Black Lives Matter

By Andrew Candio

Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Sam DuBose, Freddie Gray, Jason Harrison, Laquan McDonald, Eric Courtney Harris, Philando Castles, Amaud Arbery, Charleston 9, and George Floyd. The list is endless as there have been many examples of police brutality within our time and within American history. I list these names because each has a meaning. I list these names because each ended up in a similar fate. I list these names because these are people of color who are subject to racism that is cemented within our country. I list these names because each were gunned down for no reason, but for the color of their skin. It is truly a difficult time within America today as it seems each year is, each day is, for my people. My people of color. My people of strength and of determination are gunned down each day.

As we progress to undo what the forefathers of this country began, it always seems like there is a set back: a loss of progression within the black community which for some garners hope, but for others it brings fear of being black in America. But it sickens me that we are still fighting for equality. It sickens me we are still fighting for the destruction of systematic racism within America. It sickens me that people of color are 2.5 times more likely to be shot than a white person. It sickens that in 2016 alone 233 African Americans were shot and gunned down by police. It sickens me that African-Americans make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, but account for 24 percent of people fatally shot by police. I’m just so tired and sick of these moments when innocent lives are taken for no reason. Why do I have to live in fear questioning and wondering: am I next?

Why do I have to be told and taught how to act when around cops due to the fear of being gunned down? I am sick and tired of being sick and tired because change needs to come and addressing racism and police brutality needs to be one of our concerns, along with mass incarceration and the policies made to bring people of color to literal and figurative imprisonment. Because truthfully Black Lives Matter.

And in recent news, on May 25, George Floyd, a 46 year old man of color, died due to white police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd's neck while he was pinned to the floor and yelled and pleaded that he couldn’t breathe. It all started when a report of a fake twenty dollar bill was made at a Cup Foods when he bought a pack of cigarettes and it was believed that the twenty dollar bill was counterfeit and later said to be real. Mr. Floyd was a regular at Cup Foods and the report was from a teen employee who not only didn’t know him, but was following protocol. Cops were called after it was stated by the teen that he didn’t want to give the cigarettes back. When they arrived, Mr. Floyd was sitting with two other people in a car parked around the corner. After approaching the car, one of the officers, Thomas Lane, pulled out his gun and ordered Mr. Floyd to show his hands. This makes no sense. Why would you pull out a gun on an unarmed civilian who didn’t resist arrest? Once arrested, the officer would begin to tell him the reason for the arrest which was the passing of counterfeit currency. It was then that officers tried to put Mr. Floyd in their squad car and a struggle started. Mr. Chauvin arrived at the scene and pulled Mr. Floyd away from the passenger side, causing him to fall to the ground, the report said. Mr. Floyd laid there, face down, still in handcuffs. Mr. Floyd was restrained by officers, while Mr. Chauvin placed his left knee between his head and neck and while on the floor Mr.Floyd said repeatedly “I can't breathe," pleading for his mother and begging "please, please, please.” For 8 minutes and 46 seconds, Mr. Chauvin kept his knee on Mr. Floyd's neck. All of this was caught on video footage. About an hour after, Mr. Floyd was presumed dead.

When you read this, I hope you realize that black lives matter. It’s not that all lives don’t matter, it’s just that they all won’t until black lives matter. This is something that we’ve been fighting for in America. I want you to research or recall the Harlem riot of 1964, the Watts riot of 1965, Detroit riot of 1967, the Newark riot of 1967 and the Rodney King riot of 1992 otherwise known as the Los Angeles riot of 1992, which resulted in many casualties. These are all started due to police brutality. These are all due to racial injustice in America which still lives on. I am truly sickened by the news and videos of my people getting killed for the color of their skin; that is why when I say black lives matter it truly has meaning. That is why when I say no justice no peace it truly has meaning because within our system officers lack accountability and responsibility for their actions. A man like that should be in jail for life - in fact his whole crew should be because his fellow officers stood by and watched therefore making them guilty by association.

