Vol. I, No. 6

VOL. 1, NO. 6

FEBRUARY 28, 2022

THE YELLOW PAGES BASIS Independent Fremont Journalism Club

2022 BHM THEME: BLACK HEALTH AND WELLNESS

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

By Vivian Sun and Aarav Kumar

By Ariana Yi

In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized February as a month to highlight the triumphs and struggles of African Americans throughout

Throughout the following decades, mayors of cities nationwide issued yearly proclamations regarding Negro History Week, furthering the

Black History Month, since its start in the late 1900s, has grown at a rapid pace and is now celebrated by numerous countries around the world. Every year, as

theme for Black History Month, says that another major purpose of this theme was to advocate for science and the vaccine as well as to combat the pervasion of

U.S. history. February, the month now coined with the term

scope of celebration and appreciation. From this growing

a way of honoring the contributions the Black

untrustworthy news into society.

This theme also seeks to combat

Black History Month, has been dedicated to honor the legacy of

awareness of Black identity, Negro History Week bloomed

community has made to the world, the US decides on a theme

stigmas in the Black community about mental health which cause

African Americans and to recover the story of Black history.

into Black History Month in the late 1960s.

Today, Black History Month

for Black History Month. This year, the theme, “Black Health and Wellness”, was chosen,

less Black people with mental disorders to seek help.

Every year, Black History

has evolved into a worldwide

honoring Black scholars and

Month seeks to target a specific

History Month first materialized in 1915, only half a century after the abolition of slavery in the

The beginnings of Black

event. There are many ways to honor Black History Month including supporting Black-

those who work in the medical field. These practitioners work hard to guarantee equality in

aspect of African American History, from 2014’s “Civil Right in America” to 2022’s “Black

United States. That year, Carter

owned businesses, unequally

healthcare professions, and this

Health and Wellness”. Even after

G. Woodson, a Harvard-trained historian, and Jesse E. Mooland, the prominent minister, founded

affected by the pandemic, and learning about influential Black figures and their contributions to

theme seeks to honor their contributions. Moreover, this theme brings light to the

focusing on a specific corner of Black history, there is still so much to learn about and observe,

the Association for the Study of

society. This year, the Bay Area

healthcare and wellness

putting the true magnitude and

Negro Life and History (ASNLH).

This organization was dedicated to research on the contributions of African American

has set up numerous events to help people recognize the Black community. One such event is the Black History Month

disparities, common in Black communities. ASALH, the organization that decides the

richness of Black culture on display.

communities. Carter G. Woodson proposed an annual celebration to honor contributions of African Americans, and raise awareness for Black history.

Community Hike, where people gather at the Lake Chabot regional park to pay homage to the Black community. Black History Month is a time to be

ASNLH sponsored a National Negro History Week on the second week of February in 1926, coinciding with the birthdays of

more cognizant of the amazing contributions given by the African American community and to give them the credit and

Abraham Lincoln, the U.S. president who issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and Fredrick Douglas, an African

admiration they deserve.

American social reformer and abolitionist. National Negro History Week inspired various communites across the nation to organize celebrations, establish history clubs, and host performances and lectures in honor of Black history.

WHAT STUDENTS SAID: BLACK HISTORY MONTH

By Ryan Liu and Ariana Yi

WHAT DOES BHM MEAN TO YOU? During lunch, we went

and ideas they produced to make

around asking students what Black History Month meant to them. To some, it was a chance to celebrate a culture that has

the world a better place. Other students noted that African Americans have had to deal with unjust treatment from society

been oppressed for so long, to others, it was a chance to give the stories of African Americans the recognition they deserve.

despite accomplishing and sacrificing so much and that Black History Month serves as an opportunity to learn more

Students emphasized not only the hardships the African American community had to face but also the wonderful

about the unique culture that encapsulates the African American community in the past and present.

achievements they accomplished

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WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CELEBRITIES?

accusations that affected the Black population. She used portraits of herself to demonstrate strength, intelligence, bravery, and brutal reality. Many photos that we

endured regular violence from Covey.

After several tries, Douglass was finally able to escape in 1838 on a train.

Once he escaped, Douglass married a woman he had met on Mr.

have of Tubman today are from the later parts of her life.

