Anthro Volume 4 Issue 1 by Anthro Magazine

pg. 10

Defending the dancers

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ANTHRO

November 2021 Volume 4 Issue 1

Mission Statement The ultimate goal of Anthro Magazine, Paly’s social activism publication, is to create a platform and forum for students to express their opinions and voices. Social activism is bringing issues into the spotlight to spread awareness and create change in society. On this platform, we will promote unity, diversity, and respect. As a publication, we aim to be inclusive but do not tolerate hate speech of the targeting of individuals. We hope to highlight issues that we see in our community, create a safe place to discuss these issues, and to make sure student voices are heard.

From the Editors Dear Readers, Our return back to full in-person learning this semester has been eventful, to say the least. As the newest Editors-In-Chief, we have been excited about the change, even though it hasn’t always been easy. This semester, we also welcomed the Paly Voice and Proof into the Incubator. We join KPLY and Ink in saying, it has been great to work with all of you. Between the Spirit Week ‘Thousand Island’ rebrand, written by Ash Mehta, and the investigation of the waning Stop Asian Hate hashtag, written by Payton Anderson, Anthro has a lot to discuss this issue. In returning to school, additional issues came up. The cover story, Defending the Dancers, dives into Paly cheer and dances fight for space. The question of Wi-Fi on the bus ride from East Palo Alto was brought to our attention. California’s Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2021 (AB-367) sets a precedent for menstrual equity, covered in “Periods: now free of charge.” Thank you to our sponsors, writers, and adviser, Paul Kandell. We hope you enjoy Volume 4 Issue 1 of Anthro!

Staff Editors-in-Chief Karrie Huang Arati Periyannan Digital Managing Editor Ash Mehta Business Manager Tyler Wang Staff Writers Payton Anderson Daniel Garepis-Holland Leena Hussein Maya Mukherjee Olga Muys Jeffrey Tu Lauren Wong Artists & Photographers Anushe Irani Xiaohan Li Neil Rathi Alison Xiong Adviser Paul Kandell —————————— Connect @anthro.magazine @anthro_magazine issuu.com/anthro.magazine anthromagazine.paly@gmail.com

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— Karrie Huang and Arati Periyannan

November 2021

IN THIS ISSUE

Letters to the Editors The staff welcomes letters to the editors. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy and obscenity. Send all letters to anthromagazine. paly@gmail.com or to 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301. Printing & Distribution Anthro is printed by Folger Graphics in Hayward, California. The Palo Alto Parent Teacher Association mails Anthro to every student’s home. All Anthro work is available at anthromagazine.org. Publication Policy Anthro, a social activism magazine published by students in Palo Alto High School Incubator class, is a designated limited open forum for student expression and discussion of issue of concern to its readership. Anthro is distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost.

Incubator spotlight

Re-brand reflections

New free meal program

Trouble with transit

Defending the dancers

Abortion: opinions on Heartbeat Act

Pencils down

LaDonna Butler: a new perspective

Rising together

Periods: now free of charge

Movement behind a shrinking hashtag

NFTs: art or fraud?

Working towards the dream

State of student self-defense

Coming out post-covid

‘Dune’ smart sci-fi

Books for a better world

One fish, two fish, red fish...Blackfish?

Introducing: celebration ads

On the Cover

Dance captain Riley Herron on dance and cheer teams struggle for equality in the story “A legacy of mistreatment,” on page 10. Cover: Arati Periyannan

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Design by OLGA MUYS

INCUBATOR SPOTLIGHT

alo Alto High School’s Incubator Journalism class currently holds five publications: Anthro Magazine, KPLY, Paly Voice, [proof], and Ink. Anthro Magazine complied short descriptions of the work that KPLY, Ink., and [proof] have worked on this semester, to give a taste of what our class has been doing. We encourage you to check these publications out from their respective links.

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY KPLY Paly Radio

By Olga Muys, with additional reporting by Emma Kim Art by Xiaohan Li The pandemic has left seniors at Paly without vital self-defense knowledge. Olga and Emma examine the risks and ramifications.

KPLY

By Ash Mehta Art by Alison Xiong Ash Mehta discusses how the pandemic prompted queer students to come out and realize who they are, and how the return to in-person has affected these students.

INK.

Editors-in-Chief: William Rumelhart and Abhi Ranganathan Ink is a literary magazine dedicated to student expression. Our central mission is to create a space for emerging student writers and artists at Palo Alto High School to share their work with others.

November 2021

LISTEN ON SOUNDCLOUD KPLY Paly Radio

Podcast and Art by Erin Kim A resurgence of fast fashion trends has increased the appropriation of Asian cultures. Erin explores the intersection of consumption culture and racism.

[proof] Editors-in-Chief: Neil Rathi and Alison Xiong Paly’s fine arts and photography magazine, focused on showcasing student artists and the Bay Area’s vibrant artistic community. [proof] is published three times per year, featuring photo essays, student profiles, and a gallery section.

Text by ASH MEHTA

Photo by LAUREN WONG

Re-brand reflections ASB looks back on their decision to rebrand a culturally insensitive Spirit Week theme

or some, the colorful, fun Hawaiian beachwear-themed Spirit Day is nothing but that, colorful and fun. However, the ‘Thousand Island’ theme has more sinister undertones of cultural appropriation for many students. After years of debate and controversy around this theme, Associated Student Body (ASB) finally decided to revise the decades-old tradition this past October. “Generally, the theme is just not appro- the discussions with all officers to come to a priate,” junior class president Ashley Hung consensus,” said Hung. said. “We decided that we really wanted to According to Hung, ASB faced minimake the change this year.” mal hate for its decision, receiving support ASB made the decision this year to re- from students, parents, and administration brand from ‘Hawaiian Day’ to ‘Beach Day,’ alike. while still keeping the general Thousand Is“Everyone I talked to was in favor of land theme. the shift of the theme to something more ‘Beach Day’ is actually what the origi- appropriate,” she said. “I felt that almost all nal theme was intended to be, Hung said. It juniors received it well, and I felt that there eventually morphed into a more Hawaiian was a difference in how people dressed up theme, which introduced for that day compared to the culturally insensitive “We want to hear in previous years.” undercurrent. Despite Hung’s as“People … are tak- as many people’s sertion that most wanted ing from the various the theme change, around voices as we can Hawaiian cultures, but 70% of the 91 students not actually appreciating and reach people who responded to an optthem,” Hung said. in digital Paly poll indiHung concedes that because, in the end, cated they were apathetic there were some flaws we’re representing about the rebrand, and with ASB’s execution of only 16 students supportthe theme change, such the student body.” ed the decision. — ASHLEY HUNG, junior as what she believes was a “I do not think I have lack of communication to class president heard a single person students and a scarcity of complain about it who is Pacific Islanders in the discussion. However, actually a Pacific Islander,” stated one jushe believes it was a positive step. nior in response to the survey. “Overall, I’m glad we brought up the Another respondent, a senior, said they general concern surrounding the Thousand believed the theme change was crossing a Island theme to the whole ASB, and had line.

“We have to find a balance between being a safe environment and having fun,” the senior said. At the same time, much of the response was positive. One student suggested this change is a part of a wider shift in awareness of cultural insensitivity. “Recently, we’ve been doing some reflection and introspection, which led many people to question … if it was cultural appropriation or making fun of someone else’s culture,” stated one junior. “Even if you could argue that it wasn’t, there are many more options for a theme relating to it, like Beach Day.” Student opinions were definitely a mixed bag, but among those who supported the theme alteration, some wondered how to stop themes like this from existing in the first place. Hung said she believes listening to diverse points of view in ASB, and in the student body, is a first step. She even said ASB is considering forming a committee around cultural sensitivity and equality. Hung also advocates that students use the ASB suggestion box on palyasb.com. “We want to hear as many people’s voices as we can and reach people because, in the end, we’re representing the student body,” she said.

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Text by LAUREN WONG and LEENA HUSSEIN Photos by NEIL RATHI

New free meal program impacts low-income students Students and staff give their opinions on new California mandate for free meals

“B

ig daddy’s cheese pizza” reads one of the options on Palo Alto High School’s Thursday cafeteria menu. This meal option is part of a new and larger lunch program now mandated statewide. Gov. Gavin Newsom approved a California state-wide universal meal program for all public schools in July. It is now the most widely applied free school meal program in the country. Over 6.2 million students in California, including at Paly, are required to provide all students with free meals. In 2019, only 6.5% of PAUSD students qualified for free lunch and 2.5% for reduced-price meals, according to PAUSD Student Nutrition Director

Alva Spence. But with free lunches available to all students, the number of students utilizing this system has skyrocketed. Spence said that the number of free lunches served in PAUSD this school year has more than doubled since the first quarter in 2019. “The intent was to make sure that students had meals to eat that they did not have to worry about that [getting lunch] during the school day,” Spence said. “We hope that students that need meals will continue to come and get them.”

“We hope that students that need meals will continue to come and get them.” — ALVA SPENCE, PAUSD Student Nutrition Director

Monga’s meal: Senior Ronak Monga picks up a free meal from the cafeteria during the lunch period. Students are expressing their overall satisfaction with the new statewide free lunch program, despite a few complaints regarding the actual food. The impact of the program on lower-income students is proving to be a significant aspect of the free lunches. “Even though it [the free lunch program] is not the best, I’m happy with it,” Audrey Guo junior said.

November 2021

Lunch Hour: Rosa Lopez, the kitchen lead in Paly’s cafeteria, prepares free meals as students gather in lines for the lunch period. Many staff and students are hopeful that the new free lunch program will reduce the worry associated with what and how to eat during the day. “I think this [the free lunch program] is definitely going to help them [low-income families]” Lopez said. “Now they don’t have to worry about paying for food, they can get it for free.”

