Pitchfork, Issue 4, 2023-2024

PITCHFORK

THE

EST 1928

Marietta, Georgia

Marietta High School

Issue 4

mhspitchfork.com

February 14, 2024

Black History Month: Reliving the Renaissance Alexandria Kelly Staff Writer

Marietta has a tradition of creating various programs celebrating diversity. In the month of February the lens is focused on the history that cultivated a space for the Black students who attend MHS. Ms. Godwin, MHS assitant principal, recalls a time when Black history wasn’t celebrated.

“There was no Black History Month when I was in high school... We did not celebrate or give light to the cultural differences in our school. That wasn’t something we did, so of course this is something that someone could take for granted as if this happens everywhere, but it does not,” Ms. Godwin said.

The school provides many celebratory events throughout the month, and it ends with a schoolwide annual Black History Month Program. This year’s theme is “The Renaissance: African Americans and the Arts.”

Events kicked off Thursday, Feb.8, with the 4th annual BHM Paint Night, which took place in Mrs. Rudolph’s art room.

“I’m just continuing the tradition that our last art teacher Mrs. Hooley started in collaboration with the Black History Month committee, which she was a part of,” Mrs. Rudolph said.

Inspiration for the paintings this year can be attributed to Kehinde Wiley, a black artist recognized for his approach to traditional art, changing the background

Jade Macklin (9) paints a silhouette at the Black History Month paint night. Students gathered in Mrs. Rudolph’s art room to create art work that will be displayed in the media center for the remainer of the month. Photo by Alexandria Kelly and figure. He famously painted former President Barack Obama’s Smithsonian portrait in Washington D.C. The portrait was seen as a nuanced approach to a more stereotypical ‘formal’ setting.

Students at MHS have expressed their gratitude for creative opportunities to express their culture.

“I feel like this is a unique experience for MHS kids because it’s a way to come together as African Americans to showcase our talent and art perspective,” Lawrence Njuguna (12) said.

BHM Paint Night was the beginning of this “Renaissance.” This week is a spirit week and two ‘Pizza with Professionals’

events. After February break there will be another “Pizza with Professionals” with alumnus Rashad Milligan, a virtual HBCU night, an open mic in the media center, a faculty luncheon, a soul train line, and the finale with the BHM program.

Continue to pg. 12 for “Black History”

Student athletes commit on National Signing Day Lily Konigsmark Social Media Manager

INSIDE

Morgan Wingo (12) signs her commitment to Bethune Cookman University, accompanied by her family. She will play volleyball. Photo by Polleen Coates

Kids and social media

A dig into how social media is affecting the younger generation. page 6 and 7

National Signing Day takes place on the first Wednesday of February for student athletes to commit to playing at the collegiate level. It is a milestone day for coaches, classmates, family and friends to witness a select group of athletes receive recognition from universities and colleges.

Signing day is a massive investment in their athletic foundation where they can advance in their skills and reach for their future goals.

Marietta held a ceremony for our senior students and their teammates in the MPAC while the rest of the school watched via livestream. Coach McKinney, Athletic Director of Marietta oversees all sports and

Worship at school

A spotlight on a student-led group that unites the church and school. page 11

was proud to host the event and see students in athletics purpose their sport into the collegiate level.

Statistics show that nationally one in three of high school students participate in athletics at their school. Overall a little over seven percent of high school athletes go on to play in collegiate level athletics, that is about one in thirteen students. Only two percent, approximately 1 in 57, play at the NCAA Division I level.

Not all students that commit to schools after high school are featured on National Signing Day as some offers come in later than February, and it is a huge decision to make with plenty of factors that one has to consider.

Continue to pg. 9 for “Signing Day”

The 66th Grammys

A recap of the annual Grammy awards show and its winners. page 10

Opinions

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page 2

Editorial: I’ve been influenced Social media in 2024; a guide on how to be the “perfect” teenager. By buying all the right things and photoshopping your photos the right way, you can successfully fit in with social media stars. Simply put, the expectations for being a teenager are exhausting. While scrolling on social media, I am constantly told about items that I “need” to buy. From makeup to water bottles to skincare, I am told to throw out everything I own in order to fit into a trending aesthetic.

If I do not have a certain item, I am not in the loop like everyone else. Influencers shove shopping links and storefronts into my face, making it way too simple to succumb to yet another purchase. My peers pressure me into buying things so that I can be like them. By the time my package arrives, it is out of style and social media is already onto the next thing.

Participating in trends is fun until it becomes stressful to keep up with. One week after another, influencers are sponsoring the newest release of a trendy product.