Auld’s plantation and moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts. He attended

However, the image below is a rare image of Tubman in her younger years. While there are not many pictures of Harriet Tubman, the ones that exist are bold and expressive. Tubman changed numerous lives, helped many people, and accomplished incredible things in her life. Her

anti-slavery conventions and became heavily involved in abolitionist movements. Douglass went on a six month anti-slavery tour in 1843, and in 1860, he began writing his book “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass”.

life and legacy are ones to be recognized forever.

HOW DID HE INFLUENCE PHOTOGRAPHY? Douglass was well known for his photography. He was photographed more times than Abraham Lincoln and was also the most photographed person of the 19th century. Douglass used the portraits taken of him as a

PHOTOGRAPHY: HARRIET TUBMAN & FREDERICK DOUGLASS

By Bella Alcaine

WHO WAS HARRIET TUBMAN?

way to alter white people’s views of Black people. He would hand out his

WHO WAS FREDERICK DOUGLASS?

Tubman was most known for her extraordinary work with the

Frederick Douglass was born in February, 1818, in Maryland.

Harriet Tubman was born somewhere between 1820 and

Underground Railroad, which was created in the 18th century

When he was an infant, he was forcefully separated from his

1822 (exact date unknown) in Dorchester County, Maryland.

She was an enslaved individual,

by Black and white abolitionists.

Her immense success in traveling back to the South in

often referred to as the “Moses of Her People” for the massive amount of individuals that she brought to freedom and gave

order to free enslaved peoples led to a $40,000 dollar reward to anyone who could capture or kill her. Amazingly, Harriet was

mother and went to live with his grandmother until the age of 6.

From there, Douglass was moved to a plantation in Maryland. At the age of 8, he was sent to live

hope to. She was a spy and nurse for the Union Army, and many consider her as the first American woman to serve in the military. Tubman had always

never caught, and she continued to participate in anti-slavery movements throughout her life.

Harriet Tubman used photography as a way to debunk

showed signs of bold distaste towards slavery, and when she prevented her enslaver from

the stereotypes and false accusations that affected the Black population. She used

punishing an enslaved man when she was just twelve, her enslaver hit her in the head with a heavy weight. This brush with death did not stop her, though. She

portraits of herself to

continued to fight and rebel against the corrupt system that was slavery.

HOW DID SHE INFLUENCE PHOTOGRAPHY? Harriet Tubman used photography as a way to debunk the stereotypes and false

in the household of Hugh Auld and his wife, Ms. Auld, who taught Douglass the alphabet.

Once he learned his ABCs, he taught himself to read and write, freeing his mind and thought, a step towards physical freedom.

With his newly acquired

photographs to friends and family, and over time, many people who never met him would have pictures of him on their walls. Instead of being depicted in degrading caricatures and racial propaganda, Douglass aimed to give credit to who the Black population really was by creating classy and civilized photos.

He is credited with being the "creator" of the selfie due to his strategic portraits. A selfie is a portrait of one's self which can be manipulated to produce a specific impression of that person. Douglass purposely made his "selfies" minimalistic and refined to emphasize dignity, elegance, and intelligence. Through the use of photography, Frederick Douglass proved to many white Americans that African Americans were human

knowledge, Douglass taught other enslaved people to read and and capable of being equal to their write by using the Bible. When counterparts. word got out that Douglass was literate, he was sent to a plantation owner named Edward Covey, who was specifically known for his brutal treatment of enslaved people. He was around 16 at this time and

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BLACK BUSINESSES IN FASHION & JEWELRY

5 WAYS TO EXPLORE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE

For a long time, Black businesses were oppressed, boycotted, and destroyed by their fellow Americans. However, this did not stop or demotivate them from continuing to work hard and achieve way beyond

when she made her first appearance in 1970 with a sparkly outfit and colorful makeup.

Black-owned firms in the jewelry industry also blossomed in the past century, thanks to

1. MUSIC

expectations.