Previously, non-qualifying students had to pay for every meal they purchased at the cafeteria, which could have significantly impacted families struggling financially. The hope for many Palo Alto staff members is that with the new state-wide mandate, a multitude of students will be affected, ranging from low to medium-income students. “My guess is it [the free lunch program] has a greater impact on these [low-income and medium-low income] families than we will ever know,” said Assistant Principal Michelle Steingart. Students share these opinions about the new lunch program positively affecting them and their specific financial circumstances. According to an opt in digitally administered survey conducted in early October by Anthro Magazine, out of 70 responses, 10.3% of students said they get free lunch from Paly for financial help. “I think it [the free meal program] is a really good program for kids who can’t get it [meals] and also just for anyone because in the past, lunch was really expensive,” junior Audrey Guo said. “And it wasn’t good.” Not only are free meals helping families financially, but they also serve as a ben-

efit to mental health and overall well-being students, some think that the quality of food throughout the day, according to Merilyn has actually decreased. Tonga, a member of Paly’s Guidance De“I was one of the kids who liked school partment. lunch before … although, admittedly, it’s “It’s always good to have something to a bit worse [this year] than it was before,” eat during the day because there’s kids that freshman Joe Katz said. don’t [eat],” Tonga said. “Mentally I think Rosa Lopez, a kitchen worker in the it’s good, physically, yes, in Paly cafeteria, says that the all areas. It’s a good thing into the free meal “It’s always good to transition that’s happening.” program has proven to be Some are concerned have something to rocky, especially in figuring that the meals aren’t as out how many lunches to satisfying and appealing as eat during the day prepare for students. they have been in previous because there’s kids “They [students used years. to] sign up, and that would COVID-19 restric- that don’t [eat].” give us an idea of how tions along with the high — MERILYN TONGA, Guid- many kids were going to number of meals schools eat... you want to think that ance Department need to produce daily have all the school’s going to eat led to students missing the [from the cafeteria],” Lowider variety of cafeteria meals. pez said. “A lot of it [the amount of lunch “I get numerous responses from par- preparation] was just a guess.” ents and students concerning the free lunchDespite that, many administrators and es,” Spence said. “Some students and par- Paly staff support this new program and ents miss the heartier, made from scratch hope to see its continuance in the future. selection of entrees we made pre-COVID, “Food… is for everyone,” Tonga said. especially at the elementary level.” “Us students and us faculty should encourAlthough the free meal program is age it [the continuation of the state-wide widely appreciated and popular among the free lunch program].”

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Text by ASH MEHTA and DANIEL GAREPIS-HOLLAND

Photo by DANIEL GAREPIS-HOLLAND

Trouble with transit

One teacher’s efforts to get Wi-Fi on the EPA buses

very morning, hundreds think there’s some sort of disconnect different perspective, believing stuof East Palo Alto students between the district and the sites, and dents would likely use the internet pile on to what can be a there’s some sort of for non-academic 45-minute-long bus ride red tape that I don’t “The student that needs purposes, such as to Palo Alto Unified School District really understand,” streaming movies to take the bus from schools. Every day, they spend up to an Geren said. or browsing social hour and a half unable to do homeGeren said he EPA and is on the bus media. Instead, he’s work on the Wi-Fi-less buses. believes the lack of focusing on shortenfor an hour each way, These students are part of the Internet on the East ing bus rides. Voluntary Transportation Program, Palo Alto buses is they have a 22-hour day, “Our focus was or the Tinsley Program, an initia- an equity issue and cause they’re isolated on actually to shorten tive which allows minority students puts transfer stubus rides instead, from the low-income Ravenswood dents at a disadvan- the bus and they’re not because we also School District to attend K-12 schools tage. don’t want students able to work.” in neighboring districts, including “The student — CHRIS GEREN, Special Ed Teacher early in the mornPAUSD. that can walk to ing without superviHundreds of Tinsley Program school in five minutes or bike in five sion on wireless provided by us on a students take the bus to school, and minutes, they have a 24-hour day,” bus,” he said. “We don’t really want to bus rides for these kids can be long, he claims. “Whereas the student that pay that money for students to watch uncomfortable, and Wi-Fi-less. needs to take the bus from EPA and is movies in the morning.” Special Education Teacher Chris on the bus for an hour each way, they Though Geren said he believes Geren has spent the past few years have a 22-hour day, cause they’re iso- fire-walls and homework trackers can pushing to change this, taking inspira- lated on the bus and they’re not able prevent students from doing anything tion from other school to work.” other than homework on bus WiFi, “We don’t really districts such as SunGeren has per- Fittoria remains doubtful that those nyside, Arizona, which want to pay that sonally witnessed the precautions would be effective. uses school buses to money for students benefits free bus Wi“As much as we try, students alprovide free Wi-Fi to Fi could provide. He ways find a way,” he said. students all over the to watch movies in recalls that one of his Ryan Stanley, a representative of city’s most impover- the morning.” East Palo Alto students transportation connectivity provider ished areas. missed a portion of his Kajeet, disputes this claim. — MIGUEL FITTORIA, VTP Geren has conexam because of a late “It doesn’t matter how smart they Coordinator ducted research, gained bus. are, how sneaky they are — no stusupport from multiple teachers, and “He could have started the test on dents in the past 10 years have maneven discussed his proposal with Prin- the bus on the way here,” Geren said. aged to get around our firewall,” he cipal Brent Kline. He expresses confu- “Instead … he came to school all fraz- said. sion as to why his efforts haven’t been zled — he knew he had biology fifth Senior Sophia Henderson goes met with change, especially since he’s period, and he knew he had a test, and one step further, saying she would adfound a program providing Wi-Fi to he could’ve started it.” vocate for bus Wi-Fi even if students school buses for only $800 per bus. Voluntary Transfer Program used it for non-homework purposes. “He [Kline] wants to do it, but I Coordinator Miguel Fittoria has a “It might just be a good time af-

November 2021

ter school or before school for students Geren attests that the hotspots just to be in their don’t work well in cerown word and it’s “I don’t want to cast tain contexts. that little release be“As a teacher that blame on anyone, I tween after school, taught through the giving yourself a just want our students pandemic, I found mental break,” she to have Wi-Fi on the that those hotspots said. weren’t very effecGeren echoes bus from EPA.” tive, especially when Henderson’s sen— CHRIS GEREN, Special Ed there’s more than one timent, saying bus Teacher in one household,” Wi-Fi would save the Geren said. district much of the money that they Henderson agrees that the spend on hotspots. hotspots aren’t the most ideal solution, Hotspots are essentially portable claiming that many students are either connectivity devices provided by the too afraid or too intimidated to ask for school for free to students in need. hotspots. She also believes that even According to Fittoria, hotspot money students with hotspots might forget drains around a million dollars per them on a bus ride and be unable to year. do homework.

Though Geren still strongly believes in the cause to provide free Wi-Fi to bus riders, he notes being somewhat at a loss as to what to do. At the same time, he doesn’t want to put anyone at fault. “I don’t want to cast blame on anyone, I just want our students to have Wi-Fi on the bus from EPA,” he said. Although the district hasn’t implemented free Wi-Fi yet, it is taking other steps towards making the bus rides easier, and Fittoria acknowledges that the current bus rides are difficult. “We’ll add more routes as possible to try to shorten it even more at the moment,” he said. “So we’re doing everything we can to not make it suck so much.”

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Text by KARRIE HUANG, ASH MEHTA, MAYA MUKHERJEE and ARATI PERIYANNAN

Defending

November 2021

Photos by ARATI PERIYANNAN

the dancers

A legacy of mistreatment

wice a week, the Viking room, the student center, and even rentdance team is pushed out of ed space outside school. They also held their studio by adult education morning practices which meant that Mcclasses, provided with no alter- Daniel was sometimes at school from 6:30 native space by their school. a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Twice a week, they practice in Palo McDaniel said she had to actively Alto High School’s Haymarket Theater, push for even those unideal opportunities. which has unideal flooring and is often “It wasn’t like anyone ever came to stuffed with props and me and offered anycostumes. thing,” she said. “It “The way that one Former dance and was me trying to be cheer coach Hilary [white] person might creative and figure McDaniel fought for things out.” view a situation is equitable pay and sufThough the curficient practice space very different from rent teams have been in her time coaching. a better situation how a person of color in However, she resigned with practice space in 2017 due to her would view it.” for the past few years, frustration over what dance captain and — LADONNA BUTLER, she considered misPaly senior Riley Herassistant principal ron said it’s still not treatments. Now, dance coach great. Alanna Williamson is left to bear the burHerron, a dance team member since den of what she and her team say are on- freshman year, said the past four years going injustices involving practice spaces, have been difficult between the cheer and pay stipends and a dismissive culture. dance teams practicing in the same studio McDaniel began coaching Dance, and the adult school holding classes in the JV cheer and varsity cheer in 2004, be- dance team’s practice space. fore the Peery Center was built. All of Herron said the replacements have McDaniel’s teams practiced in the Small been inadequate. The Haymarket TheGym, dubbed the “Girls’ Gym.” ater can be filled with props and costumes Once wrestling season started, the and has flooring that can be dangerous wrestling team displaced McDaniel’s for dancing, according to dance flooring teams, with no alternative space given, company StageStep. McDaniel said. “We did outdoors for a little, but “We were never, ever, ever given pri- that’s super rough and not great condiority,” McDaniel said. tions,” she said. “Then we started going Because the dance and cheer teams to the Haymarket theatre … and then attended games in the evenings and wres- they started setting up all the props and tling took the gym in the afternoons, Mc- we didn’t have too much space in there.” Daniel was forced to either hold practice Williamson has fought for her team. at 6:30 a.m. or find other space, which But, according to Herron, the dance team ended up being the library, the band is now focused more on making the cur-

rent situation work. She admits this solution may not be sustainable. “Competition season might ramp up a little and we’ll need to push for that [more space],” she said. Practice space is certainly a struggle for the dance and cheer teams, but it’s not the only one. McDaniel spent years in what she said was an emotionally taxing fight for equitable pay. Paly classifies its coaches and athletic assistants into four classes: Category A receives the highest pay, and Category D receives the lowest. Team level, a teacher’s role in coaching the team, and other factors all affect the classification. McDaniel was coaching two varsity teams and one JV, and receiving just one Category C stipend. Although she was

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spending up to 17 hours a day on campus and coaching upwards of 50 students, she was receiving the pay of many assistant coaches. She said whenever she expressed her concerns to people in power, she was told that coaches shouldn’t just be coaching for the money.