It's just sad that we still have to live through these injustices in addition to quarantine. This is affecting the country tremendously and people feel the need to go out and protest for something that should have already been served (while even breaking social distancing during this time). You can’t enforce the law through violent means. We are told police officers are the ones who are going to protect us but yet kill us for the color of our skin. So how are we supposed to trust a system that seems to kill unarmed people of color each year

I will say though I am not for the looting or the burning of buildings which are occurring in Atlanta and Minneapolis, I feel as if people are using the current state of our country to get what they want as they loot GameStop and Adidas, and I know it’s not all black people who are doing this. In fact, there are several videos which show white people destroying buildings and in the news such as News Break and CNN it is said that undercover cops are burning the buildings too. But I can’t stand for destruction especially of your own town, of your own city, especially in areas of low income. I am sick and I know many are sick of seeing a black king and queen die for no reason.

But change must come. I had the amazing opportunity to be in a protest on June 1st. It is truly an amazing experience being able to fight for what you believe and see many people black, white, Asian, Latinos and others attend and support justice which must be served in America. But, as noted by many, it doesn’t stop here. We must continue to fight and stay strong. Those who are of age must register to vote and make a change not just in the presidency, but the local elections as well. Educate yourselves on the events occurring in our nation and educate yourselves on the criminal justice system where many are essentially slaves working for corporations without any pay because in this next generation change must come for good and racism must end.

As Martin Luther King once said “A riot is the language of the unheard” what is America failing to hear? So I hope this is and eye opener for you, our school and our country that we are far from perfect and that change must come. Through all this darkness, despair and hatred a leader will emerge. So why not you? Please do not stay silent but act accordingly because our voices need to be heard.

Should Major Holidays Excuse Social Distancing Protocols?

By Britney Bennett

The days are getting hotter and like all of us, people are becoming feistier to return to a sense of normalcy. As I’m writing this on Memorial Day, the beginning of barbecue season, more and more people have decided to gather in large groups. But at what cost?

The Covid-19 Pandemic has changed our lifestyle by not only instilling a sense of restlessness but also a sense of fear in people all across the world. From the month of March, where coronavirus cases became more serious, to the end of April where the cases had gone down a significant amount, due to technological advancements, many have called for a gradual process of reopening. These openings have occurred during mid to the end of May but not everyone is obeying the rules.

In California, beaches were maxed out with adults and children wanting to soak up some sun and feel the cool water. Even though this sounds like the ultimate dream, we shouldn’t ignore how quickly the virus did spread.

Let’s take Los Angeles for example. According to the LA times, there was a whopping 17,000 new cases along with hundreds of deaths over the past two weeks. Compared to past months, the number of accumulative cases actually rose during the month of May.

Lake of the Ozarks, a reservoir in Missouri, was shown to have people who did not only invalidate social distancing protocols but did not wear any facial coverings.

In this scenario, someone from this overzealous and overcrowded party actually tested positive for COVID-19. In addition, they went to dine at a restaurant right after. The organizers for the party said that there would be social distancing protocols but from the number of people at close proximity present, that was most likely false. Missouri has issued various restrictions for their stay home order but compared to other states, it’s very minimal.

For the people at this party and other dine-in restaurants in Missouri, this is a sign of trouble. If people disobey even when social distancing guidelines are very fluid, what will occur when there are larger reopenings? How long will it take for states like Missouri to have their population at a consensus on the actions needed to be taken for a decrease in cases because, at this rate, they are not seeing the warning signs.

In other states such as New York, things are slightly different as the Governor, the NYC Mayor, and other local government officials opened beaches, but only allowed beach patrons to be ankle-deep in the water with no swim time.

New York has taken a stand against the coronavirus doing everything it can to slow the virus. But, it doesn’t mean that some restaurants and businesses have tried to open back up. It’s understandable people want to be back in good weather where they would be able to make the best sales. However, reopening in counties who have not abided by the necessary improvements means fines and dangers for citizens.

So what does all of these changes in how people perceive the rules mean for our society? It means that as the weather heats up, people are willing to break protocols for short term gains, such as a day out of the house to enjoy some “fun in the sun” However, the downside is that states will have to re-establish lockdown orders as the number of new cases and deaths will likely begin to spike.