Content creators have somehow turned trends from pop culture fads into opportunities for criticism.

Social media is supposed to be a platform for con-

nection, but it is instead drawing everyone who uses it farther from reality. The unattainable standards that are promoted on social media lead teens into thinking that they should use retinol for their premature skin and lip plumper on their natural features. It’s no longer just damaging to my wallet, but also my mental health.

People have taken to social media to praise certain body types by promoting disordered eating and diet cul-

“Don’t use social media to impress people; use it to impact people.”

-Dave Willis ture. Every week, social media generates a new insecurity that people should become aware of. Hip dips, cupid’s bows and cowlicks are labeled as something to

be fixed, insead of the genetic features that they are. At some point, users become so consumed with being accepted online that they disregard their real lives.

Young kids absorb all of this information and it feeds into low self esteem. Instead of wanting toys, they become interested in things that will allow them to be accepted by their peers. They disregard their personalities and interests to be in uniform with their feeds.

The social media industry is constantly growing. This means that trends will be interchanged even faster and as time goes on, the people who use social media will only get younger. There will no longer be an interest in the genuineness of childhood, but the false reality of influencers online. They will continue to do whatever their favorite creators persuade them to do.

Why can’t the influence that is put onto the younger generation be one of value? Instead of urging children to change themselves, I look forward to seeing content creators and users take steps now to turn social media back into the platforms that they were always intended to be.

Dear influencers, I will be influenced; in a positive way.

How do social media trends have a negative impact on young people?

Zahari Edwards (9)

“It negatively mpacts behavior and how people think of themselves, high and low self-esteem, so I believe in good and bad ways, it has different impacts on different people based on the way they use it.”

Athena Dews (10)

“It makes them compare themselves to other people and think that they are not good enough.”

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Emily Shonerd (11)

“It affects the self esteem of the younger generation.”

Sean Macpherson (12)

“It gets inside their minds and starts deteriorating all the little insecurities, layer by layer, just until there is nothing left and they feel so insecure about themselves.”

Brad Simmons (MHS Staff)

“It adds tremendous pressure to everyone by what is posted and how it is posted.”

Addison Moreland (Newspaper Staff)

“Kids get very self-conscious about their appearances.”

A random follower will be chosen each issue to win a Zaxby’s gift card from @Zaxbys591SMP. This issue’s winner is Andrew Roland (9).

Pitchfork is published by journalism students at Marietta High. It is free to the student body, staff and community. The views and opinions expressed in the Pitchfork are not necessarily those of the administration and faculty. Letters to the editor should be brought to room J208 or emailed to the staff: pitchfork@marietta-city.k12.ga.us Mission Statement: Pitchfork is a student written and produced newspaper aimed at educating, enlightening, and entertaining Marietta High’s students. All content is determined by the staff in an attempt to be relevant and give voice to the student body.

Business Managers Amber Ryan Amelia Jenkins Social Media Managers Kaia Kirkpatrick Lily Konigsmark Marketing Managers Trinity Seals Mae Bullington Adviser Andrea Lyons Staff Aidan Allegro Alexandria Kelly Polleen Coates Ady Grace Miller Colette DePasquale Harrison Pacin Reagan Kelley Managing Editor Sydney Martinez Editors-in-Chief Zaria Byers Wes Harrison Section Editors Sydney Hernandez Addison Moreland Design Editors Libby Barnes Quinn Mulkey

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page 3

Social media is more harmful than you think Harrison Pacin Staff Writer

Social media has no doubt had a huge impact on society.

I think this is most prevalent in the younger generations, as they are the most impressionable. Every generation, since social media came out, has had their own little bubble of trends that most people got into. Although, for millennials and some of Gen Z, a lot of it was just harmless fun with the occasional dangerous activity.

However, a lot of people are seeing the new generation get on social media at a younger age, and trying to appear older or more mature than they actually are by using excessive makeup or wearing clothing labeled as “more mature”.

A prime example of this is all the kids I see on Instagram who are raiding Sephora, Target and Ulta for products that they don’t really need, or could even be dangerous in some cases. Does a ten year old really need a twelve-step skincare routine with an anti-aging

serum? They haven’t even hit puberty, so I don’t see the need to prevent the aging they haven’t even experienced. These kids see adults or older teens on social media promoting makeup and skincare products, which even the adults might not need, and then think that they need it. Is this really what we want the next generation to grow up on?

