, The Winter Soldier, etc, are portrayed as huge, muscular, and have an odd emphasis on their crotch. The female characters have hourglass figures, unrealistically small waists, emphasis on their chests and thighs, and most often, little clothing. The clothing they do have, is almost always very form fitting. This game is filled with characters that little kids look up to, and they are being depicted in a way that fills the minds of little kids with unrealistic expectations of what they are supposed to look like. Along with the fact that putting attention to inappropriate areas on these fictional characters' bodies is unnecessary in a kids game. 

Another video game that is prominent is the topic of oversexualized characters is Tomb Raider. Tomb Raider is an action adventure game franchise that follows the adventures of Lara Croft. Lara Croft's character debuted in 1996 and is designed with a small waist, and large chest. Her looks and flirtatious attitude was and is the most of the main talk about this game and is used for marketing purposes. Throughout many adaptations of this game and her character, developers have more recently focused on her character development rather than her looks; however, her appearance is what most think of when they hear the name Lara Croft. Many people often debate whether she is a “feminist icon or male fantasy” or even if her appearance is just attractive, rather than oversexualized.

Current Issue: Children’s Shows and Movies 

This issue is widespread over all of children's media, including movies and tv shows. The first example that comes to mind is the Pixar mom. Pixar is a well known and loved animation studio that has produced many childhood favorites like Toy Story, Cars, and The Incredibles. People on social media have identified a common factor within Pixar films, and that is the figure of all the moms and/or mother figures. In almost every Pixar movie that has a mother character, they are built with pronounced hips and fuller thighs. This is a common occurrence in Pixar that once noticed, you can’t unsee. The most popular example is Helen Parr, aka, Mrs. Incredible, who has the super power of elasticity. Another example is Aunt Cassie from Big Hero 6, who has the same stereotyped build of a smaller waist and fuller thighs. The media have taken these characters, especially Mrs. Incredible and Aunt Cassie, and have edited them with less clothes and have made the only conversation about these characters their body. 

Another issue in animated media is the adult jokes hidden in these movies and tv shows. Spongebob Squarepants is a childhood staple. This show often wins “best animated show” on the Kids Choice Awards. The show has run for over 25 years, and has hidden sexual innuendos throughout all 16 seasons and 6 movies. For example, in the episode “Gary Take a Bath,” Spongebob holds up a bar of soap, winks, and says “Don’t drop ‘em,” making a reference to the “don’t drop the soap” prison scenario. In another episode “Your Shoe’s Untied,” Spongebob is seen watching a squirming sea anemone, insinuated to be inappropriate, intensely, then Gary walks in and Spongebob changes the episode in a panic and claims he was searching for the sports channel. These jokes are found through the entirety of this show, and many others.

Why it is a Problem

Most animated media is intended for children, with the exception of animations advertised for adults and often appear on channels for adults like Adult Swim. These oversexualized characters and innuendos are what children are watching every day. These are the expectations that children think they have to live up to because it’s what they see their favorite character doing on tv. These expectations and suggestiveness have not only flooded media for kids entertainment, but media that stars kids in the creation of that “entertainment.” Specifically, popular competition reality shows such as Dance Moms, have little girls wearing inappropriate and uncomfortable clothing and have disturbed many parents. Movies like Cuties on Netflix, feature a group of girls in a hip-hop dance group. The issue is their outfits are suggestive and the choreography is too showy for 11 year-old girls. Another example would be most coming-of-age tv shows that cast grown adults as high schoolers. In Riverdale, the character Betty Cooper who is known to be 17, performs a strip-tease dedicated to her boyfriend in a room full of grown adults in a club. Oversexualization is found in the media and in reality, and seems to have a target on children. Sexual innuendos or anything of the sort, has no place in children's media. Children’s media, do better.

‘Baby soft skin’, ‘Botox in a Bottle’, ‘Anti-aging serums’. All things advertised in a simple search for beauty products. But why? What’s the harm in aging? Who decided that the beauty standard for women 一 emaciated, wrinkle-free and child sized, should be this way?