Jim Crow laws and systemic

trailblazers who proved that success was possible. Born in

racism segregated African Americans from mainstream

Cuba, Arthur Smith demonstrated his artistic talent early on,

white communities. Nonetheless, African Americans refused to let this exclusion affect their

receiving a scholarship to Cooper Union for the Advancement Of Science and Art. After Smith

contributions to America. From

graduated in 1940, he enrolled in

1900-1930, Black-owned businesses boomed, spreading throughout the US, leading to “a

a jewelry making class at NYU where he learned the basic skills of jewelry making. It was not

golden age of black business”. In

until he met Winfred Mason,

1900, Booker T. Washington founded The National Business League, a nonprofit organization that supported Black

another Black jewelry designer, that he began to focus and develop his art skills. Soon, he opened his own shop in 1946,

entrepreneurs and encouraged them to start and grow their own businesses.

An affluent Black community

later relocating to 140 West Street to boost his career. His business allowed him to become highly successful in the jewelry

emerged in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the turn of the 20th century and was named Black Wall Street.

Black Wall Street quickly grew in prosperity and thrived for

business. Smith was able to establish business relationships with famous U.S jewelry stores and also received coverage in a lot of famous shows. Smith was

years until a white mob rampaged through the community and destroyed it.

Today, Black Wall Street is still

even recognized with an exhibition at The New York’s Museum of Art and Design in 1969. Arthur Smith pioneered

remembered as a starting point for success by Black businesses.

Over the past century, Black businesses have contributed

many aspects of the Black jewelry businesses and inspired many others to follow in his footsteps.

greatly to the fashion industry.

With their unique and individual fashion styles, Black fashionistas rapidly rose to

Despite all the challenges Black businesses have faced, they still managed to create a unique and lasting legacy in both the

success. Born in 1935, Diahann Carroll rose to fame in some of the first films that featured Black actors. Her most iconic

jewelry and fashion industry.

By Caroline Wang

By Julee Jiang and Christopher Chen

demonstrates the complexity and nuance of Black culture, from the struggle and perseverance of the blues to the joy and life of hip hop. This variety of emotions makes this music genre so relatable and explains why these music types have been infused so deeply in American culture. There are many outlets to experience these various different forms of African American music, from as simple as listening to Black artists on a music streaming platform to visiting one of the many African American music museums, such as the National Museum of African American Music or the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. Black music possesses so many facets and shades, and exploring this elaborate, natural gem is crucial to a fuller understanding of African American life and culture.

2. LITERATURE African American literature began even before the American Revolution and has evolved throughout the centuries into a rich, expressive body of work.

Authors range from Philis Wheatley, a Black enslaved woman who wrote poems and books in the late 18th century, to W.E.B. Du Bois, who, through his text The Souls of Black Folk (1903), addressed the problem of racial segregation head-on. Many of these pieces are available in

photo was a shot of her donning a stunning white dress, posing for a studio portrait. Donna Summer, known as the “Queen of Disco”, dazzled the world

The development and influence of African American music has shaped much of the content we consume on Spotify, YouTube Music, or any other music streaming platforms.

African American music

Diahann Carroll

libraries and online, allowing for anyone to learn more about the thoughts, sufferings, and

happiness of African Americans throughout history.

3. THEATER Theater is yet another medium for African Americans to express themselves and the environment around them.

Writers like James Brown and William Wells Brown pioneered the way for African Americans playwriting while Langston Hughes, Ossie Davis, and Ruby Dee pushed the industry into the spotlight. To learn about Black theater and experience the sights and sounds, one can read the typescript of the first Black theater Broadway hit, Mulatto (1953) by Langston Hughs, or watch Douglas Lyon’s new play, “Chicken & Biscuits.”

4. ART African American art serves as a perfect opportunity to dive deeper into African American culture and analyze the intricacy and meaning beneath the surface of each art piece. Black culture has a complex history that can be better understood and explored through art exhibits that are located right here in the Bay Area. The Museum of the African Diaspora and the African American Art & Culture Complex, both located in San Francisco, exhibit stunning pieces of African American art that represent the Black community as a whole. Black art provides a pivotal perspective on American history and serves as a reminder of the contributions of African Americans who sacrificed everything to preserve such a vibrant culture up until today.