It’s not even just the makeup that’s the problem. Impressionable kids on social media I see also think they need to buy every new trendy item they see. Raiding Target for Stanley cups,, Sephora for Drunk Elephant, Lululemon for whatever clothing item is trending now, you name it. It’s becoming an unhealthy obsession for these kids to care only about name brands, and getting the newest fashion, or makeup item and throwing it away when it becomes obsolete. This is also just another contributor to the ever-growing problem of consumerism and waste piling up everywhere you look. Social media is ruining a generation of impressionable kids and their irresponsible parents who are letting this happen.

I believe there either needs to be more restrictions on how much time children spend on the internet, or we as a culture can change our mindset away from these toxic trends that are doing much more harm than good. At the end of the day, it’s not necessarily the kid’s fault. They don’t know any better. However, we do need to hold their parents and the corporations responsible for letting children so easily be affected by this.

Learn to make a joke Libby Barnes Staff Writer The Golden Globe Award show this year was hosted by Jo Koy. A comedian, actor and author who made his Golden Globe hosting debut on Jan. 7 in Beverly Hills, California. I did not know who Jo Koy was until he made extremely sexist and rude jokes specifically towards the movie, Barbie and Taylor Swift. Greta Gerwig, Barbie director and Taylor Swift are very feminist and show that throughout their work. Jo Koy’s most popular joke made its way around social media as soon as he said it.

“Oppenheimer is based on a 721-page Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Manhattan Project, and Barbie is on a plastic doll with big boobies,” Koy said.

This quote completely disregards everything that the Barbie movie is trying to prove to the world. It was trying to teach women that you don’t have to be “stereotypical Barbie” to fit into the world. You don’t have to be perfect because being a woman is hard enough as it is, so be yourself because once you try to be someone else you learn to lose

yourself. Within the movie, America Ferrera’s character Gloria makes a showstopping speech all about the struggles of being a woman. I felt like this speech truly exemplified the struggles it is to be a woman, especially in a man’s world. I look to this speech as not only inspiration, but as a reminder that I am doing all that I need to and that’s enough.

The speech starts with, “It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful and so smart, and it kills me that you don’t think you’re good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we’re always doing it wrong,” Ferrera said.

She said right away that women continue to think so poorly of themselves and that will never be the way to empower yourself to continue doing the great things you are doing.

She continues the speech by making comparisons to how everything women do, is somehow never good enough or how every action we make, is not the right action according to who knows what. When Koy made that so-called joke, he did exactly what Ferrera was talking about in her speech by degrading the incredible actions of the people who made the movie because their work was “not good enough” for him. If you are going to go up on a stage on live TV that thousands of people watch, you need to know your audience and what “jokes” not to make. Hosting is something you should not take lightly, and I hope to see better jokes and actions from future award show hosts.

MHS Literary Magazine accepting submissions We need: Poems Short Stories Screenplays Artworks Photography for submissions to create the 2024 magazine.

Persephone is a superior rated magazine containing art and literary pieces from MHS students made by students in the Journalism program.

This is its 2nd year and we need your submissions.

DEADLINE: MARCH 1 After a long day...

Carl is finally home and ready for bed...

and his parents had some news...

“Carl, you’re a pig.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

He wakes with a start.

Except, he has a nightmare.

It was his 10th birthday party...

Good night, Carl.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Mud

Instagram: @mhs.graphics3

Comic by: Graphics Year 3 students

News

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page 4

SAT Prep removed, students speak out Reagan Kelley Staff Writer

In the fall and spring semesters of a student’s junior year, the ACT and SAT stress sets in. These tests are important factors that colleges look at during the application process, and can make or break your application.

In 2017 Marietta High School partnered with Applerouth to create an SAT/ACT prep class. This class aimed to help students improve their ACT and SAT scores with free in school instruction. It provided students with practice books and mock tests to practice for the exams.

The class provided students with the knowledge and skills to get better scores on the tests and gave students a free option to get valuable help on these stressful tests.

SAT tutoring usually cost upwards of $50 an hour; this obstacle made many students unable to get help. The class aimed to fix that and provided those who wanted the help with the tools to excel on the tests, free of cost.

At the end of the 2023 fall semester, Marietta High School made the decision to no longer offer the class in the spring. This put juniors who did not take the class in the fall at a disadvantage because they could no longer receive the tutoring in school.

SAT Prep class Do you agree with the decision to no longer offer the SAT Prep class in the spring?

Yes 32% No 68%

The school made the decision to cut the class in the spring due to low numbers of interest. Participation has always been higher in the fall, but this year there was a much lower number of students interested in taking it spring semester.