And it’s not like this scenario hasn’t occurred in other countries who are also handling the pandemic, especially in areas who have beaches and outdoor attractions. Many countries have seen the coronavirus come back in places where there were no cases and have been proactive enough at testing and contract tracing large amounts of people at a time. But there are many areas who lack testing sites and funding which if we continue to ignore, we are putting our own needs above the life of another.

If we want to move into Phase 2 and slow down the virus enough until vaccines can properly be distributed to the population, we must keep on maintaining our distance even if we aren’t able to do the same things we used to. Decreasing the effects of the pandemic is a cohort task and when few too many disrespect the efforts taken by our officials, we are essentially reversing our own progress. We can still enjoy major upcoming holidays such as Father’s Day or the Fourth of July without resulting in immensely sized crowds and gatherings. There are alternatives and even if it’s the one-year people might have to break tradition, it is better than someone’s entire family getting sick.

The Disturbing Truth Hidden in Fast Fashion Industries

By Amman Zia

Shirts. Blouses. Jeans. Sweatpants. Handbags. Jewelry. Watches. Shoes. Fashion Industries are known for their bargaining prices with fantastic quality. Fast Fashion, in particular, is defined as clothing manufactured at a high speed, that is eventually sold at low prices. Such examples of fast fashion are H&M, Forever 21, Fashion Nova, etc. Despite the fact that these companies may have good reviews, there is a disturbing truth hidden in most of these corporations. A truth that is a real eye-opener and is appalling.

American companies often employ workers in third world countries to produce such products, and particularly clothing, at a rapid speed. A documentary released in 2015 titled The True Cost exposed the hidden truth within fashion corporations like H&M and Forever 21. This film revealed the harm done to workers and the work climate while producing clothing. Bangladesh and Cambodia are the main countries affected. There are several ways the fast fashion industry mistreats the environment which correlates to Climate Change. The first example given to us, in the film, is pollution. Factories are fueled by oil which also means it releases gases to the air. Eventually, this leads to the greenhouse gas effect which is related to climate change. A second example is the release of pesticides for cotton to grow on. Not only does this affect the climate, but human health as well. Human health encounters with pesticides can lead to numerous syndromes and abnormalities. The release of pesticides is a continuous and paramount issue that should definitely be dealt with. Moreover, another critical way the fashion industry harms the environment is the nonbiodegradable waste. This also releases many chemicals into the air that leads to problems in human health. Thus, the fast fashion industry should become aware of the problems in human and environmental health. Impoverished countries like Bangladesh and Cambodia are encountering human health problems amongst the children living there. It is time to speak up, and raise awareness!

Another question to take into consideration is, how have people tried to help factory workers in the Global South? Well, individuals have tried to help the factory workers, primarily in Bangladesh and Cambodia, in the Global South through the use of new and improved farming technology. For example, a woman in the film whose husband passed away describes how they are continuing to utilize improved, or advanced, farming equipment to reduce the factory workers' problems. They are helping out the factory workers as it is not necessary for them to plow cotton. Additionally, raising awareness on this issue of the human rights abuse factory workers encounter is also something the Global South, and North, are talking about. This is critical.

A second way the Global South is helping factory workers is by not utilizing pesticides and chemicals. The woman who owns the cotton field repeatedly mentioned how her husband passed away because of the use of chemicals in the agricultural industry. The Global South avoids the use of pesticides to help factory workers. We need this kind of energy to help those suffering and who are on the frontlines of producing our clothes.

No men, women, or children should ever experience harm being done to them while working. If it is not tolerated in the United States, why tolerate this kind of act in third world countries? It is time to become aware of this major issue that deserves worldwide attention.

Do You Support AP Exams Being Administered This Year?

PRO

By Malik Hyman

Think about this: you’ve spent all year studying and working your butt off in a particularly hard class, such as AP Calculus or AP Physics, just to be told that because of COVID-19 you can’t receive credit for your hard work. This was a harsh reality for many Advanced Placement students, who supposedly opted in the masses to have online AP exams in 2020.