5. CUISINE American dishes are enjoyed globally, but most people are unaware that American food is a

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diverse mix of cuisines from different cultures. When enslaved Africans were shipped to the South, masters gave slaves limited rations in both quantity and variety, leading to the creation of soul food, an ethnic cuisine originating from African Americans. There are many variations of soul food, including vegan soul food and “Upscale Soul”, a sub-cuisine that uses fancy ingredients such as duck fat and heritage meat. For an opportunity to experience soul food yourself, consider eating at “Jackie’s Place” in San Jose, a local Black-owned restaurant.

THE STORY OF CALENDLY

By Christopher Chen

Calendly, the popular scheduling software used by millions of people around the world, has now revolutionized the way we make appointments online. With a simplistic, modernized user interface, Calendly has reduced the taxing chore of scheduling events into an effortless, stress-free task!

Calendly’s successful business model as well as attractive interface has boosted its latest market valuation to 3 billion dollars.

Growing up in the suburbs of Lagos, Nigeria, Tope Awotona was a bright, dedicated student.

When he was 12, carjackers shot and killed his dad, his role model, right in front of him. The traumatic event sparked a burning motivation in Awotona to redeem his father. Graduating

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with new perspectives on societal, judicial, and racial limitations. In Lagos, citizens rarely viewed laws and rules as impenetrable barriers, providing Awotona with a relentless fighting spirit to achieve his dreams. His early career involved jumping from tech company to tech company, ranging from IBM to Dell EMC. As a software enterprise salesperson, Tope Awotona found himself exchanging excessive amounts of emails to simply schedule a meeting.

That’s when he dreamt up his new, revolutionary idea, Calendly.

To get the new startup off the ground, Awotona raided his bank account and 401(k) to obtain sufficient funds. Eventually running out of money, he turned to venture capitalists to fund his product. Everyone said no.

Despite having a working product and real customers, Awotona found VCs funding other, less qualified ideas. He

INTERVIEW WITH ANGELA LEBLANC-ERNEST

By Winston Gu and Louis Lu We had the pleasure to interview Angela LeBlancErnest, an independent scholar, author, and multimedia content creator. She graduated from Harvard University with a BA in Afro-American Studies and

After graduating high school, I attended undergraduate school at Harvard University, attended grad school at Stanford University, and I now live in Texas. In between all of that, I also lived in Colorado and

Stanford University with an MA in American History. She

Germany.

A factor that I noticed was

specializes in the history of the Black Panther Party and founded the Black Panther Party

not on your list (in the Note section) but that I feel impacts everything was differences in

Research Project at Stanford. We

economic status that also

sat down with her to discuss her background as well as her views on race and cultural identity.

influence the experiences people have in life. In many cases, peoples’ economic status has a

Note: Cultural identity refers

bigger impact on their lives than

to identification with, or sense of belonging to, a particular group based on various cultural categories, including nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, and religion.

realized that the sole reason for these decisions was because he

HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF CULTURALLY? DID THIS IDENTIFICATION CHANGE OVER TIME?

was Black. The arduous journey taught him how to productively

I grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. In many ways from

use every penny as well as the importance of treasuring each second. Having been raised in a country where the people in power looked like him, Awotona was able to envision possibilities

the beginning, race didn’t make sense to me because New Orleans was a cultural and ethnic melting pot, historically and figuratively. It had African,

and others could not. “I grew up in a country where 99 percent of the people looked like me,” he states, “so race wasn’t something I consciously thought about. You can dwell on all the reasons you shouldn’t do something or why it’s harder for you, or you can just go out and do it.“

high school two years early, Tope Awotona was admitted to an American university at the

French, Native American, AngloAmerican, and other influences.

So outwardly looking in, I was an African American and female and I checked those boxes and others checked those boxes on paperwork for me. But even then I was always aware of how inadequate those descriptions were because we were people of multiple backgrounds, religious beliefs, gender identifications, and multi-cultural and multiethnic identities. My hope, however, was always that we could respect each other as

age of 15. His family moved to the United States in 1996, and

human no matter the multitude of identities.

the environment provided him Tope Awotona

their cultural, ethnic, and gender identities.

HOW WAS YOUR CULTURAL IDENTITY IMPORTANT TO YOU? My identities give me pride. I look at the ways in which the African American and other BIPOC (“Black, Indigenous, and people of color”) experiences are American history and how we have influenced politics, inventions, economics, music, dance, and food. Our experiences also have been at the forefront of politics, holding society accountable to the principles of this democratic experiment that is America.