“They didn’t have enough enrollment to offer the class in the spring,” Mr. Anderson-Lehman, the teacher of the SAT prep class, said.

Despite this decision, the school is still committed to finding ways to provide students with tutoring in the spring semester.

“The new options this spring have been after school classes or Saturday classes. There are classes on Wednesdays after school and the Saturday classes will be starting soon,” Anderson-Lehman said.

Marietta wants to provide all students who are willing to utilize the resources with the opportunities to prepare for the ACT and SAT. The class generally helped students raise their scores and those who put more effort into the class got more out of the class.

“Students who got really high grades tended to see their scores increase more,” Anderson-Lehman said.

The good news is that the school will bring the SAT class back for the fall semester of 2024. This will bring back the oppurtunity for students to get assistance with the SAT, but students who did not make it into the class fall semester will have to find other ways to prepare for the SAT and ACT in the spring.

The school is determined to make sure that the rising juniors and seniors have the oppurtunity to get assistance on the SAT and ACT and that they have all the skills and resources to ensure they will do the best they possibly can.

Superintendent Grant Rivera will host a community conversation, which is a series of talks about school services, on Feb 15. at 7:30 p.m. about SAT and ACT resources.

The meeting will be on vimeo.com/event/2904986.

Do you agree with the decision to no longer offer the SAT prep class in the spring?

Andy Waters (12)

Yes. It makes sense, because the fall is usually the time for the SAT.

Daniel Vasquez (11) Yes. It was basically following a book. It was nice to have a teacher to help you out, but it didn’t really do much.

Ava Rodriguez (10) I don’t. I feel like I could’ve had more support if they had offered the spring semester class. If I take the SAT in the spring, I feel like I would’ve needed more leverage and the class could’ve helped me improve my scores.

MSLC introduces new groups in pursuit of change Quinn Mulkey Design Editor The Marietta Student Life Center opened two new clubs in addition to an original four clubs and therapy for after school. A September Board of Education meeting restricted MSLC small groups and in-school therapy to after school time as it claimed interfering with instructional time. With the new rule implemented, small groups were closed until January of this year to prepare with the new guideline. Six groups have been opened to students after school with provided transportation on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Marie Papini, a counselor at the MSLC, believes there are both pros and cons with this new rule.

“The major pro of offering groups after school is that teachers don’t have to stress over students missing their class, even if for just 45 minutes,” Ms. Papini said.“The con of offering groups after school is that transportation is very limited, and many students have

Paint Love

Paint Love is a small group dedicated to those with a side of creativity and a passion for art.

Each week, a new artist is brought in with a different medium to introduce and teach their style to the students. Some of the past examples are collages, graffiti art, painting, and many others.

Art is a great outlet for those who may have difficulty expressing certain emotions or situations and gives a new way of speaking about it.

Paint Love meets every Wednesday.

Free to Be Me Free to Be Me is a small group led by Yashman Greene who is a licensed therapist. The small group focuses on the LGBTQ+ community here at Marietta High School.Helping those navigate personal identities, developing tools to handle stressful situations around the community, and breaking down the stigma center around LGBTQ+ youth. The group is also a place of free judgment and a zone for students to speak up about their own experience. Transportation is available for this group.

Free to Be Me meets every Thursday.

jobs or after school activities that prevent them from being able to participate in groups.

This shortens our reach.”

Here are a preview of some of the small groups offered within the MSLC. Though these are newer resources offered to students, Ms. Papini believes these groups will be beneficial to students for the upcoming years as they had collected data from students in the past in order to make them.

“I do think [the MSLC] did a great job of looking at student needs based on data from previous years, and then selecting groups that benefit that need the most,” Ms. Papini said. “Groups are for EVERY student.”

If you would like to learn more information regarding these small groups, please visit B-117 at the welcome center to talk with Ms. Papini.

Mighty Minds Mighty Minds is a small group led by Mrs. Papini that uses dialectical behavior therapy skills to help students grow in mindfulness, distress tolerance, self esteem, inner and outer relationships while being emotionally aware. DBT is a type of therapy that is directed towards teenagers and young adults to regulate emotions better.

The aim for this group is to help students build their emotional skills and become more mindful.

Mighty Minds meets every Monday.

Find Boundaries, Find peace This small group is led by Mandy Noa and targets and audience of teenage females who have a passion to learn and grow in the idea of boundaries. Some of these areas include friendships, family relationships, school and social media.