The beauty industry is such a rapidly changing and heavily monetized industry that has historically done more harm than good. From promoting unrealistic ideas of what a body should like, to erasing or overpricing products made for women who aren’t white. But it’s not just this–our whole society has decided that the only way to be beautiful is to look like a child. In a study done by a researcher at Northern Iowa University, “Overall, higher levels of ambivalent sexism did significantly correlate with a few trait ratings of Erin. The qualitative results showed that over half of the participants reported using “girl” and less than a third reported using “woman” as their main term for adult females” (Huot 3). Even women, the ones who are actively harmed by these terms, continue to use them subconsciously. Because this is all they know. All the adult figures in their life used these terms to put themselves down because it’s what they were taught. It’s a frustrating cycle, but what is the root cause? There must’ve been something that happened along the way that started the infantilization of women, and there has to be something that’s kept it going all this time.

As the Epstein Files have been slowly released, it becomes clear that he had a hand in lots of beauty products. He had thousands of dollars invested in botox, he was in contact with people who create and manufacture beauty products, and other brands that are popular and purchased by millions of people around the world. For example, Peter Thomas Roth, creator of many widely known and popular skincare products, was found to be in close cohorts with Epstein and continued to be friendly with him even after his diagnosis. “In September 2017, Roth allegedly visited Epstein’s home to “explain to all the girls about skin creams, cleansers and such,” according to an email. The same month, Roth sent Epstein 13 gift bags filled with products” (Gulino). All of this information comes from emails between the two of them. It’s no surprise that Epstein’s relation to beauty has something to do with the drastic changes to what ‘beautiful’ is.

It’s not just Epstein though, this trend has existed for longer than he’s been prevalent and powerful. As Brittany Luse, host of NPRs “It’s Been a Minute”, says: “And this is something across the fashion industry more broadly, when you look at some of the biggest models of all time - right? - like Naomi Campbell or Kate Moss, if we're thinking about '90s supermodels or even someone like Karlie Kloss. In today's world, I mean, these are people who got their start basically when they were middle school or early high school age” (Luse, 5) These models started out as children, and grown women, who are in a completely different developmental phase of their lives, are expected to look to children and believe that’s what they should look like, and if they don’t, then there's something wrong with them. This is what makes the propaganda these companies feed us effective, the beauty and selfcare industry doesn’t just prey on children, but on grown women too. It’s a disgusting unchanging cycle, and it feels at times like we will never escape. But there are ways to shift your mindset. Despite all the external pressures, you are the one who can truly control what you believe. You can change the narrative, stop buying from brands that use infantilizing language, correct your friends and family if they act or say something that actively diminishes a woman in any way, and understand that it’s your choice. It’s okay to enjoy childish things and wish that things would be simpler, as long as that’s not the only thing you do. Take back some of your identity, and make sure that you stand up for what’s important to you and know who you are. Only then can this system start to change.

Revolutions “promise to be powerful engines of moral progress, allowing a community to abolish an oppressive social order and providing the opportunity to institute a better one” (Buchanan). “Political revolutions are transformative moments marked by profound, rapid change in the political order achieved through the use of force rather than through consensus or legal process” (Buchanan). Revolutions are morally questioned as well as powerful engines of moral progress, allowing a community to abolish an oppressive order to bring a better one, it still inflicts violence (Buchanan). Yet, sometimes that’s all people have, a thirst for blood in the pursuit of justice.