WERE THERE SITUATIONS THAT YOU’VE FELT THAT YOUR CULTURAL IDENTITY HINDERED YOU OR HELPED YOU? That is a great question. I think that, if anything, my gender and economic status have been at the forefront of my personal social experiences in ways more obvious than my cultural identification. That said, there have been instances, for example in Boston, when a couple Bostonians called me and a friend a racial slur and when

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we were followed home by police on our way back from the library late at night. But that didn’t hinder or help me; it just revealed to me who those people were and how they thought.

WHAT DID YOUR GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS DO FOR A LIVING? WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE FOR THEM? My paternal grandmother was a domestic worker for a Caucasian family. I never knew my maternal grandmother or either of my grandfathers because they were not alive by the time I was born in 1970. My grandparents were from the country and moved to the city. My mother held a variety of itinerant jobs as a domestic and factory worker and never had stable employment. My father worked as a switchman and foreman for the railroad system from the time I was born until he passed away in 2010. I spent time living between my mother, father, and grandmother, so I experienced how different classes lived.

WHAT ARE YOUR OPINIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF RACE AS A CONSTRUCT TODAY? From a young age, I realized that race was a social construct that had systemic implications and prevented us from recognizing each other’s humanity and appreciating each others’ history, culture and experiences. I have always hoped that, at least in America, we would move beyond identifying each other by race. Honestly, with the extreme partisanship going on these days, I continue to wonder how possible that is.

Meanwhile, I do my part to try to make a difference in bringing people together.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SETTLE IN THE CITY IN WHICH YOU NOW LIVE?

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I live in Texas by default. When we moved from Germany, my spouse’s family lived in Texas and mine in Louisiana. We decided that our children might have more opportunities in Texas rather than in Louisiana, so we chose to live here.

WHAT JOB DO YOU HAVE? DID YOUR RACE EVER INTERFERE WITH YOUR CAREER PATH? I am an independent scholar, a videographer and video editor, and a media content creator. As part of those, I research, publish, direct and co-direct research projects, and also create digital content about that research. My research generally is about 20th century social movements. My specific specialty is Black Panther Party history, their greater than 60 community programs, and BPP women’s history. I currently direct a research project about the Oakland Community School, one of the BPP’s longest running community programs. I have been researching Black Panther Party history since I first learned about them in 1989 as a college sophomore. Being an educator and a content creator are my dream jobs. I grew up with a passion for reading and a love of teaching, and that is what I have been blessed with opportunities to do.

IS THERE A SHORT MESSAGE YOU WANT TO DELIVER TO THE STUDENTS AT OUR SCHOOL? My message is that life is a journey. Along the way, be intentional about the decisions you make, find your passions, and find out what you can contribute to help others along the way. Remember to always practice self-care because you have to do that in order to be healthy and helpful to others.

Youth always have been at the

forefront of social change, so don’t be afraid to go against the grain as you strive toward justice. Also, realize the power of working as a unit. Finally, think globally as well as locally, because the United States is only a small percentage of the world, and remember to model the difference that you want to see because the world needs you and your creativity. My message is that life is a journey. Along the way, be intentional about the decisions you make, find your passions, and find out what you can contribute to help others along the way. Remember to always practice self-care because you have to do that in order to be healthy and helpful to others.

Youth always have been at the forefront of social change, so don’t be afraid to go against the grain as you strive toward justice. Also, realize the power of working as a unit. Finally,

African American community.

The information entails trailblazers of different professional sectors and innovators of commonly used items today from the fields of science, technology, literary arts, and beyond.

WHAT IS BLACK CULTURE? The idea of encapsulating the contribution of Black culture into one specific arena is impossible as every sector of society has been impacted by the inventions of creators. Black culture is everywhere, when a driver is prompted to stop or go at the technological directive of a traffic light that is black culture (Garrett Morgan), when someone uses the elevator with ease because of the invention of the flexible belt on the elevator cage permitting the automatic functionality of the doors opening and closing (Alexander Miles) that is Black culture, or

think globally as well as locally, because the United States is only a small percentage of the world,

when someone receives the drug treatment for glaucoma (Percy

and remember to model the difference that you want to see

Black culture. It is also in music, dance, and fashion! Black

because the world needs you and your creativity.