With this group, it shows the positive outcome of setting healthy boundaries which has led to more confidence and stronger bonds around them. Not only is it beneficial on the outer level, it can help with better sleep and less anxiety.

The group meets on Fridays from three to four.

School News

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page 5

Book 'review' revisited: 25 books still removed as of Jan. 16 Sydney Martinez Managing Editor

With over 20,000 books in the Marietta High School’s library, 25 book titles were removed as of Dec. 6 for containing sexually explicit conent. Flamer and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl were initially removed. 23 additional books were reviewed from lists provided by the Marietta City Schools District. From these lists, 23 books were removed from shelves based on Superintendent Dr. Grant Rivera’s recommendation to remove the titles. The MCS Board of Education came to their final removal decision on Jan. 16 after taking parent appeals into consideration.

Following the Dec. 12 six-to-one decision of the MCS Board to pull 23 books form libraries, they concluded the book removal by setting a Sunset Directive allowing MCS parents to appeal any book on the list within 30 days of Dec. 12. This directive did not include Flamer and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl in the list of books that could be appealed.

MCS Parents partnered up with Marietta in the Middle, an MCS parent group, filing over 500 pages in appeals and spoke during public comment on Jan. 16 for Board Members to reconsider their decision. Despite this, the MCS Board came to a unanimous decision.

“The vote tonight on over 500 pages of appeals that you have not read is a slap in the face to the dozens of parents who have spent hours and hours during their winter break to do the work that you didn’t,” Courtney Bellmann, a parent of MCS with Marietta in the Middle, said, referring to reviewing the books.

Parents who were for the book removal gave public comments, expressing their

gratitude towards the Board for removing the 25 books.

“I appreciate all that [Rivera and the Board] have done to make choices to empower parents to have a say in what our children have access to. This is simply common sense that protects the hearts and minds of our children,” Lisa Owen, and MCS parent, said.

As of Jan. 16, 25 books have not been returned to the library, as the MCS Board of Education concluded their meeting with another six-to-one vote, A.B. Almy, Board of Education member representative for Ward Three, standing as the one dissenting vote.

Almy wishes that the Board had more time to consider the appeals, but respects the final decisions of all board members.

“I just want every person in our district to know that they are cared about and they are heard, and I want them to feel like they can read a book, their child can read books that they feel comfortable with and that their opinion matters,” Almy said.

Children's author, Mark Oshiro, spoke at the public comment and expressed his concerns about removing a significant amount of books that contained LGBTQ+ themes or characters. Oshiro states that removing at least 30 to 40 percent of books that feature marginalized identities is enough to over-represent the LGBTQ+ community.

Superintendent Dr. Rivera has repeatedly defended claims that these books are disproportionately based on LGBTQ+ characters.

Lauren Muse, a freshman at MHS, thinks it is quite difficult to represent LGBTQ+ characters and stories because books fail

to explore any part of what troubles the youth, which is often sexual identity.

She explained further that it is "very hard" to represent these issues without obtaining mentions and scenes of explicit content that many of the LGBTQ+ books have been removed for if the author wants to be authentic with their message.

"I am a reader myself, and some of the stuff I've read in perfectly normal and popular books, I would be upset if my 14-yearold child were to read," Muse said.

Sateria Wilson, a freshman at MHS, thinks that the removal of these 25 books is the beginning of justifying the removal of books about mental illness, LGBTQ+ couples and struggles, and people of color stories and their struggles.

"Books should be read for enjoyment, of course, but seeing people like you with your struggles in books helps a lot of people. Getting rid of them does more harm than good," Sateria Wilson, a freshman at MHS, said.

The removal caught the attention of Cobb County Schools Su- perintendent Chris Ragsdale. At the CCS meeting held on Jan. 18, Ragsdale compli- mented the MCS District for their decision.

Officials in the CCS District have begun searching for the same 23 books that have been removed from the MHS library and will continue to search school shelves for sexually explicit and inappropriate material.

With the conclusion of the Jan. 16 meeting, Superintendent Dr. Rivera hopes that the district will be able to move forward to make decisions on other topics and bring the community back together.

Lauren Muse MHS freshman

What books on the list made you feel that they should have been removed from our library?

A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Mass is not only known to have explicit content in them, but in fact very nearly infamous for it. When I saw them on the list, I was actually shocked that they were in the library in the first place.

Are there books on the list that should not have been removed from MCS? The books Beyond Magenta and More Happy Than Not, I believe, should have not been removed.

Beyond Magenta does contain brief explicit references, but they are very mild and not actually narrativized.