“The way that one [white] person might view a situation is very different from how a person of color would view it.” — LADONNA BUTLER, assistant principal “I volunteered to help out,” McDaniel said. “I was young. I had that time and passion. But unfortunately when people do that, then it legitimizes a system where you’re not valued.” McDaniel’s resignation was followed by a near-immediate revision of the pay stipend schedules, she said. Now, dance, varsity cheer, and junior varsity cheer all receive separate stipends, and cheer has moved up to a higher stipend. However, dance remains in category C. The varsity dance coach is still in the same category as many assistant coaches. “Ultimately I wasn’t really given a reason as to why mine [my stipend] was there,” Williamson said. “As I’ve looked for support from supervisors and admin and stuff, they all agreed that it seemed confusing and didn’t seem to have clear reasoning.” McDaniel, Williamson, and many of the dancers agree that this lack of support stems from a larger culture of not taking dance as a sport seriously. McDaniel points to an incident where, when she tried to speak up about the dance and cheer teams’ practice space issues, she was told that they just needed to win more championships. “No one else has to win or has to prove anything to be considered an ath-

November 2021

letic activity,” she said. into the way people dismissed her advoHerron said she also believes dance cacy for better treatment. should be taken more “It was the seriously as an athletic way I was spoken “The way that one activity. to by people in posi“We’re a year- [white] person might tions of power that round sport,” she said. showed they didn’t “We’re in the studio view a situation is very hear why I was uptwo hours a day. We different from how a set about the lack even do full-day pracof equity, that they tices on the weekends. person of color would weren’t even willing [To do] the stuff we’re view it.” to recognize that doing, you need to be there was a lack — LADONNA BUTLER, assistant of equity, and that trained your whole principal they were actively life.” McDaniel said perpetuating the this lack of being taken seriously played inequity with their expectations of me,”

“Pay your varsity coaches the same son said. amount of money,” said McDaniel. “Somewhere we have to fit them “That’s not a hard thing to do. Come up [adult school] in there,” he said. “Everywith a system where all teams can access one needs to be flexible.” practice facilities. That’s harder to do, beIn terms of coaches’ pay, Gifford cause there’s a lot of different needs, but said the Paly athletics department is in the wrestling team has its own room all the process of reworking pay stipends three seasons … I think and making pay more these things are doable.” “The way that one equitable. Williamson also said In addition to school she believes there are op- [white] person administration and athtions to solve the practice might of color letic staff not all thinking space problem. advocacy is necessary, “In the future it would view it.” McDaniel also said she would be great if we — LADONNA BUTLER, believes the backlash she could build some addiassistant principal faced after calling out the tional space,” she said. school in her resignation “We’ve got a really big letter might have scared basketball court out here and I’m not off potential activists. sure how much use it gets, so it would be “I feel like … the people in power she said. great if we could turn this into another tried to tarnish my reputation a bit in orMcDaniel said that, when she spoke space that dance could use.” der to get themselves off the hook a little up about the injustices, she was told to Pay stipends are negotiated by the bit,” she said. “The people on this camsacrifice aspects of her personal and fam- teachers union, according to Athletic Di- pus who saw that happen to me now feel ily life. rector Nelson Gifford, so perhaps that’s like they can’t always speak up because “When I brought up that I had other the place to start. However, reapportion- there will be repercussions.” commitments and a family, [I] was told, ing practice space could be a messy affair McDaniel said she believes someone if this coach had a baby I would tell them involving coordination between the dis- needs to speak out, but that she underthey just had to make sacrifices,” Mc- trict, Paly administration, coaches, and stands how difficult it can be to push for a Daniel said. “It literally just broke me, it more. controversial cause. broke me into two.” Gifford and Paly Assistant Principal “How do you encourage people to Williamson has advocated for the Jerry Berkson, however, both said they speak up for what’s right when they feel dance team as well, to the point of trying believe some of these issues have been or like they might lose what they love?” she to pursue a Title IX will be resolved. said. complaint about the “This was a new inequity the entirely “The way that one scenario,” Gifford female run cheer and [white] person might said. “And I think in dance teams face, she part it happened, you view a situation is said. know, we’re coming “[The practice very different from out of a pandemic … space situation] seems [we’re] getting back like a bit of a Title IX how a person of color into the process of coissue to me, and no- would view it.” ordinating access and body seemed to really timing.” — LADONNA BUTLER, take us seriously about Berkson also assistant principal that,” she said. “We said he believes lack weren’t given a lot of of communication care or support or attention regarding played a role in the scheduling conflicts. that. It was just like, “figure it out.”” “I think there should’ve been comMcDaniel and Williamson both munication before the school year startclaim their efforts were dismissed or not ed, before things started revving up,” he supported enough. So who can make said. change, and what tangible change needs The Adult School holding classes in to be made? the dance studio is the right move, Berk-

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Text by ASH MEHTA

Art by XIAOHAN LI

Abortion: student opinions on heartbeat act Pro-choice, pro-life, and moderate students share their thoughts on the controversial Texas abortion law

ome watch the news with fear, some with anticipation, but regardless, many Palo Alto High School students care about the Texas Heartbeat Act, and what it means for the rest of the country. Paly students overwhelmingly dislike the unprecedently restrictive and vigilante-focused abortion law. Only seven of 96 abortion, I also don’t believe that the govrespondents to an opt-in, anonymous, dig- ernment has a right to make these kinds of ital poll of the student body reported sup- decisions for other people,” Ella said. Ella confesses that porting the law, comshe’s hesitant to firmly pared to 75 students “The law includes identify as pro-life or definitively not supportrape and incest, pro-choice, as she feels ing it. she lies distinctly in the Ella, a freshman which are [probably] middle. who asked that her real This is the case name not be used, iden- traumatic, and if the with a lot of Americans tifies among Paly’s 7% pregrant person can— though most Amerpro-life population, as she believes that a fetus not get an abortion it icans support the landmark Supreme Court conceived from consenmight be harmful to abortion rights decision sual, informed, unproRoe v. Wade, a matected sex has a right to them and the baby.” jority also want more life. — EMILY DURLAND, restrictive abortion Despite all that, freshman laws, according to a she still opposes the law and has many beliefs aligning with those of 2019 National Public Radio poll. Ella also worries about the health impro-choice advocates. “Although I personally don’t believe in plications of forcing people to deliver ba-

November 2021

bies conceived from sexual assault. A study published in PubMed, a government-run medical journal, shows that almost a third of pregnant rape victims don’t even realize they’re pregnant until the second trimester, well after the six week deadline established by the Heartbeat Bill. “A baby conceived from rape can cause mental … health problems to the mother and in this case it would be best to have an abortion,” Ella said. Pro-choice freshman Emily Durland also worries about Texans’ inability to access abortions after assault-related pregnancy. “The law includes rape and incest, which are [probably] traumatic, and if the pregnant person cannot get an abortion it might be harmful to them and the baby,” Durland said. Durland not only opposes the law on self-proclaimed moral grounds, but fears

for how the legislation and its ramifications could affect her and other women she knows. Sophomore Adeline Kwan views the law as illogical. “The women don’t have a choice if they’re gonna get raped or not, so why are they supposed to take care of the kid?” Kwan said. Jasmine, a pro-life junior who asked that her real name not be used out of fear of how her Paly peers might treat her if they knew her opinion, has a different perspective. “I think it’s [the law is] a really great thing,” Jasmine said. “I think it’s going to save a lot of lives.” Jasmine believes this law sets a precedent for future laws throughout the country, especially for more than 20 states that have “trigger-laws” that go into effect once similar legislation is passed. “I think it really opened the door for a lot of new laws to be passed since they kind of found a loophole,” Jasmine said. Jasmine urges other states to continue this trend of near-total bans on abortion. “I think they should act in the best interest of the country … by making laws which best support Americans, both the born and the unborn,” she said. “All

“I also don’t believe that the government has a right to make these kinds of decisions for other people,”

— ELLA, freshman

Americans.” Jasmine’s beliefs don’t come from nowhere. She has a close personal tie to the matter — people suggested that her mom abort her. “Luckily my mom chose to give me a shot at life and every day she tells me of the incredible joy…on the day I was born,” Jasmine said. It’s been almost 50 years since Roe v. Wade, the landmark pro-choice abortion ruling, yet there’s still talk of this precedent being overturned. A frustration many pro-life and pro-choice activists have is that it’s hard to agree on how to reach an agreement. One middle ground many reproductive rights activists call for is more preemptive pregnancy prevention. Ella, for example, urges a focus on accessible contraception. “I think we should focus more on how to prevent pregnancy before, not after someone is pregnant,” she said.

anthromagazine.org

Text by JEFFREY TU and TYLER WANG

Pencils down

In a post-pandemic world, is testing still worth it?

etting engrossed in the passage, one Palo Alto High School senior reads a passage on tardigrade proteins in the SAT while trying a new reading strategy he had learned four nights ago. Senior Matthew Cao said he only started intensely studying for the test less than a week before his Oct. 13 SAT. “I definitely found myself looking at the clock way more than I should have, and at one point nearing the end of the [grammar] section, I found myself spending nearly half of my time just looking down at my paper and back up at the clock to make sure that I wasn’t about to get cut off,” Cao said. Cao is one of many students who have been spending time studying for standardized tests such as the SAT or the ACT. Over the pandemic, two-thirds of US colleges have gone test-blind or test-optional for the 2021-22 college admissions cycle, according to FairTest. According to Paly college advisor Sandra Cernobori, who has access to Paly’s testing averages but not specific scores, students who signed up for standardized testing studied a lot because they wanted an advantage since colleges have gone test optional. “So, guess what happened to the test scores — it’s through the roof,” Cernobori said. “Like, I called the College Board to make sure it wasn’t a mistake.” She added that Paly’s test scores were always above the national average, but the pandemic had increased the margin even further. Palo Alto High School student Phillip Zheng said he still felt the pressure to take the College Board’s standardized tests despite colleges going test-optional. Zheng said he believes test scores are still important for test-optional colleges because high scores can only benefit those who do choose to submit scores. He said that colleges’ declarations to move to adopt test-blind policies are not impactful for him since he would have to take standardized tests no matter what, due to family pressure. Junior Kieran Zajac said he still feels that he needs to prepare for and take tests. He began taking lessons with a tutor over the summer, and now does one full length practice test every weekend. “I think it’s better to put the time in now so you don’t regret it later because it’s good to have it and not need it,” Zajac said. He took the Oct. 2 SAT and the Paly-sponsored Oct.