INTERVIEW WITH MS. MANGAL

By Ariana Yi & Ryan Liu

Lavon Julian) that again, is

culture is the imprint and impact of chemists, engineers, scientists, artists, and more from the African American community.

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS? A few of my favorite artists

Today, we were lucky enough to get the chance to interview Ms. Mangal on some of her thoughts about Black history, Black culture, and artists!

WHAT IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH? The concept was first introduced in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson and made official in 1976. This annual event, which takes place during the entire month of February, invites everyone from all cultures to learn together and appreciate the many contributions of the

are Nikki Giovanni, Langston Hughes, Amiri Baraka and more.

I love the result of intentional words and sounds. The idea of seeing the world from one’s vantage point is quite exciting.

Each novelist, poet, and writer demonstrated purpose, perseverance, and resilience.

Those characteristics permit cultural awareness and invites the development of empathy to occur. My favorite literary artists were selected for their many contributions and cultural impact.

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INTERVIEW WITH MS. DAVIS

AFRICANAMERICAN VISUAL ART

By Olivia Ma

For this interview, we asked Principal Davis about Black hair and the culture surrounding it.

West Africa. I like them because they are beautiful, versatile, and easy to maintain.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BLACK HAIR?

HOW DOES YOUR HAIR MAKE UP PART OF WHO YOU ARE?

While there are many answers to this question, Black hair is important to me because it is a reminder of my ancestors and the rich culture from which

My hair, at times, is an outward expression of my personal creativity or how I might feel. On some days, I may choose a more relaxed look with

I am a part of. For example, in Africa, hair styles would often

a high ponytail while on others I may have it down with a

signify a person’s kinship, their geographic location, or social

headband. When going to a nice event or I’m feeling really fancy,

status. There were also styles for special events such as courtships, weddings, religious

I might put it up and adorn it with jewelry.

ceremonies, and many more.

Black hair also creates a space for community. Depending on the type of care or style one receives, it may take anywhere

galvanizing support from the nation to legally ban race-based hair discrimination and to change the narrative around embracing one’s natural hair styles and texture.

By Katherine He

As a crucial part of African American culture, African American visual art is a beacon of remembrance for all Americans and illustrates the hardships that enslaved Africans faced in order to hold onto the remaining strands

of their culture.

This is Harlem by Jacob Lawrence depicts the daily lives of African Americans. Incorporating many different geometric shapes into his painting, Lawrence illustrates all aspects of Black life in Harlem. Colored in a shade of white, the church stands out from the other buildings, highlighting the importance of religion in African American culture. Throughout the entire painting, the symbolism of the cross appears in numerous different places, such as the telephone poles and fire escapes, demonstrating the prevalence of religion in African American life.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO PEOPLE WHO MAY BE SCARED TO EMBRACE THEIR HAIR TYPE OR ANY FURTHER ELABORATION ON BLACK HAIR?

from 45 minutes to several hours to complete. During this time, I do think it’s really people are able to fellowship, important that people should not share stories, celebrate, and allow others to define their discuss issues related to the community. This is especially important when there are very few Black/African Americans within a surrounding community (e.g., city, workplace, school, state, etc.).

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BLACK OWNED HAIR CARE PRODUCTS? PROTECTIVE STYLES AND WEAR? I like products that restore natural moisture and shine such as coconut and argan oil. As you may know, all hair textures and types require some oil to prevent breakage and maintain a healthy appearance. Some of my favorite Black-owned hair care products come from Eden Bodyworks, Uhai Hair, and Mielle Organics.

As for protective styles, I usually wear Senegalese twists which originated in Senegal,

beauty because we are all uniquely and wonderfully made.