The United States is Falling

Recently the U.S. government, specifically the Department of Justice, has decided to release the Epstein Files. Thousands of documents related to the sex trafficking ring by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell (“What Are the Epstein Files?  | Britannica”). Yet they are not the only accomplices. The Epstein Files, especially the most recent documents, showed ties to our government directly: the CIA, Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Howard Lutnick, Sergey Brin, Elon Musk, and many, many more (Marcelo). It is important to note that, approximately, only 2% of the Epstein Files have been released (Rascius). We have depictions of mass child sex trafficking, human sacrifices, and cannibalism in not just the U.S. government, but globally, under the public's noses. Still, this is only what they are allowing us to see; it’s not everything. As a result, I have begun looking at revolutions of the past, partly due to my previous unit in AP World History, covering revolutions. Honestly, Americans (the general public) have grown soft regarding what they allow from our government; we need to take notes of the ways humanity has not allowed an oppressive government, one that disregards the many institutions we uphold. 

Revolutions

“Between 1775 and 1825, revolutions across the Americas and Europe changed the maps and governments of the Atlantic world” (Purinton). Within 50 years, the European empires in the Americas would shrink and new nations would spread across the whole of the Americas (Purinton). Revolutionaries were inspired by the ideals of the Enlightenment including individual freedom; they also rejected the authority of distant aristocratic rulers (Purinton). “Revolutionary leaders established new countries that only sometimes lived up to promises of democratic rule. The American War of Independence, the French Revolution, the Haitian Revolution, and the many revolutions of Latin America were connected through networks of ideas, trade, and global events that rocked the world over a few dramatic decades” (Purinton).

The French Revolution 1789-1799

Depicted in the picture on the first page, the French revolution consisted of the working class revolting against the wealthy. “France in the late 18th century was in dire need of reform; the royals, the hereditary elites and the Catholic church had a stranglehold on economic and social power, and most of the people were fed up” (Richard). Towards the end of the 18th century, France’s involvement in our revolution (the American Revolution), alongside the extravagant spending by the King of the time (King Louis XVI) led France on the brink of bankruptcy (HISTORY.com Editors). Additionally, years of poor harvests, drought, cattle disease and increased bread prices led to kindled unrest among the urban poor (HISTORY.com Editors). With many of the poor expressing their resentment toward the regiment, yet failing to provide any relief through rioting, looting, and striking (HISTORY.com Editors). But many nobles were upset from high taxes, as previously the poor were the ones who had to grieve over such injustice, not the rich (HISTORY.com Editors). 

“So what did the citizens do?” They revolted. Frenzied killing that just went on and on, called the Reign of Terror (Richard). Seeing more than 40,000 people put to death (Richard). Including: King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Georges-Jacques Danton and Maximillien Robespierre (Richard). With Danton and Robespierre being among the most vociferous in sending opponents, or anybody considered ideologically impure, to the guillotine (Richard). The Reign of Terror, while bringing an end to Louis XVI's corrupt reign, still ended the lives of many innocent people. Many lost their heads when the blade fell in the Place de la Révolution, including non-corrupt priests, nuns and Christians who died because of the previous leader's example of “Christianity”, often seen today (Richard).

The French Revolution, a short yet impactful revolt. In France, for a long time, only a small slice of the population enjoyed a decent, if not comfortable life (“Consequences of the French Revolution”). The Revolution upended all that had been before, though a bloody, violent time, costing many lives; remaining one of the most horrific periods in human history, still resulted in change (“Consequences of the French Revolution”). Though such change was short-lasted, “In August 1795, France's National Assembly drafted and approved a governing document. This constitution established a representative government, complete with a two-chamber (bicameral) legislature. Thus, they laid the foundations of effective government, but the infighting hardly slowed down” (“Consequences of the French Revolution”). For four years this fledgling government tried to manage corruption along with a sluggish economy, and social unrest; Royalists and radicals alike continued trying to seize power (“Consequences of the French Revolution”). 

Napoleon Bonaparte, taking advantage of this turmoil, overthrew the French’s new government proclaiming himself the head of state, later emperor (“Consequences of the French Revolution”). “His armies nearly conquered all of Europe. Everywhere the French went, they ended feudalism, promoted equal rights and religious tolerance, and modernized government administrations. But, as liberating as that sounds, Napoleon also enforced French values and authority with an iron fist” (Purinton). 