November 2021

Students taking the ACT and SAT spend months preparing in some cases, but with new test-optional and test-blind admissions policies, some students are not as prepared. Photo: Neil Rathi

13 PSAT. “You know you’re spending hundreds of Junior Jacob Liu said he would appreciate dollars for tutors, prep books, hundreds of the test-blind or test-optional policy if he de- hours of your time, and in the end you might cides to only apply to test-optional or test-blind not even get a good score, because anything schools. unpredictable could happen,” Hao said. “And “Even if I’m applying for colleges that in the end you don’t even know if it’s actually are test-blind or test-optional, then I’ll prob- going to help you because college applications ably spend more time on have so many things that school to focus on GPA maybe they won’t even and extracurricular aclook at it.” tivities instead of putting Cernobori said that more time on the SAT,” for those who cannot Liu said. pay the price of workAccording to the Colbooks or tutors, there lege Board, with prices are plenty of alternatives for standardized tests available. According to increasing year by year, her, Khan Academy and questions arise about the — SANDRA CERNOBORI, school offered PSATs are justifications for taking able to help people freePaly college adviser them, especially with the of-charge. money that some stuCernobori said that dents invest in tutors, preparatory books and at the end of the day, test scores are only a additional practice material. small portion of an applicant’s achievements. Although senior Angela Hao did take the “You are way more than your test scores SAT during the 2020-2021 school year, she and all colleges recognize this, which is why said she believes that the importance of stan- they don’t have a problem moving to optiondardized testing and the SAT do not justify the al,” Cernobori said. “They have a lot else to price of the exams along with the additional consider.” costs of books and tutors.

“It’s [test scores] through the roof, like, I called the College Board to make sure it wasn’t a mistake.”

Text by MAYA MUKHERJEE and LEENA HUSSEIN

LaDonna Butler: bringing a new perspective

“R

New assistant principal Butler, only administrator of color, brings ambitious plans to campus

ules of Conduct for post-graduation, Butler said. Teachers…1915,” reads “Maybe taking a gap year, military … I the framed cross-stitch sign always say this, though: plan to go to a four on the office wall of La- year [college], and then you can have the opDonna Butler, Palo Alto High School’s new tion of the others,” Butler said. assistant principal. Although Butler enjoyed her time in high “The story [behind the sign] is simple school, she didn’t have access to the same sup— it was here when I got port for post-graduation here,” Butler said. planning that she found Butler says she keeps here at Paly, she said. the sign on her wall to “I did not receive remind her of how far the direct communicaschools have come since tion in terms of: ‘This is then. At Palo Alto High how you can progress in School, she hopes to conhigh school to go on to tinue that progress. post secondary opportu“From then to nities’…I didn’t get that now, [the expectations exposure until I received for] what the classroom letters to go to college,” should look like is com— LADONNA BUTLER, Butler said. pletely different, and Principal Brent assistant principal should be because we’ve Kline expressed his adgrown,” Butler said. miration for Butler’s Butler, who transferred from San Jose’s seamless transition and for what she hopes to Gunderson High School, is among the new achieve. staff members at Paly this year. “One of the reasons why I believe she “Paly is an opportunity to work in a very has [been doing a great job] is because she’s progressive district, and when that opportuni- been very thoughtful in her approach, observty opens up you take it because it offers me an ing what happens already, and then being very opportunity to work with a different student clear in terms of sharing ideas and thoughts in population,” Butler told Anthro. an alternative way,” Kline said. “Her perspecGunderson’s student body is about 60% tives in a variety of different ways are going to Latino and 14% Asian, according to Gunder- be helpful.” son High School’s 2019 demographic analytHe also offered a few words of wisdom ics. Paly has a higher concentration of Asian (and a compliment) for Butler. and white students (about 35%) and fewer “It’s important to observe the culture and Latino and Black students. Although Paly’s the climate and what the school already has student body has a very different ethnic make- and to gently bring your thoughts into the situp, Butler said she appreciates the ethnic and uation and into the conversation,” Kline said. cultural diversity at Paly. “She’s done a great job.” “I don’t believe that just because you’re Butler is currently the only administrator from one race or ethnicity that you’re also a of color at Paly, and she is excited to bring a part of one culture,” Butler said. “We can be new perspective to campus. from a variety of cultures.” “The way that one [white] person might Her main focus on campus is to help view a situation is very different from how a bridge the gap between high school and col- person of color would view it, so I’m able to lege so students have access to opportunities improvise and also help in those areas,” Butler

“The way that one [white] person might view a situation is very different from how a person of color would view it.”

said.

Everyone, no matter their race or ethnicity, brings their own experiences with them into every situation, she said. “That’s what’s the beauty of life,” Butler said. “We have every challenge of every hardship we go through, every ‘A-ha’ moment of every triumph because now we have that testimony to share it with somebody else.” Butler’s goals for the coming year include increasing diversity in specific places, like increasing enrollment of students of color in AP and honors classes, although she said she needs to continue to observe and reflect to know the best approach. Butler concluded the interview with a word of advice for students. “If you compete with yourself and go into the classroom to make sure that you fully understand that learning objective, every day that you leave, whatever that takes, you know that you will become the person that you want,” Butler said.

(Top left corner) Assistant Principal LaDonna Butler smiles for a photo outside of her office at Palo Alto High School. Photo: Daniel Garepis-Holland (Above) Hanging on LaDonna Butler’s wall is a framed photo of expectations for teachers back in 1915. Butler keeps this photo framed on her wall as proof of how far our education system has come since then. “We’ve all learned from the experiences of others what an education should look like,” Butler said. “Some of those things [the rules] are laughable.” Photo: Karrie Huang

anthromagazine.org

Text by ARATI PERIYANNAN and MAYA MUKHERJEE

Rising Together Local nonprofit adapts, expands post-COVID

Editors note: Writer Maya Mukherjee is a Rise Together Education student representative

hen Sammy Vasquez was growing up, he knew his family wouldn’t be able to pay for college. However, thanks to the nonprofit Rise Together Education, he was able to meet his financial needs and pursue his education in photography, videography, and graphic design — and now he has found himself drawn back to the organization to help those in the same situation he was once in. RTE is a volunteer organization that helps socioeconomically disadvantaged Palo Alto High School students attend and succeed in college. In its first few years, the support RTE offered was limited to financial aid with minimal mentorship. Now, it’s finding its feet and expanding after the Covid-19 pandemic. “When I was there, there was bareCurrent Rise Together Education students gather at the fall meet-up in August 2021. Alumnus and co-director Sammy Vasquez says that RTE is working on building a sense of community. “Traversing that whole ly any support — most of it was just fiendeavor [helping alumni post-college] is something we want to accomplish, as well as creating a greater nancial — but now we’re providing lots sense of community within all of the students. Photo: Kimberly Schwan. of different methods [of support],” said Vasquez, who was a part of the second media. midst of quarantine, creating new chalgraduating class of RTE. After completing school at San Fran- lenges for RTE to work around. More recently, the program started cisco State University, Vasquez became “COVID regulations were already in bringing in profesan alumni men- effect,” Vasquez said. “Many nonprofits sionals from dif- “Many nonprofits were tor and co-di- were struggling to figure out how to run ferent fields to talk rector on RTE’s an online fundraising event when all they to students about struggling to figure out board. were used to was hosting live/in-person topics like financial how to run an online fund“It [work- events.” literacy in order ing at RTE] is With the turn to virtual events, RTE to fuel students’ raising event when all they helping the com- looked to expand in new ways. It created post-college suc- were used to was hosting munity that you College Tour Races, in which community cess. came from,” he members could fundraise by traveling the RTE employs live/in-person events.” said. “So, being equivalent amount to visit an out-of-state a board of volun— SAMMY VASQUEZ, Rise Together able to help those RTE college student. RTE also introteer directors and Education alumnus that were in a duced student panels and workshops for advisors, and stusimilar situation RTE students, giving them an opportunident representatives working to help with that you were in.” ty to expand their learning. tasks like fundraising, events, and social Vasquez joined in June 2020, in the Hours of behind-the-scenes work

November 2021

Art by XIAOHAN LI had to happen in order to create these programs and workshops. Kimberly Schwan, mentorship chair, was among the many who helped in restoring the nonprofit post-COVID. Schwan provides one-on-one mentorship, which can range from helping with aca-

demics to finding RTE students a job. board. “Success can be graduating in four “Being able to be a part of someyears, having a great semester, landing thing working against the inequality we an exciting job, rissee so often in our ing up after a diffisystem “Success can be gradu- education cult challenge, etc.,” was a really aweSchwan said. ating in four years, hav- some opportunity Since Schwan that I just couldn’t ing a great semester, joined, the RTE pass up,” Legrand board has estab- landing an exciting job, said. lished an alumni Legrand was mentoring program rising up after a difficult the fundraising in which past stu- challenge, etc.” commissioner on dents assist curASB her sophomore — KIMBERLY SCHWAN, Rise To- year, and she said rent students, as gether Education Mentorship Chair she is looking forwell as a career networking program in ward to working on which people involved in a certain field fundraisers this year with RTE. coach students aiming to go into that “We usually have a big gala that we field. In addition, RTE has implemented plan as a fundraising event and I really support for students struggling with hope that we will be able to do that this their mental health. year and I can help organize it,” Legrand Aside from the board of said. directors and advisors, several Legrand hopes to create a stronger Paly students are involved as link between Paly and RTE. She would student representatives. They like to get input from current Paly stutake part through organiz- dents and use their feedback to improve ing events, fundraising and the program. advocacy. “I think it’s essential that as an orgaJunior Ines Legrand nization we try to expand our reach of is one of five student rep- opportunities and scholarships, whethresentatives on the RTE er that means distance-wise or really digging in here at Paly,” Legrand said. “I think it’s essential These opportunities and scholthat as an organization arships will conwe try to expand our tinue to expand as RTE integrates reach of opportunimore in-person ties and scholarships, events in the future and works towards whether that means further developing distance-wise or really their program. “As COVID digging in here at Paly” regulations become — INES LEGRAND, Rise Togeth- less restrictive, and er Education student representative we continue to open up, I am sure that Rise Together plans on making more online and/or hybrid events so that everyone can attend,” Vasquez said.