As the modern world progresses, recognition for embracing diversity in hair types increases. Recently, in 2019, the CROWN Act was passed in California. In partnership with “Dove and the Crown Coalition'' and Calif. Senator Holly J, the CROWN Act bans hair style and texture based discrimination, expanding protection under the FEHA (California Fair Employment and Housing Act) and the California Education Code. To date, it is the first ever state-passed act in the US to ban hair-based discrimination. Since then, 14 states have either passed the CROWN Act or passed something of remarkable similarity to the CROWN Act. The CROWN Coalition still works towards

In Darkytown Rebellion, Kara Walker uses silhouettes to depict a brutal revolt in which a group of enslaved people turn against their masters. The use of silhouettes also makes it impossible to differentiate between the slaves and their masters, compelling viewers to analyze the piece without the detail of skin color. Darkytown Rebellion shows that American racism expands beyond skin color.

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MUSIC: YELLOW JACKET'S BHM BAND PERFORMANCE

By Vera Lin

Black History Month is a time where communities come together to embrace the diversity within the United States and its history. Black history is a profound and multi-faceted part

“[Black History Month is] about the lived, shared experience of all African Americans, high and low, famous and obscure, and how those experiences have shaped and challenged and

of American history that impacted many components of

ultimately strengthened America.”

American culture. From integral periods of time such as slavery to the Civil Rights Movement, a reappearing thread of Black culture is music. Displaying a wide range of musical styles and genres, Black music was molded by historical conditions that engendered a variety of emotions, such as joy, suffering, exhilaration, and despair.

On Friday, February 11th, the Yellow Jackets were lucky enough to get the opportunity to dive deeper into the world of

—Barack Obama

BHM: POSTER BOARDS

By Sachit Parekh

Thank you to Mr. Tucker, Ms. Davis, Ms. Mangal, and the Student Panel for putting your time and effort into making four different poster boards that showcase various aspects of Black art, literature, innovation, and people in STEM!

Black music through the Yellow Jacket Band’s breathtaking

ART

performance. The program explored many genres of music,

from various Black artists,

such as ragtime, jazz, and a blend of African rhythms with European classical music. The

including a clay sculpture of a woman by Elizabeth Catlett, Liberation by Mickenzi Jones,

collection of pieces included Caravan and It Don’t Mean a Thing by Duke Ellington and an

Quality Time by Arthello Black

interactive drum circle performance. Between each piece, the Yellow Jacket Band included an additional facet of Black culture: literature. The Hill We Climb by Amanda Goman, Caged Bird by Maya Angelou, and an original poem

by Ms. Mangal are poems that shed light on togetherness, promoting the message of unity and diversity.

A big thank you to Mr. Relland and everyone involved for giving the students this opportunity to learn more about Black history as well as Black culture! Happy Black History Month, everyone!

The Art poster featured art

Jr., and Christ Healing the Sick

by Romare Bearden. These paintings and sculptures portrayed numerous aspects of modern art, ranging from realistic representations of Black life to abstract depictions of their culture. Sculptures including tribal masks and traditional utensils with intricate designs presented traditional African art styles with a modern twist. Along with these artworks came images portraying diverse dance styles in the AfricanAmerican community. At the center of it all was a portrait painted by one of our own students!

LITERATURE Many biographies of various

African American writers were displayed, amplifying the works of these writers and their activism for the rights of Black people. One such biography featured Audre Lorde, a Black writer who wrote the poem “Coal”. She was an avid supporter of Black rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and women’s rights and believed that everyone has a place in this country, no matter their gender,

contributions to game theory, probability theory, information theory, and Bayesian statistics, and Dr. Jewel P. Cobb, a biologist, cancer researcher, professor, dean, and academic administrator who greatly contributed to the field of cancer research.

race, or sexual orientation. Other featured writers included Nikki Giovanni, Thurgood Marshall, Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, and former President Barack Obama.

INNOVATION

Art Board

The pioneering innovations of Black-owned businesses were presented on this poster and provided details about the revolutionary businesses owned

by African Americans. Some of these businesses included Black Enterprise, a Black-owned multimedia company that produces a magazine about Black-owned businesses, and Geodee World, a company that

Literature Board

strives to create sustainable products. Along with Blackowned businesses, the works of Black inventors were also displayed, including the creations of Garrett Morgan, the African American inventor who revolutionized the world with his inventions of the traffic signal and gas mask.

