Call To Action: #RIPAmy!

Miara Bonner

April 21, 2016…a day to remember in Wilmington, Delaware. Sixteen year old Amy Inita Francis-Joyner was pronounced dead at A.I. DuPont Children's Hospital after being brutally beaten by several girls in a school bathroom. This is an extremely heartbreaking story, bringing tears to the eyes of many and placing fear in the hearts many more. Nonetheless, the question at hand becomes, what can be done to ensure that this tragedy is used as a learning experience rather than just a sad story?

As a sixteen year old, high school student, this story literally brought me to tears. A school should be a safe haven for students to practice effective conflict resolution skills and engage in positive interactions. However, this tragedy is a prime example of a lack of structure within a school, justified by a good reputation. Many schools do not take the time to ensure that the value of rules, as well as consequences, is instilled within students. In addition, schools do not take the extra steps to ensure that both male and female students are provided with the skills to engage in positive interactions among their peers. There are many programs that focus on the development of these skills and target the high school community. Yet, teenagers are not exposed to these programs and therefore, do not take advantage. As a start to decreasing the amount of conflict among high school students, schools should adopt these programs, using them as tools to teach the importance of conflict/resolution skills and in order to prevent incidents such as, Amy Joyner, from happening.

Organic Post: Soul Food

Miara Bonner

Whether bringing together a family of four at a dinner table or reuniting long lost relatives at a family reunion, soul food is one of the many cultural standouts within the black community. Dating back to the time of segregation and Jim Crow Laws, soul food has demonstrated the difference between "black cooking" and "white cooking". Nonetheless, many of the various dishes and ingredients included in "soul food" are regional meals, strongly influenced by the south's "twang". Furthermore, despite the many foods that soul food is composed of, there are five that stand out the most.

1. Fried Chicken

CRUNCH! This is the sound that you hear after biting into a sizzling piece of fried chicken. With its seasoned skin and tender meat, fried chicken deems to be one of the most well known entrees associated with African American culture.

2. Mac and Cheese

If it ain't cheesy, you ain't doing something right! Whether cut up in squares or scooped up from a bowl, you will catch macaroni and cheese as a side at any soul food dinner. Cooked during any time of the year, especially holidays, mac and cheese can bring together even the most difficult of family members.

3. Collard Greens

Many people despise vegetables at the dinner table. However, collard greens are more than just vegetables. They are what brings a "countrified" meal together. Whether cooked by themselves, or soaked in bacon grease with bacon fat, the salty, yet delicious greens are high blood pressure in a bowl.

4. Candied Yams

Baked with brown sugar and marshmallows, candied yams are diabetes in a pan at any soul food dinner. Served especially during holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, yams can substitute for any dessert.

5. Cornbread

Baked to satisfy, cornbread is a sweet and crunchy substitute for a slice of white bread or a roll.

Furthermore, these are five of my favorite soul foods. Raised in a small town in Durham, North Carolina, I have been introduced to many other delicious foods that could have made the list including: Banana Pudding, BBQ Ribs, and white rice. However, the five listed foods stand out the most in many African American homes.

My Opinion: Black Privilege

Miara Bonner

The phrase white privilege refers to " the belief that being white comes with unearned disadvantages." Now, despite the statistical evidence that supports the fact that whites do have an advantage over blacks, they have made the decision to unfairly turn the table on the black community and present the term "black privilege". The article "Its Time to Talk About Black Privilege" begins supporting the ethically and socially unjustified term by discussing Black History Month. Rather than supporting the culturally uplifting month, the white retiree claimed that because whites are not given an entire month to celebrate their history, this is considered a "black advantage". However, he did not discuss the numerous amount of events, celebrations, and holidays that support Caucasians who have "supposedly" bettered Americans or the United States. For example, Christopher Columbus Day. Students are excused from school and Columbus is celebrated for finding an ALREADY discovered piece of land. This seems extremely unnecessary to me! 

The advantage that whites have over blacks is extremely evident within many different settings including the business world. The article argued that "the fact that white people are better off is not a privilege; it's earned." This quote does not accommodate for the many educated, hard working blacks who are forced to compete with whites to receive high leveled positions. For example, if a white and black woman were competing for a job position and are the same age, went to the same college, and had the same amount of job experience and business ethic, it is statistically proven that the white woman would be more likely to receive the job due to, SPECIFICALLY, her skin color. This seems like a PRIVILEGE to me! 

According to the article, "If you try to embrace being white, you are portrayed as being racist…whites are now trying to pass as black…" Firstly, as a black living in a predominantly white America, you are AUTOMATICALLY considered a nigger, ignorant, stupid, ghetto, so on and so forth. Why? Because of your race. Therefore, this accommodates for the fact that whites feel as though they are always portrayed as racist. In addition, history has presented the white community as racist due to their OWN actions. Now, if whites are now attempting to "pass" as black or present themselves as something that they are not, this is a white problem! Blacks are not forcing whites to step out of their culture. Since segregation, whites have made it acceptable for their communities to copy our darker skin, hair styles and other cultural standouts. However, it has become a problem because "being black" is now a white trend. 

Furthermore, this article presents multiple excuses for whites to take the blame off of their past and current cultural wrongs and place the blame on blacks. 

My Opinion: Teacher Allows Students to Watch 50 Shades of Grey

Miara Bonner

When a student enters high school, they are provided with the opportunity to develop responsibility. This situation is a prime example of how parent's of high school students allow their children to continue without taking responsibility of their actions. Christa Reinert, a concerned parent of a 14 year old who was shown the movie "50 Shades of Grey"by her volleyball chaperone, clearly, has not allowed herself to let go of her college-bound daughter. Rather than scolding her daughter who KNEW that she would not be allowed to watch the movie, she blatantly harassed the chaperone who was in charge of her. Although the chaperone did have somewhat of an obligation to "take care" of the students, as teenagers, the STUDENTS have an obligation to make appropriate and cautious decisions. The 14 year old was not pressured into watching this movie, yet still made the decision to remain unclear about her age and the rules that her parents have instilled in her.

As a parent, Reinert has experienced life as a teenager. She should understand that high school students yearn for independence and do not wish to be restrained from making their own life choices. By prohibiting teenagers from making their own choices, this results in rebellion. However, as a teenager who has strict parents, I understand why she is so overprotective. The main goal of MOST parents is to shape their children into respectable and successful adults. Many elements including social media, music, and movies can influence the actions and perspectives of growing children. Contrary to popular belief, movies that contain sexual content can enhance sexual curiosity. Though this does support the thoughts and feeling that Reinert was overwhelmed with, this does not support her actions against the teacher. Regardless of the surroundings that influence the thinking of teens, they're always going to be curious. Therefore, the teacher should not be punished for the irresponsibility and curiosity of a growing teenager.