anthromagazine.org

Periods: now free of charge Text by ARATI PERIYANNAN and KARRIE HUANG

Activists applaud new law mandating complimentary menstrual products in campus bathrooms

MPTY, reads pretty much every men- ciated Student Body (ASB) had worked on a strual product dispenser ever; almost plan to provide free pads and tampons in school as if they were empty to start. The bathrooms, in summer and the first half of the wall dispensers at Palo Alto High semester. School are no exception. “We think menstrual products should be at To end this seemingly universal narrative, the disposal of everyone,” ASB board represencaddies filled with pads and tampons began to tative Micaiah Acosta said. “Menstrual cycles appear in various women’s and all-gender bath- aren’t a choice for anyone.” rooms across campus this year. It would have been difficult for ASB to pay Why weren’t the metal for and maintain the plan, wall-mounted boxes being as it didn’t technically fall used instead? The design of into their jurisdiction. Fundthose boxes requires a quaring for menstrual products ter to be inserted to dispense should not have to be taken product, rather than providout of designated money for ing them for free. Additionstudent activities. ally, the keys to open these “That’s something the dispensers are missing, so district should be providthey have not been stocked ing,” Steven Gallagher, ASB in years adviser, said. “I mean, to tell But, all of that is in the you the truth, I’m surprised it past thanks to a new state law — INES LEGRAND, junior vice hasn’t been [provided].” being cheered on by campus In October, Palo Alto president activists who had been fightUnified School District ing to get period products in campus bathrooms (PAUSD) took over the initiative after a comfor years. Asked about the spirit of ASB’s idea plaint came from the Paly site. Their implemenbeing realized, Legrand expressed excitement. tation plans were already in action when AB“I’m really thankful that this law has been 367 was passed shortly after. passed, I think it definitely helps move towards Principal Brent Kline experienced the fixing a lot of the issues that are widespread in implementation of products at his past school, not having access to menstrual products,” Leg- Santa Cruz High, and said that Paly would be rand said. in full compliance with the law. California, along with other states, recent“When I worked at Santa Cruz High, the ly passed a bill requiring public schools to pro- school’s — my Principal Advisory Committee vide free menstrual products to their students, that I had — they took steps to get it completed according to the Washington Post. Menstrual at Santa Cruz High,” Kline said. “I’m assuming Equity for All Act of 2021 (AB-367) requires all it’s going to be the same sort of process. We’ll public schools and universities to stock menstru- get it all taken care of here.” al products in all women’s and all-gender bathAccording to Jerry Berkson, assistant prinrooms as well as a minimum of one men’s bath- cipal of operations, Paly’s sourcing and supply room, citing equal access to education. It is also for menstrual products is well underway and the first law that includes universities — CSUs supplies should arrive soon. and community colleges, but curiously not UCs. “So we did a walkthrough a few weeks ago The law goes into effect next school year, to check on bathrooms for various reasons,” but implementation is happening now — but Berkson said. “One was to check out which why? Before AB-367 became law, Paly’s Asso- women’s bathrooms had the dispensers and

“This is really an equity issue, and fighting against such inequality in any possible way is absolutely necessary”

November 2021

which ones had free dispensers versus — because we used to charge, can’t do that anymore.” Since then, they have ordered new dispensers for the district to replace the metal wall-mounted boxes. “We’ve been rolling since,” he said. Long-time Paly custodian Albert Balcita said the custodial department now makes supplying menstrual products a priority. “It’s kind of like, ‘make sure we have toilet paper now’. Right?” Balcita said. “I mean, just the feminine products should have already been stocked in there.” Some bathrooms require stocking more frequently than others, though. For example, Balcita said that some days he will fully stock

Albert Balcita, custodian, shows the district-supplied products as he unboxes them, temporarily storing them in the custodians office until they need to be distributed. Photo: Arati Periyannan

a bathroom like the Media Arts Center (MAC) bathroom and even just two days later, there wouldn’t be any products left. “For students that maybe would take more than one or two products at a time, the odds of that student needing those products is a lot higher than maybe administration would think,” Josie Jones, Director of Sales at Aunt Flow — a company that specializes in supplying period products for businesses and schools — said. “Typically, my response to that is if you’re taking product, it’s probably because they need product.” Period poverty — the inability to afford menstrual products — and equal access to education are some of the issues cited by AB-367. Equity was also a motivating factor for ASB. “Period products should be free,” ASB junior vice president Ines Legrand said. “This is really an equity issue, and fighting against such inequality in any possible way is absolutely necessary.” Another concern prompting activists to call for free menstrual products was the pink tax, which refers to the markup on many products marketed towards women; and the sales tax, which is intended to be for ‘luxury’ items. One study by the Consumer Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to independent product testing, found pink-taxed products can cost up to 50% more for simply cosmetic differences. This adds up to a staggering $1,300 a year for the average woman. Menstrual products are also taxed as non-essential items, when they are necessary for basic hygiene. In California, the tax on menstrual products was repealed in 2019, but it remains in many other states. Affordability and equity are tenets fueling the goal of creating accessibility to free products Activist and junior vice president Ines Legrand talks about her efforts with the ASB menstrual product everywhere for Aunt Flow. plan and her excitement regarding the new state bill. Photo: Anushe Irani “Even though menstruation isn’t a listed es that still have products available for any trans Title IX issue, it’s very much a Title IX issue,” ting their purpose. “Be able to use one [product] and not two students, or non-binary students to be able to Jones said. The goal for the law is that the funding and just kind of toss the other one back so be- access products when they need them,” Jones for menstrual products will help supply those cause somebody else can use that,” Balcita said. said. Balcita, however, expressed worry about who cannot access them, not toward product “So I like to see it be used in that kind of manwaste — but inappropriate use of the products ner, like, a little bit more of a respectful man- potential misuse in the men’s restrooms specifically. is already a problem. Plastered on walls, stuck ner.” Because the law requires that menstru“I mean, yeah, we can put it in there,” he in sinks and even squirreled away behind toial products be stocked in said. “But it’s gonna be a disaster. You know, belets, the menstrual products a men’s bathroom as well cause it’ll be all over. You know, if the creativity have been misused at Paly, as all women’s bathrooms, comes out, and then all of a sudden, we have Balcita said. implementation in at least 3-D artwork on the wall.” “I’ll find them on the one men’s bathroom is Looking forward, Legrand said she is floor,” he said. “And then necessary by next year. But pleased with the implementation of menstrual when they’re on the floor, the amount of product to products and hopes to see it be more widespread I’m not going to pick them provide, and how, is still an in the future. up and put them in the bag, — JOSIE JONES, Director of open question, owing to the “I think administration has been taking for the next person to pick different levels of need and steps, they’re putting products in a lot of bathup and use, you know what Sales at Aunt Flow environment in the men’s rooms, though not all of them, so just being I mean? So if there’s ten of able to like move towards like having all those, them on the floor, sweep the ten up and throw bathroom compared to the women’s bathroom. “With most schools that we talked to, we especially in nonbinary and boys’ bathrooms is them away.” Disappointed, he said that he would like to also recommend, if not a full dispenser in the really important, and I’m really excited to see see the products be used but in a manner befit- men’s restrooms, also doing smaller display box- that change,” Legrand said.

“Even though menstruation isn’t a listed Title IX issue, it’s very much a Title IX issue”

anthromagazine.org

Text by PAYTON ANDERSON

THE MOVEMENT BEHIND Student activists challenge silent media. #StopAsianHate. What happens post-viral?

tributor to the 48.1% of AAPI people who reported being victim to verbal harassment through the use of hateful ‘anti-China,’ ‘anti-immigrant,’ statements like ‘Kung Flu,’ and ‘Chinese Virus.’ In this year alone, Asian Americans reported being targeted 4,500 times, the report stated. What’s more, this data fails to account for the fact that the majority of hate crimes committed against the AAPI ohannah Seah stood with a community were underreported as a result sign in her hand and a chant on of online and political stigmatization, acher lips. As one of those leading the cording to the report. Kelly Tanaka, student activist and protest, the Palo Alto High School junior and newly elected Associated Student freshman at Paly, is deeply concerned about these numbers. Body President walked with “Seeing how the covthe flood of others who all Hate crimes erage of Asian Hate crimes asked for the same thing — declined without a decline change. against the in these acts of violence was The Stop Asian Hate just appalling,” Tanaka said. protest that took place May AAPI community Tanaka said she be2 in downtown Palo Alto increased by 70% lieves that the earliwas a turning point of acer media coverage tion as hate crimes against over the course of hate against the the Asian American and AAPI community of this year. Pacific Islander community was a had continued to rise. good Seah watched in horror as fear permeway to get people ated the community, including her closest friends, family, and herself. Marching to- aware of these ongogether symbolized the communal strength ing issues, but progress within the AAPI community as well as with has since stalled their allies, yet Seah now claims that the ac- due to now that tion for which they called for does not seem the Stop Asian Hate movement to have been answered. “I believe that there is a decline of me- has stopped dia coverage because some people have sim- headlining. Anothply moved on,” Seah said, “The issue got it’s er student screen time and it’s up now.” has After nearly every media outlet covered who imthis movement when the hashtag ‘StopA- been sianHate’ flooded phones of Palo Alto High pacted by the School students in early May, attention is Stop Asian Hate now elsewhere. Paly student activists are movement is Seah, deeply concerned by how the silence of the who became espemedia and once-active participants in the cially involved in the Stop Stop Asian Hate movement do not align Asian Hate movement after with the statistics suggesting there is still so the Atlanta shooting in March, where a 22-year-old white man much work to be done. According to the annual Hate Crime shot and killed eight AAPI people Statistics Report released by the FBI on at a day spa. He later confessed that Aug. 30, hate crimes against the AAPI com- these actions derived from a place of munity increased by 70% over the course of racially motivated hate, according to the this year despite the overall annual decrease Atlanta Police Department. “After reading about the Atlanta shootof hate crimes in the United States. ing I was emotionally wrecked for days,” The pandemic remains a driving con-