STEM

Innovation Board

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Until recent years, African Americans were mostly ignored in the field of STEM. However, many African Americans have contributed significantly to STEM, and their achievements are slowly being recognized. Such examples include Dr. David Blackwell, an African American statistician and mathematician who made significant

STEM Board

VOL. 1, NO. 6

BOOK REVIEW: KINDRED

By Bella Alcaine

MEET THE AUTHOR Kindred was written by Octavia E. Butler, a famous science-fiction author who won several awards, including the Nebula Award and PEN West Lifetime Achievement Award.

For decades, her books about

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the accounts of slavery in this novel were still very startling.

Butler’s style of writing made it easy to empathize with and feel Dana’s horror after seeing the horrible sights in the 18th century. It made me recognize not only how much progress we all have made in regards to slavery and prejudice since the 18th century but also how much progress we still have to make.

Butler's writing paints a brilliant

women empowerment and justice for Black people were hard to

story of love, family, and horror.

Keep in mind that some topics in

sell due to a lack of commercial demand.

this novel may be triggering.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT? Kindred is a science-fiction novel that combines the fictitious idea of time travel with the brutal reality of slave life in

became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, the city’s group of civil rights activists decided to boycott the Montgomery bus system. Due to King’s reputation and family connections, he was chosen as their leader, guiding them until the end of the 13-month protest in 1956.

King’s life was tragically cut short on April 4, 1968, when he

meaning of its creed — we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” “I Have a Dream” was a turning point in the American Civil Rights Movement, sparking motivation in others to also fight for equality and freedom. This small spark rapidly grew and spread across the US, leading to the passing of The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights

was supposedly assassinated by James Earl Ray. Throughout his

Act of 1965. From that point on, racial segregation was declared

entire life, King delivered many speeches, the most famous one

illegal.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is

named “I Have a Dream”. In this speech, King calls for freedom and

a great opportunity to refresh our knowledge on the American Civil

equality, saying, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise

Rights Movement and celebrate the progress the country has made

up and live out the true

for a more equitable tomorrow.

BHM WORD SEARCH

the 18th century. The novel portrays Dana, a young Black

By Kylah Kao

woman who discovers time travel on her 26th birthday.

When she travels back in time, she meets her ancestor’s white father, Rufus, who lives on his father’s plantation in Maryland.

Dana’s ability to time travel

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY

By Julee Jiang

seems to be connected to Rufus’s life-threatening ability to find trouble, and in order to return home, she has to help him.

However, the length of her stay in this different time period is unpredictable, and she has to get accustomed to life as a Black woman in the 1700s. Throughout the novel, Dana balances her life in the past, where slavery was still legalized and segregation was prominent, with her life in the present, where interracial marriage is acceptable and racism is chastized.

THOUGHTS? I highly recommend that you take the time to read this novel.

In previous years, my teachers have taken the time to thoroughly educate my peers and I on the horrors of slavery, prejudice, and racism. However,

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, celebrated on January 17th, is a federal holiday marking Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. It serves as a time to delve deeper into the history of racial segregation and learn about King’s valiant efforts to end discrimination against African Americans.

Born on January 15, 1929, King grew up in an affectionate family and received a good education. In spite of that, he was still subject to discrimination. When he was around six years old, the parents of King’s white companion forbade their child to play with him because he was Black. In 1955, King graduated from Boston University with a PhD in systematic theology. A little more than a year after King

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR HARRIET TUBMAN SOJOURNER TRUTH ROSA PARKS THURGOOD MARSHALL RUBY BRIDGES JOHN LEWIS SHIRLEY CHISHOLM MALCOM X

STAFF:

ELLA BAKER FANNIE LOU HAMER KWAME TURE JESSE LOUIS JACKSON DOROTHY IRENE HEIGHT MEDGAR WILEY EVERS W. E. B. DU BOIS HIRAM REVELS JOSEPH RAINEY

Teacher Advisors: Ms. Abdelaziz and Mr. Betcher Student Advisors: Julee Jiang and Olivia Ma Editors: Christopher Chen, Julee Jiang, and Olivia Ma Writers: Bella Alcaine, Katherine He, Kylah Kao, Aarav Kumar, Vera Lin, Ryan Liu, Louis Lu, Sachit Parekh, Vivian Sun, Caroline Wang, Amber Wang, Ariana Yi, Olivia Ma, Julee Jiang, Winston Gu, and Christopher Chen