Oh it is that time of the year again... Oscars season. While I enjoy watching the Oscar's, I feel like I am watching four hours of the "Talented White People Show." In the article in the New York TImes, author Shaun King says, "A record six black actors and actresses were nominated." While all of the actors deserve their nominations.. how can there only be six black females and males combined that were nominated? As a young woman of color who is interested in being in films and television shows, it makes me doubt myself and the color of my skin.
"All of this matters tremendously — not because these artists do what they do for recognition, but because this recognition makes these films, these directors, these actors and actresses more known to the world. Mahershala Ali is one of the best actors on earth."(King). While I do agree with the author, I feel that there should be more representation in black films - animated or moving picture. For example, my baby cousin, Calliegh, loves the movie Frozen (but what 3 year old doesn't?). And when we turned on The Princess and the Frog, she absolutely hated it. She said her brown skin was "ugly." This is why we need more black people in film. More black girls and boys that don't play "the bully" or the "ghetto girl." But the black girl or boy that is smart, educated, and strong. We need these characters to help strengthen the black community and help little girls like my cousin to love the beautiful skin that she is in. It took me 16 years of my life to actually like the skin that I was in. It took me until I saw hidden figures on December 27, 2016 to find out that black women are strong, powerful and that black is beautiful. It is essential to put more black people in film so that the black youth can feel loved and beautiful.
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Sunday, February 12, 2017
TOW #18 - Caitlyn Jenner's Mission
As many may know, Caitlyn Jenner is the father of social media stars Kylie and Kendall Jenner, and is a big face of the LGBTQ community. Although she is a public icon, I have a bone to pick with her.
Jennifer Finney Boylan of the New York Times was able to get a phone interview with her as she was driving. Now, Jenner is a known republican and I am a little confused as to why. She also is a conservative that likes Trump’s administration. This makes me very confused. Why? Because Mike Pence, Donald Trump’s Vice President, was the former governor of Indiana. As the governor of Indiana, Pence has notably said:
“In 2006, as head of the Republican Study Committee, a group of the 100 most-conservative House members, Pence rose in support of a constitutional amendment that would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman. Citing a Harvard researcher, Pence said in his speech, "societal collapse was always brought about following an advent of the deterioration of marriage and family." Pence also called being gay a choice and said keeping gays from marrying was not discrimination, but an enforcement of "God's idea."(Time Magazine).
“In May, the federal government directed school districts to allow students to use the bathroom of the gender they identify with. The directive came as criticism crescendoed around a North Carolina law that would have restricted the use of bathrooms.Along with many other conservatives, Pence opposed Obama's directive and said it was a state issue. "The federal government has not business getting involved in issues of this nature," Pence said.” (Time Magazine).
People in President Trump's administration are known for being racist, sexist, and homophobic. But Caitlyn Jenner, a gay, transgender woman, supports them. She says that she wants to be the LGBTQ voice in the Republican community, but sadly, I don't think that the conservatives want to hear what she has to say.
Jennifer Finney Boylan of the New York Times was able to get a phone interview with her as she was driving. Now, Jenner is a known republican and I am a little confused as to why. She also is a conservative that likes Trump’s administration. This makes me very confused. Why? Because Mike Pence, Donald Trump’s Vice President, was the former governor of Indiana. As the governor of Indiana, Pence has notably said:
“In 2006, as head of the Republican Study Committee, a group of the 100 most-conservative House members, Pence rose in support of a constitutional amendment that would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman. Citing a Harvard researcher, Pence said in his speech, "societal collapse was always brought about following an advent of the deterioration of marriage and family." Pence also called being gay a choice and said keeping gays from marrying was not discrimination, but an enforcement of "God's idea."(Time Magazine).
“In May, the federal government directed school districts to allow students to use the bathroom of the gender they identify with. The directive came as criticism crescendoed around a North Carolina law that would have restricted the use of bathrooms.Along with many other conservatives, Pence opposed Obama's directive and said it was a state issue. "The federal government has not business getting involved in issues of this nature," Pence said.” (Time Magazine).
People in President Trump's administration are known for being racist, sexist, and homophobic. But Caitlyn Jenner, a gay, transgender woman, supports them. She says that she wants to be the LGBTQ voice in the Republican community, but sadly, I don't think that the conservatives want to hear what she has to say.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
IRB #3 - The Double Helix
For this marking period I have chosen to read The Double Helix by James D. Watson. This book explains how the discovery of the double helix in 1968 by James Watson changed the science, medicine, and the world.
TOW #17 - Amid the uproar over Nate Parker, why is no one talking about Casey Affleck?
What Nate Parker did was absolutely disgusting. Raping a young girl is a punishable offense. Now, do not get me wrong, rape is an awful thing that should never happen to anyone, but why isn't anyone talking about Casey Affleck's rape? When he was a student at Penn State, a girl reported him and another student of raping her while she was unconscious. While she was unconscious? What kind of world do we live in where you can rape a female and get away with it? This made me think, why is everyone talking about Nate Parker and not Casey Affleck? I have come to a conclusion that the reason that people are talking about Nate Parker is because he is an African American man. Yes, this is about race. I do not think its fair that petitions are being signed for Nate Parker to be put in jail but Casey Affleck not to be. Casey Affleck, a successful white male is not being punished for what he had done.
This can be connected to the news and media. Have you ever noticed that when an Arab man commits a crime they are labeled "terrorist," or when a black man commits a crime, he is called a "thug." But when a white man commits a crime he is called a "lone wolf" or "mentally ill." I recently saw a tweet that read, "Breaking news: Mississippi man shoots shoppers inside of the Walmart because they will not sell him a Confederate flag." Mississippi man sure is a funny way of saying terrorist. Can you imagine what people would say if a Muslim or Arab man did that?
I am not whatsoever justifying Nate Parker's crime, but I do think that if people commit these heinous acts, then they should punished fairly and equally.
This can be connected to the news and media. Have you ever noticed that when an Arab man commits a crime they are labeled "terrorist," or when a black man commits a crime, he is called a "thug." But when a white man commits a crime he is called a "lone wolf" or "mentally ill." I recently saw a tweet that read, "Breaking news: Mississippi man shoots shoppers inside of the Walmart because they will not sell him a Confederate flag." Mississippi man sure is a funny way of saying terrorist. Can you imagine what people would say if a Muslim or Arab man did that?
I am not whatsoever justifying Nate Parker's crime, but I do think that if people commit these heinous acts, then they should punished fairly and equally.
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