November 2021

Seah said. “I felt angry, distressed, and helpless.” Seah said t h at

Art by ALISON XIONG

A SHRINKING HASHTAG such prejudice reveals the great amount of progress that still needs to be made. To move toward justice, the Paly community needs more education on the issues facing

the AAPI community and other marginalized groups, Seah said. The Dangers of Performative Activism According to Tanaka, the early media coverage and action towards stopping hate against Asians was relatively effective in further educating and encouraging people to take action alongside the Stop Asian Hate movement. It was when things took a decidedly performative turn that the good co-president Hillary Cheung, a senior, is intentions of the person behind the screen adamant on continuing the conversation on stopping hate against began to stall any positive Asians. action, Tanaka said. “I did think that media “While social media “The issue got coverage aided in the Stop isn’t the end-all-be-all of its screen time Asian Hate movement, spethis issue, it definitely played a role in making this move- and it’s up now.” cifically within social media, which allowed all people ment a talked-about sub— JOHANNAH SEAH, [young, old, etc.] to spread ject,” Tanaka said. “While ASB President the word and promote activactivism does have its upism,” Cheung said. sides, there are definitely As Cheung sees it, condrawbacks such as how word of mouth can only tinuing the conversation, continuing to properly educate others and ourselves on go so far.” Seah’s take is similar: these issues, and recognizing personal privPlatforms like Instagram ilege are the first few steps towards achievhave now made it easier ing societal justice reform. “It is often that although something than ever for people to post information without the ac- is trending, people don’t really put anything into action,” Cheung said. “Once the tion to back it up. “When someone uses ‘trend’ of support is over, people start forsocial media as their ‘woke getting about the issue and lose their passion for it.” homework’ These issues are not and leaves “Once the ‘trend’ something that can be it at that, or fixed by simply reposting simply re- of support is something to your story. posts withover, people start As Seah describes it, endout truly caring and forgetting about the ing hate against Asians takes the ability to call understandout racism in classrooms, ing the issue, issue and lose their with friends, with family, it can bepassion for it.” and in the media. come prob“Ending the strucl e m a t i c , ” — HILLARY CHEUNG, senior tural violence towards Seah said. Asian Americans means extensive education about Asian AmeriTaking Action The Paly Asian American cans in history and education, and unlearnStudent Union continues to take ing false and offensive notions about Asian action against AAPI hate through Americans,” Seah said. “When we all deits club meetings at Paly. Using the cide that Asian American issues and rights club’s active Instagram account as a matter in our daily lives, we can continue to way to provide followers with updates make changes on a governmental and syson the Stop Asian Hate Movement, temic level.”

anthromagazine.org

NFTs: Art or Fraud?

Text and Art by ERIN KIM

Although lauded for its financial potential, the token is not without its caveats.

thereum is the future, reads a message in Sharpie on the wall outside the art building. But what exactly is Ethereum? A host of non-fungible tokens, Ethereum is the second largest cryptocurrency platform in terms of market capitalization. As an NFT it is a unit of data similar to the cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. Stored on a blockchain, a system for recording transactions made in cryptocurrency, NFT has the property of being non-fungible, rendering the data unique. Commonly connected to art and other forms of intellectual property, NFTs are popular for their lucrative payments for art and other forms of artistic intellectual properties including animations. The method represents an option of purchasing unique work, not dissimilar to paying for intellectual property rights or copyrights for a piece. NFT artists believe that the financial potential of the token is the next evolution of art. “It’s a[n] investment for the future,” independent NFT artist Brendon Whites said. “I think we all saw how unreliable the economy gets with the pandemic. The artist community can go away at any moment, and this is an investment for financial stability and reliability and fair compensation. The more people who are curious about NFTs, the stronger and better the community is.” The trend is rapidly expanding, with large scale platforms and applications such as Reddit, Adobe Photoshop, and Discord mentioning plans to implement NFT options via inte-

November 2021

gration of cryptocurrency wallets into their software. “I can sell a drawing for thousands the amount a drawing might have or will have if I did it through a commissions process from a potential buyer,” Whites said. “I can control my own worth, and it’s just a place where all these like minded people can get together to control his or her own income through these big apps and websites. It’s great that this is the brand-new future of crypto and art.” Whites plans on releasing his own collection via collaboration with larger artists “Governments are aware of crypin the near future. to and it’s a legitimized asset now,” said “I’ve worked hard on it, and I feel like Whites. “The internet is the future of monI’ve put in the effort to improve myself and ey, and trading just comes along with it. It’s my mindset.” Whites said. “NFTs are the freedom of expression that drives the econnext evolution of art, and crypto is growomy.” ing like crazy. People are Critics also believe buying and creating, and it’s just a super strong cy- “I think NFTs capitalize that NFTs represent unreliability rather than cle that is the future.” on art, and it’s going to stability. Critics say that “Well, I think NFTs NFTs, despite their lu- lose its original meancapitalize on art, and it’s crative promises, open ing of being something going to lose its origithe doorway for money nal meaning of being laundering. everyone can connect something everyone can “It’s like rich people connect to and feel,” buying bad artwork, you to and feel.” know?” Lan said. “Peo— ESTHER LAN, senior said senior Esther Lan. “NFTs don’t really qualple bought a NFT for a ify as pieces of art, rathbunch of money and get er they’re like stocks and something to make a bunch of income without being taxed. They only made it a taxable thing money off of.” around last week.” US president Joe Biden’s recent $1 trillion infrastructure bill has a new application of 6050i, a part of the federal tax code that now is aimed towards maintaining and billing crypto assets. The transfer of digital assets above $10,000 in value will be treated like money, and failure to comply will now be considered a felony offense, with punishments up to 10 years in jail.

Text by ERIN KIM and TYLER WANG

Art by ERIN KIM

Working towards the dream DreamCatchers aims to decrease the education gap within the school district

ducational discrepancies within the Palo Alto Unified School District have remained long standing problems, stemming from racial and financial divides within the community. According to 2019 CAASPP Testing results, with PAUSD Having 58% of low-income students not meeting the english standard and 60% missing the math standard, hundreds of middle school students are left behind the learning curves of PAUSD schools. As curriculums continuously evolve, more students may result in having problems with keeping up, due to lack of money or help available. DreamCatchers, a non-profit tutoring and support organization, has a goal of assisting low-income students, and promotes the importance of education. DreamCatchers students are able to gain from their program resources and information that would otherwise be out of grasp. “It’s a win-win for students and tutors because the students from our program are all low income and so they don’t have many people in their family who

didn’t even go to school here,” Program dents outside of just academics. Manager Jessica Sanchez said. “They might “They are all from different grades,” not know anyone who went to high school Sanchez said. “Some are from Fletcher, esin this area or graduated from high school.” pecially those from JLS, they don’t all know The community DreamCatchers fosters each other because one, it’s a big school, extends beyond the two they’re in differnormal student-tutor ent grades and three relationship, establishFletcher students come ing high schoolers as in so they don’t know both homework helpeach other and this is ers and mentors for supposed to be a third each student. space for them outside “They might not of home and school know anyone who for them to feel comwent to high school in fortable in. We do difthis area or graduatferent kinds of games, ed from high school,” — JESSICA SANCHEZ, icebreakers, things to Sanchez said. “So I DreamCatchers Program Manager get them to know each think it allows them to other and interact with not only be exposed to one another so that them, but also get influenced by their tutor they feel safe and comfortable.” and find inspiration with them. They’re a While they now hold sessions at both the mentor to them that isn’t a teacher or an JLS and Greene middle schools, their main adult but someone who’s near their age and issue still remains the inability to aid every can give them advice on what classes to take student they can due to a lack of mainwhen they’re in high school or what clubs to stream spotlight. get involved in.” “It was really hard for me, being first DreamCatchers also goes one step fur- generation and getting my foot in the door,” ther to support the students, taking the time DreamCatchers Advisory Council Program to teach social-emotional skills and creating Member Kate Young said. “I feel like this an environment all students can be comfort- program is what would help many students able in. With Wayfinder, a new curriculum who are in similar situations with me of eithat promotes social-emotional learning ther being the first in their family to do anyskills through adaptive lessons, tutors thing and it’s a program that really needs to are able to focus more on be out there.” the well-being of In the next year, DreamCatchers plans the stuto expand their horizons, hosting another program at Fletcher Middle School to accommodate the additional students and to make DreamCatchers more accessible to all students, regardless of which school they attend.

“It allows them to not only be exposed to them, but also get influenced by their tutor and find inspiration with them.”

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Text by OLGA MUYS and additional reporting by EMMA KIM

The state of student Pandemic leaves seniors without vital self-defense knowledge

epper spray, tasers, and wickedly sharp (but cute) key chains. All are tools of self- defense that are entirely common in the average woman’s purse, but largely inaccessible to the average high school student. Tasers and pepper spray are both illegal for those under the age of 16 to purchase or own in the state of California without signed parental permission. And those key chains, even if they are shaped like a cute cat head, are more than likely to catch the disapproval of administrators on campus. So, then, what’s the student to do? Learning basic self-defense would be the logical course of action. This however, is easier said than done. Due to COVID-19 and previous issues with finding suitable instructors for the course, the current student body at Palo Alto High School has not undergone any school-sponsored self-defense training. Despite plans to reintroduce