“So what do we take away from this event?” We use the citizens' wrongdoings as an example of what not to do: the mass killings of many innocent people, and many, if not all, not allowed a trial; the lack of establishing a strong government or community; and resorting to mass violence. What we can take away is that action does create movement.

The Haitian Revolution 1791-1804

Many have written that the Haitian Revolution was inspired by the French Revolution’s Declaration of the Rights Man, the ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity; yet the Haitian revolutionaries were far more inspired by events that seemed to directly relate to what they wanted to do, which was end slavery, rather than the idea of overthrowing the monarchy in France (DeVaull-Robichaud). “Prior to its independence, Haiti was a French colony known as St. Domingue. St. Domingue’s slave-based sugar and coffee industries had been fast-growing and successful, and by the 1760s it had become the most profitable colony in the Americas. With the economic growth, however, came increasing exploitation of the African slaves who made up the overwhelming majority of the population” (Office of the Historian). The slaves rose up in protest against poor working conditions in St. Domingue  (“Estimated Death Toll in Haitian Revolution| Statista”). Starting as a rebellion but soon escalating and becoming a revolution  (“Estimated Death Toll in Haitian Revolution| Statista”).

The Haitian Revolution had a total death toll of approximately 345 thousand; the majority of these deaths were among the former slaves (“Estimated Death Toll in Haitian Revolution| Statista”). 200,000 were slaves, 75,000 were French soldiers, 45,000 were British Soldiers, and 25,000 were White Colonists (“Estimated Death Toll in Haitian Revolution| Statista”). The high death toll is not only a result of conflict, but also disease including severe yellow fever and smallpox epidemics, with widespread massacres on both sides (“Estimated Death Toll in Haitian Revolution| Statista”). “As a result of the revolution, St. Domingue's slaves won their freedom; establishing Haiti as just the second independent nation in the Americas, and the only nation in history to have been founded by former slaves” (“Estimated Death Toll in Haitian Revolution| Statista”).

The Haitian Revolution was one of the few successful revolutions, one made from slaves discontent of being treated as something other than human. What we can take away from this is that when humans are stressed to their end, tired of being treated as though they are not worthy of love, they will rise against those oppressing them. 

What Can Americans Do?

These revolutions showed communities want to be represented and freed, yet not all actions permitted will advance. The revolution that really had an impact was Haiti’s revolution, however, that does not mean other revolutions were in vain. The French Revolution told many monarchs that they are outnumbered, they may win this time but justice will come. Slavery, to such a mass degree, was abolished but is still ultimately practiced today, often in secret. The wealthy still rule and people of color do not have the same rights as the White man. Yet, it is much better today than it has been and that leads to a hope towards a more positive future to look towards. 

In a video Matthew Kaufmann recommended me to watch, it told of how non-violent revolutions worked better, throughout history, than violent resistance (Chenoweth). It brought the question of why we, Americans, are so prone to violence as the answer (Chenoweth). It’s rooted throughout the entire system of course, but it may be on par with separating those of the same power, the working class. Ultimately, the world has two classes, the ruling class (the wealthy) and the working class (those that work in order to live). Such relevance is important to realize as many think that we are close to being with those in power, to be close to the billionaires, in actuality, it’s impossible to reach such heights in a lifetime. Billionaires hold their wealth through decades, sometimes centuries, of generational wealth, being passed down in order to hoard the wealth to maintain power. In the video it brings the idea of what it would take to have a non-violent revolution, it’s surprising (Chenoweth). A society would need only a minimum of 3.5% of the population to rise against those in power, that's 12 million people in the U.S., less than the state of California (Chenoweth). In order to have a definite shift in power we would need 5% of the population, 17.45 million (Chenoweth). Doesn’t sound too hard? In actuality the ruling class is fully aware of such data. 