The goal of the Advanced Placement program is to give students the chance to take on college-level work while still in high school, and earn college credit and placement. This program has continued in classroom settings for over 60 years, and the College Board seemed interested in maintaining this tradition, even if it meant at-home testing. The ability for students to still be able to test was important, as many AP students did not want their dedication and commitment throughout the year to be all for nothing.

With schools being closed all over the country, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the College Board had to figure out a way to administer the AP exams this year, a far different way than they ever have before. Although many people agreed with the decision to continue, many others disagreed with this decision and blamed the College Board for forcing testing on students in an already harsh situation as it is. This is fair judgement, but the College Board did take many measures in order to accommodate students and make sure they had a chance at receiving college credit this year, a major want from AP students all over. They came up with a 45-minute, 1 or 2 question, web-based free response exam. The exam only incorporated content that students were able to cover in class before closures, which made sure that no new material was put on students to learn and study in these unfortunate circumstances. In addition, extensive measures were put in place to prevent cheating and improve the integrity of the exam, which the College Board claims would be accepted for credit at numerous colleges and universities, despite the at-home testing environment. Also, helpful YouTube video review sessions, held by distinguished AP instructors, were provided for students to help prepare for the exams, as well as a plethora of review materials. Even on the test, the College Board had provided students with many opportunities to showcase the knowledge they had gained during the school year. This relates to the inclusion of many parts to one question, which the College Board knew were not all feasible to answer within the time constraints given. Trevor Packer, the director of the Advanced Placement program, had emphasized time and time again that students did not need to answer every part of a particular question to achieve a score of 3, 4, or even a 5. This further assured students that higher scores were still achievable, and that the at-home exams may be a viable replacement to the traditional and more familiar classroom exams.

With this new system, there have also come along problems with submitting exams, which has led to backlash against the organization. Although the College Board asserts that only a select few have had issues submitting, it is still unfair to the students that have worked tirelessly all year, just to be told that they have to retake the exam again at a later date. Despite this, though, the College Board did make efforts to improve the testing experience after reported issues by providing an email backup submission. It was better late than never, and shows attempts by the organization to ensure a fair chance to students around the globe.

Even though it could have been handled better, the College Board achieved their goal in making AP exams possible in such a difficult time for many people. With this, they also gave many students the chance to earn their well-deserved college credit.

CON

By Britney Bennett

As students have had to readjust their school life in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; many students have faced technical issues which makes it illogical for students to be in a situation where they must take exams or else they will not receive college credit.

The College Board, an educational not-for-profit, is responsible for PSATs, SATs, and most notably, Advanced Placement exams, has decided to continue testing amid the pandemic. According to The College Board, they surveyed 18,000 students to see whether the tests should continue to be administered and a majority agreed that they wanted to take the exam. However, does anybody actually know the people who took the survey? And 18,000 people is far too small of a sample when AP exams can have hundreds of thousands of test-takers per test.

Although the resources put up by The College Board on their YouTube channel, in addition to demonstrations on their websites, were helpful overall, the steps to properly submit an exam were far too many. With numerous family members, people working from home, children crying, cellular devices, and social media, it is hard for a student to primarily focus on the exam itself. In addition, many students have faced problems with how to properly study for the exams, especially when exam formats may differ from what they reviewed during a regular day at school.

As an Advanced Placement student who was taking AP tests the second week they were being administered, I was interested to see what others who were taking the exams before me had experienced. The results were terrifying.

An array of problems from not being able to log in to not being able to submit arrived and the only option students were left with was to schedule a retake exam even though none of the issues were caused by them personally, but rather by The College Board. In addition, many issues were only solved and/or answered days later, such as if The College Board would accept someone’s exam if they didn’t put their initials on it. The biggest killer of them all, however, was the timer. No one was going to remind the test taker how much time they had left even if there were better suggestions, such as a changing screen for the last five minutes.

When the time came for the second set of exams to be administered, The College Board did make some changes by providing a backup email for students who were unable to submit, and overall, things went smoother the second week. However, this does not take away from the students who studied months for only a 1 to 2 question exam just to retake it in June.