November 2021

Scan to listen to the audio version of this story from KPLY! the unit into physical education classes years here, we’ve done self-defense classes for freshmen during the second semester, in physical education maybe 20 of those a problem still remains: Seniors will now years. We normally did it with freshmen. likely be heading off to colYou know, the last two lege with no self-defense “In my 25 years years, we definitely haven’t training. done it. And then the year When we first set out here, we’ve done before you were freshmen, to investigate the issue of self-defense class- we had a guy do it, and self-defense classes at Paly, we didn’t love the job that we did so under the im- es in physical edhe did. We weren’t able to pression that there never somebody good for ucation maybe 20 find had been a self-defense your freshman year.” unit taught in the phys- of those years.” When asked if they ical education program. had known about the pre— PETER DIEPENBROCK, vious class offering, these After a brief conversation PE teacher were the responses of sevwith Peter Diepenbrock, a longtime Paly PE teacher eral Paly seniors. and sports coach, those assumptions were “I have never heard of that until three quickly dispelled. seconds ago,” Willow Schmidt said. “I definitely think that self-defense Rohini Bharat added, “I did not classes should be taught know that. I would like for that at Paly,” Diepenbrock to happen again.” said. “In my 25

self-defense

Art by XIAOHAN LI

Giada Parigi said, “I didn’t know there The benefits of self-defense training can used to be one.” also go beyond the physical. Senior VicWhen asked if reimplementa- toria Liao, who has previously taken Judo tion was a priority for the PE department, lessons, said that just having the knowledge Diepenbrock responded: “Yeah, absolutely. to defend herself has had a real positive Absolutely. As a department ... we think it’s impact. [self-defense] very useful.” “I haven’t done Judo or martial arts in This was reassuring a while,” Liao said. “But news to hear, to an ex- “I do feel a lot more I still have retained a tent. Upperclassmen, lot of the skills that I’ve especially seniors, will comfortable when learned, so I do feel a lot still be going off into the more comfortable when I’m...outside by world or to college withI’m ...outside by myself out a vital piece of life myself just knowing just knowing that I can knowledge. protect myself if I need This is particularly that I can protect to.” disturbing to note when myself if I need to.” It’s heartening to hear taking into consideration that self-defense knowl— VICTORIA LIAO, senior edge can in fact be effecthe fact that women in college are three times tive. It also emphasizes more likely to be sexually assaulted, and just how large of an issue it is that seniors women between the ages of 18 to 24, who don’t have the opportunity to receive it are not in college, are four times more from our school. likely to be sexually assaulted than the avIf this potentially life-altering knowlerage woman, according to statistics from edge doesn’t come from school, then anRAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual vi- other option could be to receive private olence organization. training at a self defense studio. But at “I think that as...a young woman, walk- what cost? ing home in the dark or something you ofQuite a bit, as it turns out. The averten kind of get a little nervous,” Parigi said. age cost for a month of self-defense lessons the inclusion of a self-defense unit in the “It would be great to have a self-defense around the Bay Area hovers between $125 required Living Skills course. However, this would surely take longer than a year to imclass. I think that would be really helpful.” and $275. plement, therefore missing this year’s class Schmidt said, “I definitely would have The solution? Well, of seniors. As a long-term liked to have that [self-defense] knowledge. that much is uncertain. goal, however, it should be … I also don’t think I’ve really needed it. Something small, such as “I think that...as pursued. But yeah, it would be nice to have that you a self defense club spona young woman, The solution most know, in my back pocket.” sored by a PE teacher conducive to the current But is self-defense training actually ef- doesn’t sound like a bad walking home in climate would likely be fective in reducing rates of sexual assault idea, but the logistical online self-defense courses and violence? The answer appears to be issues of finding and hir- the dark or somestudents could participate yes. ing an external instruc- thing you often in at home. If the school Women who took part in a nine-hour, tor to teach at the club kind of get a little covered the costs for stucommunity based empowerment self-de- seem a bit steep. Not to dents who wished to refense course experienced significantly low- mention, the question nervous.” ceive self-defense training, er rates of sexual assault in the year follow- of how Covid-19 restric— GIADA PARIGI, senior it would allow seniors and ing the course than women who had not tions might limit physical those in other grades to completed the course, according to a study contact or activity in an at least gain a basic unpublished in 2020 by Jocelyn Hollander indoor environment such as the wrestling derstanding of valuable self-defense techand Jeanine Cunningham, professors at the room. University of Oregon. A larger goal to work towards might be niques.

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‘Dune’ smart sci-fi

Text by OLGA MUYS

Art by ALISON XIONG

How ‘Dune’ (2021) confronts colonialism, and why it matters

Overall rating: 8.5/10 Cinematography and visual effects: 9/10 | Score: 8/10 | Acting: 8/10

he novel Dune, written by Frank Herbert in 1965, was groundbreaking within the genre of science fiction. While the 2021 film adaptation directed by Denis Villeneuve cannot quite say the same, it is nonetheless an engaging film, displaying a depth rare in blockbuster films today with its commentary of colonialism. The film is set in the distant year of 10191, when space and its planets have become united under the rule of an enigmatic, calculating emperor. Planets are ruled over by imperial houses, which are loyal to the emperor but of course have their own motivations and conflicts. The main character, a young man named Paul, is destined to inherit the position of Duke in one of these houses, called House Atreides. The family currently resides on the planet of Caladan, but receives the news that House Atreides will be replacing another house, House Harkonnen, as the imperial overseers of the planet Arrakis. Though suspicious of it all being a trap set by the emperor, House Atreides begins the transition anyway. Arrakis’s sands are rich

November 2021

with a substance known as Spice, regarded as sacred by the Fremen, the indigenous people of the planet. While the exact function of Spice is not really revealed in the film, the audience is told that it is vital for space navigation and travel, and therefore a highly coveted commodity. Spice collection and distribution by the Harkonnens is a brutal affair for the Fremen. In the opening scene, they are seen trying and failing to retaliate against Harkonnen Spice harvesters. When House Atreides comes into power on Arrakis, Paul’s father, Leto Atreides claims to want to rebuild relations with the Fremen, although he makes it clear that his priority is still continuing to harvest and export Spice. Without heading into spoiler territory, there are clear parallels between the story of Dune and the story of Western imperialism and colonialism in the Middle East. The desert setting of Arrakis, along with the fact that the Fremen dialect is heavily influenced by Arabic, create a clear association between the planet and the Middle East region on earth. Additionally, Spice is an economically lucrative natural resource vital to transportation and is abundant in this particular desert region. Sound familiar? Spice is oil. Throughout the film, the imperial houses make it clear that the primary, or even only, motivation for their presence on the planet is to extract Spice and pocket the money without a cent going to the Fremen. The Fremen hold extremely valuable information about how to survive not only the harsh desert climate of Arrakis, but the face of attacks by massive,

carnivorous Sand Worms that lurk beneath the sands. However, the Fremen are dismissed by the imperial houses as nothing more than violent and “uncivilized.” That claim of a violent nature of course comes after the Fremen attempt to protect their homeland and sacred Spice against the forces of House Harkonnen. Dune asks the viewer to question the legitimacy and morality of the presence of the imperial houses on the planet, even when the protagonist is a member of them. The legitimate critiques and themes of colonization within the film are a nice deviation from trends within other big-budget sci-fi or action films. Often, these genres fall into the trend of only being about seeing big things crash into other big things and making a big explosion, with little actual substance. Now, don’t get me wrong. There are still plenty of big explosions, cool spaceships, and dramatic music in Dune. Indeed, wonderfully rendered explosions and spaceships and the fantastic score by Hans Zimmer are some of my favorite parts of the movie. But what made me like it more, and what made it (somewhat) worth the twoand-a-half-hour runtime, is that it feels as though it were about more than just that. That runtime, however, does lead to one of my primary critiques of the film. Despite that goliath-sized runtime, Dune somehow manages to feel empty. The film covers just half of the events of the book itself (although, Herbert’s novel is a staggering 722 pages, so this can be forgiven). It took me two days to get through it during my at-home viewing, so I can only imagine it would be a slog to get through in theaters. Still, as said earlier, we only get to see the beginning of the story, so we’ll have to wait to see the full scope of what the franchise has to say regarding colonization. Even so, having a major blockbuster film even begin to confront the ideas of colonialism is significant.

Text by ASH MEHTA

Art by ALISON XIONG

Coming out post-COVID How self-isolation and the return to school helped students realize their identities

ones who helped me with this,” Elliot said. It’s no surprise that social media fills that lack of representation lots of queer teenagers feel. Seeing other people like yourself is vital to feel less alone and reach self-acceptance, according to the psychologist-run magazine Psychology Today. Elliot in particular found the Internet crucial for his identity exploration. “I met an online group and we’ve been chatting for about a year now and junior goes into the quarwe’re all genderqueer,” Elliot said. “And antine identifying as a woman, we’d be like, hey, can you try this name and comes out of it a socially or these pronouns and see how it feels? ... transitioned trans man. WithAnd I was like, oh my God, he/him proout the pandemic, he said, it would’ve taknouns feel … so much better.” en him a lot longer to come to terms with Paly is a welcoming and accepting his identity. place, for the most part, he said. All of the For over a year, Palo Alto High School students interviewed were pleasantly surteens were free from peers’ expectations prised with their coming out experience. to blend in with their straight, cisgender Eliza didn’t even feel the need for an peers. This lack of social norms left them official coming out. She much room to explore said her friends simply their sexuality and gen- “I think a lot of accepted her. der identity. “I didn’t like, forpeople were looking “I think a lot of mally come out to evpeople were looking back on their gender eryone,” Eliza said. “I back on their gender just started telling them and their sexuality and and their sexuality about crushes on peoquestioning it when ple of other genders. It and questioning it they were in the privawas pretty much all poscy of their homes,” said when they were in itive. I’m really lucky we pansexual junior Eliza. live in Palo Alto.” A trans male Paly the privacy of their This isn’t always junior, who we will re- homes.” the case. A fair number fer to under the pseud— ELIZA, junior of students faced some onym Elliot, went one negative reaction to step further, saying he being open about their would have probably taken much longer identity. to realize he was a transgender man had it Elliot had a hard time with locknot been for the pandemic. er rooms after coming out. “I’d be too busy focusing on fitting in “People in the locker to actually think, hey, I feel weird, maybe I can make this better,” Elliot said. The absence of social stigmas isn’t the only way shelter-in-place changed things. Students had a lot of time to themselves — and a lot of time to be online. “It [the pandemic] brought me a lot closer to my online friends, who were the

room got very uncomfortable because they thought I was looking,” he said. “It forced me to move to the gender neutral locker room … but it was just not a great situation,” he said. At the same time, Paly’s climate for LGBTQ+ students has changed for the better over the past few years, according to Eliza. “At first it was … just one group, and now it’s like every other person I see [is LGBTQ+],” she said. “It’s been a really nice change where I feel like the community is expanding,” she said. Eliza has some final words of wisdom for Paly students who struggle with their sexuality or gender identity. “Not everyone has a great experience coming out or finding acceptance,” she said. “I think [my advice is] just being firm in your identity and knowing that it’s okay to identify yourself as something … that makes you feel most comfortable.”