The ruling class pushes the working class against one another to extents of self destruction. Racism, sexism, the two party system in of itself. The tension between the Republican party and the Democrat party is futile and ill thought. The people of the two parties (the representatives) both want the same thing, the desensitization of the public to continue the ruling class’ perseverance. Democrat and Republican citizens are ultimately being used by the wealthy to continue their growth, rather than the establishment of a true, just society. Take the Epstein Files (described in the beginning) why are the government systems in America not holding such people accountable? “A variety of public figures in the U.S. have incurred professional and reputational consequences as a result of socializing with Epstein after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution with a minor. So far, however, none of these people have been credibly accused of any criminal wrongdoing or being aware of Epstein’s subsequent child sex trafficking” (Ankush Khardori). The ultimate “conclusion” one finds is that there isn't “enough evidence” even though the Epstein Files speaks of Donald Trump, and many other political figures, in a participant light. Is this not the circumstances of prosecution? Yet, as I've stated, the wealthy rule the world and it will stay that way until citizens of their respective countries revolt. 

Works Cited

Ankush Khardori. “Why DOJ Hasn’t Charged Anyone Else from the Epstein Files.” POLITICO, Politico, 11 Mar. 2026, www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/03/11/epstein-files-justice-department-no-prosecutions-column-00821127.

Betts, Jennifer. “French Revolution Timeline: Simple Overview of Major Events.” Www.yourdictionary.com, 18 June 2021, www.yourdictionary.com/articles/french-revolution-timeline-overview.

Buchanan, Allen. “Revolution (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy).” Stanford.edu, 21 Aug. 2017, plato.stanford.edu/entries/revolution/.

Chenoweth, Erica. “The Success of Nonviolent Civil Resistance: Erica Chenoweth at TEDxBoulder.” YouTube, 4 Nov. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJSehRlU34w.

“Consequences of the French Revolution.” Superprof.com, We Love Prof - Superprof Blog, 2025, www.superprof.com/blog/french-revolution-consequences/.

DeVaull-Robichaud, Natalie. “Illuminating Haitian Revolutionary Ideas.” Yale.edu, 4 June 2024, fas.yale.edu/news-announcements/news/illuminating-haitian-revolutionary-ideas.

“Estimated Death Toll in Haitian Revolution| Statista.” Statista, 2025, www.statista.com/statistics/1069645/estimated-death-toll-haitian-revolution-by-race/?srsltid=AfmBOopWr04X6P_OaHw-g0_zLwfcLHkOnxCmtD96aMsJa7RhZd2MA9WY. Accessed 4 May 2026.

HISTORY.com Editors. “French Revolution: Timeline, Causes & Dates | HISTORY.” HISTORY, 9 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/articles/french-revolution.

Marcelo, Phillip. “A List of Powerful Men Named in the Epstein Files, from Elon Musk to Former Prince Andrew.” PBS News, Feb. 2026, www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/a-list-of-powerful-men-named-in-the-epstein-files-from-elon-musk-to-former-prince-andrew.

Office of the Historian. “The United States and the Haitian Revolution, 1791–1804.” State.gov, United States Department of State, 2019, history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800/haitian-rev.

Purinton, Malcolm F. “The Atlantic Revolutions.” Https://Www.oerproject.com/, OER Project, 4 June 2024, www.oerproject.com/OER-Materials/OER-Media/HTML-Articles/Origins/Unit7/The-Atlantic-Revolutions.

Rascius, Brendan. “Despite Flagging Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe Trump DOJ Released Just 2% of Epstein Files: Study Claims.” The Independent, 16 Feb. 2026, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/epstein-files-released-trump-percent-b2921206.html. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.

Richard. “The Bloodbath That Was the French Revolution - Richard Pennington.” Richard Pennington, 9 Feb. 2022, richardpennington.com/2022/02/09/the-bloodbath-that-was-the-french-revolution/. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

“What Are the Epstein Files? | Britannica.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 2025, www.britannica.com/question/What-are-the-Epstein-files.