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Books for a better world Text by MAYA MUKHERJEE

ngelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow are among the laundry list of women in Hollywood who accused movie producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct. But how did the world find out about their experiences? “She Said” attempts to explain. Written by the two New York Times reporters who broke the story on Weinstein’s sexual misconduct, “She Said” is about the process of uncovering this major sexual assault case. Kantor and Twoher’s story revealed that Weinstein had a long history of using his status to sexually harass or coerce women. This story is often credited with sparking the “#MeToo” movement, in which thousands of women posted their experiences of sexual assault on social media. The reporters detail the whole process of breaking the story, from their first inklings that Weinstein was suspect,

ou know that feeling when you really want to roast your best friend, but you also don’t want to buy into the patriarchy? Me too. It’s a real struggle, but luckily, “Wordslut” is here to save the day. “Wordslut” by Amanda Montell takes a sociolinguist’s perspective on the way misogyny is built into the English language. She talks about how being feminine is seen as an insult and the way certain words (‘hysteric,’ ‘shrill’) are often used to dismiss women. In addition, she addresses something that I’ve thought about a lot but never heard discussed. Women tend to use ‘hedges,’ or filler words such as ‘like’ and ‘you know,’ more often than men. It’s often described as a negative thing. However, Montell argues that women use these hedges to invite into the conversation, as opposed to expressing uncertainty (why is uncertainty considered negative, anyway?). The idea that

November 2021

‘just because the way women speak is different doesn’t mean that it’s worse’ is something that came up repeatedly, and something that needs to be discussed more. “Wordslut” manages to be both educational and entertaining. The topic can sound random and insignificant at first, but as the author discusses how the usage of language affects cultural dynamics and specifically the relationship between English and feminism, the importance of understanding language becomes clear. Since “Wordslut” was published, nothing has changed. Women still find themselves in similar situations every single day. Once you’re aware, misogyny’s foothold in our language is obvious. A word of warning, though: This book is explicit. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many curse words on one page. But with a whole chapter dedicated to cussing free of misogyny, what else would you expect?

to urging their sources to come forward with their stories while still trying to protect the victims, to dealing with Weinstein’s company trying to block the story, to the eventual publishing. This book not only addresses the alarming frequency of sexual assault, but discusses the sometimes delicate line between investigative journalism and privacy. The reporters wanted to protect and support their sources, but also believed that publishing the story would help more women than it would hurt. For anyone interested in the intersection of journalism and activism, this book is a window into the world of investigative journalism and how professional journalists cover complex issues. This isn’t just an issue we see on the news — it’s something we see affecting members of the Palo Alto High School community. This topic is no less relevant now than when it was published.

Art by ARATI PERIYANNAN and ALISON XIONG

Four activist books that will open your eyes to injustices

s living on minimum wage possible? Author Barbara Ehrenreich decided to leave her comfortable life behind and go “undercover” into several minimum wage jobs to see what it was like. Working as a waitress, in a cleaning service, and a salesperson at Walmart, she quickly realized living on minimum wage would be harder than anticipated. The most interesting part, though, were the people she met along the way. Ehrenreich wasn’t quite where her compatriots were: She could return to her stable, well-paid job at any time. The people she met at her jobs did not have that safety net, yet they were willing to open up to her with their personal stories. Most people cannot get by on just one minimum wage job, she found. Even when working full-time, she struggled to pay rent, buy food, and foot the many unexpected bills. It seems that “minimum wage” should be an amount that people can live on — that’s what the name implies, after all. Since the COVID-19

nti-racist, assimilationist, and segregationist. You likely know at least one, but what do the rest mean? And most importantly, how can you become one of them? (Read the book to find out, if it isn’t already clear.) “Stamped” by Jason Reynolds is a “remix” of the book “Stamped from the Beginning” by Ibram X. Kendi. It’s shorter and written in a modern, easyto-read way, but covers the same ideas. “Stamped” covers the history of racist ideas, from the ‘very first racist’ to now. It draws distinctions between three main categories: segregationists, assimilationists, and anti-racists. The authors are blunt and don’t mind offending any delicate sensibilities. This straight-to-the-point style avoids any ambiguities and hopefully leads their

pandemic, this has only been worsened, making this book even more of the time. Pick up this book to learn about income inequality in America from the inside — and since it’s written like a novel, it’s easy to keep reading. (In fact, it’s hard to disengage.) As someone who has lived in a privileged place my whole life, it’s easy to forget just how different everyone’s lives are. “Nickel and Dimed” let me confront the many forms that privilege takes and the things that I (and you, probably) take for granted. After reading this book, I was filled with the urge to do something. (The urge to do something may be a common side effect of reading this book. If symptoms occur, check out some Bay Area organizations targeting homelessness and poverty. LifeMoves and the Ecumenical Hunger Program are both great places to start.)

readers to stop and consider their own views. If you’re looking to better yourself, this book is for you. The recent prominence of the Black Lives Matter movement has inspired many to work on becoming full-fledged anti-racists and challenging unconscious biases. This book is a great way to start — although that journey is never truly over. It takes more than a book to become part of the force attempting to dismawntle systemic racism in America, but educating yourself is the first step. It also takes more than a few books, but if you are looking to read more on anti-racism, try “Caste” by Isabel Wilkerson and “So You Want to Talk About Race” by Ijeoma Oluo.

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Text by MAYA MUKHERJEE

Art by XIAOHAN LI

One fish, two fish, red fish ... Blackfish? Another celebrity joins the list of people accused of Blackfishing — and it’s time to stop

hen Jesy Nelson announced her debut music video after leaving the iconic girl group Little Mix, I was ecstatic. I counted down the days until its release, and it was all I talked about for weeks. But when I saw the video for the first time, I was appalled. Nelson is just the latest culprit of Blackfishing, or making yourself physically appear Black or ethnically ambiguous. Nelson has artificially darkened her skin, used lip fillers, and appropriated ‘Black aesthetics’ such as durags and gold teeth in recent years. Although she claims to have no bad intentions, her recent music video has faced harsh backlash. However, Nelson is far from the first Blackfishing celebrity. The Kardashians are a prime example of Blackfishing, which is a facet of cultural appropriation. For instance, all of the Kardashians have been accused of artificially tanning their skin to appear darker, and Kim Kardashian has been criticized for wearing her hair in cornrows, a traditionally Black hairstyle. She is often considered the beginning of the Blackfishing issue in the public eye. Since then, many other celebrities have faced similar accusations. Rita Ora, Ariana Grande and Iggy Azalea are just a few. Many are outraged at this ‘trend’ because Black people face discrimination based on the very traits that white celebrities are exploiting for profit. For example, DeAndre Arnold, a 2020 graduate of Barbers Hill High School in Texas, wasn’t allowed to walk in his graduation ceremony without cutting off his dreadlocks, according to CNN. Meanwhile, when Kim Kardashian braided her hair in cornrows and referred to them as ‘Bo Derek braids,’ referencing the white actress’s braids in the movie “10,” she was praised for her beauty. “After years of degrading Black people and Black women specifically, how is it fair to take those same features and profit/benefit off of it?” Palo Alto High School junior

November 2021

Johannah Seah, who identifies as Chinese to an extent it’s okay. But looking as if you American, said. ‘changed’ your race isn’t [okay]. It’s comWanna Thompson, the journalist who pletely offensive.” coined the term “Blackfishing” on Twitter, Other aspects of Black culture are also said that the main problem with Blackfish- frequently taken by non-Black people in ing is that the white women can selectively order to seem ‘trendy.’ For instance, Paly choose features to imitate while ignoring students incorporate many phrases from others. African American Vernacular English, or “What makes this ‘phenomenon’ AAVE, into their vocabulary. AAVE is the [Blackfishing] alarming is dialect of English commonthat these women have the “The problem ly associated with Black luxury of selecting which culture, and many ‘slang’ aspects they want to emulate with these excuses words have stemmed from without fully dealing with as ‘bae’ or ‘no cap.’ is that artists con- it, such the consequences of Black“I think that this is inness,” Thompson wrote in a fuse Black Americredibly disrespectful since Paper Mag article. there are actual people that Some celebrities, like can hyper-visibility talk like that [use AAVE],” Nelson, say that they are with power.” senior Nisha Mata said. just trying to emulate the “Making fun of it, or other — MIKKI KENDALL, author people who talk like that, music and cultures they are inspired by. However, Mikjust goes back to the severe ki Kendall, author of “Hood Feminism,” segregation and racism that has occurred in wrote in an article for The Guardian that the US.” Nelson’s excuse of wanting to appreciate Rojas also has observed non-Black stuand pay homage to the hip-hop music she dents appropriating aspects of Black culture. grew up with is not good enough. “Specifically with dudes, there are “The problem with these excuses is that some who think passing as ‘Black’ is an aesartists confuse Black American hyper-visi- thetic and start using it as an excuse to say bility with power, assuming that the cultural the n-word because they have a ‘pass,’ Rojas influence of Black music reflects a level of said. “It’s absolutely disgusting.” access and protection for Black people that Because I’m not Black myself, I can’t does not actually exist in the US, the personally attest to the harm that disUK or anywhere else,” Kendall plays of cultural appropriation like said. this might cause a community, and Although Blackfishing is I do not want to speak over any mostly talked about in larger Black people. However, it’s clear settings than high schools, some that blatantly making yourself Palo Alto High School students look like someone who has faced have observed it at Paly as well. centuries of discrimination be“The way I view it is as if cause it’s profitable is unaccepta Caucasian per son were to able. get a tan and dress Latino As a former die-hard fan as an aesthetic and of Nelson, learning about allow others to refer the potential dangers to them as ‘Latino,’ of Blackfishing was said Fiorella Gareye-opening and cia-Rojas, a Latina disappointing. To Middle College me, her behavior student from seems inexcusPaly. “I see a lot able. To Nelson [of] this happen and others set on at Paly, where co-opting aspects white girls get of other cultures: fake tans, and It’s time to stop.

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November 2021

Anthro Volume 4 Issue 1

Articles inside

Trouble with transit

New free meal program impacts low-income students

Re-brand reflections

Incubator Spotlight