The book seems to be very well intended, and helpful for LGBTQ+ youth. More Happy Than Not, from my brief research, does not seem to contain any kind of explicit material save for kissing and actions of similar, mild, nature.

Hooked on a new hoop tradition: Marietta's Hoopcoming Polleen Coates Staff Writer The Hoopcoming pep rally had all grade levels gathered on Feb. 2 to cheer on the boys varsity basketball team to prepare to face their rivals; the North Paulding Wolves.

The pep rally and game occurred on the same day, and students took their energy from the rally to the game. The pep rally had high energy from beginning to end, full of games, cheers, and MHS spirit.

Prior to the rally, students and faculty participated in a spirit week, in which each day leading up to the event and game was themed in numerous ways. Themes included Marietta Spirit Monday, tourist Tuesday, Adam Sandler Wednesday, and country versus country club Thursday.

Preparation also played a huge factor in the week leading up to the pep rally and game, with student council members, cheerleaders, and faculty decorating the gym with signs, streamers, and other decorative materials to show off Blue Devil pride.

The Hoopcoming court made up of males from all grade levels paraded across the gym, dressed to impress with teacher representatives. They were cheered on by their fellow students who were dressed according to their grade’s theme.

The Hoopcoming court was made up of male nominees from all grade levels, escorted through the gym by their chosen teachers.

"Being picked for Hoopcoming was an amazing experience. The crowd was there, and it was a lot of fun. I appreciate the junior class for choosing me,” Joseph Fuller said.

The court is meant to replicate Marietta’s honorable Homecoming court with female representatives and ending with the crowning of a queen.

The senior representatives were Jackson Bourgeois, Rodes Foster, Jason Johnson, Sean MacPherson and Aidan Russell, juniors; Joseph Fuller and Destyn Hines, sopho-

Seniors chant their class cheer "Stop, Drop, and Rumble." They won the spirit stick as the class with the most points garnered from competitions and display of spirit during the pep rally.

mores; Parker Pitts and Deven Patel and freshmen; Devan Plummer and Quinton Smith. The hoopcoming princes, Parker Pitts and Quinton Smith were announced along with the king at the game, with senior Jason Johnson taking the King's crown.

“I think it is a great event and a good opportunity for the guys to ‘show their stuff’ and bring their best attire. I also think that it is really good because it is another way that Marietta High School brings its community together, " Coach Hood said. "I believe that it is a very important part of high school. Hoopcoming is another way that the basketball team connects with their peers outside of the game.

They have a close connection with each other inside the program, and it is neat to see them with their other peers."

From the pep rally to the game, students kept their spirits high and cheered on the boys varsity basketball team to a victory over Paulding County.

Freshmen cheer for their class. They were in red for the class element of fire. Seniors wore brown and green for earth, juniors blue for water, and sophomores white for wind. Photos by Reagan Kelley.

Zaria Editor

A CURRENT DILEMMA Social media is aging the youth…literally.

Within the past few months, new interests have risen in popularity among those born between 2010 and 2024. Instead of toys, Generation Alpha has become infatuated with “preppy” skincare products, which are characterized by their bright colors. They are urged by influencers to purchase an array of products, whether or not the creators were paid to promote it. Drunk Elephant, Glow Recipe and Bubble are a few of the brands that are currently making their way around social media.

Even students who aren’t active on social media have been indirectly influenced by the spread of trending products.

“She doesn’t have any social media apps, but she still sees the videos on Pinterest, friends’ phones and the general internet,” a Marietta Middle School mother said about her daughter. This phenomenon is heavily driven by social media marketing. Due to the influence of popular creators and brands, beauty retailers are experiencing an influx of a younger demographic shopping at their stores to purchase trending products. Although these products are appealing to the eyes, their content is disregarded by children who are more concerned with maintaining an aesthetic.

“If not retinol, then it is usually Glow Recipe toners, lip balms, or concealer,” Kayla Carter, a Sephora employee, said.

Kids aren’t just participating in this trend, but creating a livelihood off of it. Young social media users are mirroring popular creators such as Alix Earle by documenting their morning routines.

Popular brands such as Bubble have recruited ambassadors that are as young as 13 years old.

“I think young girls always want to be like older girls but young girls now have an access to older

Graphic by Quinn Mulkey

girls through TikTok and YouTube and Instagram that previous generations never had. So they want to act like them and the way they do that is by using skincare and makeup and creating content around it,” Fortesa Latifi, a California-based journalist, said.

It’s not just kids- families have begun turning their accounts into a showcase of “get ready with us” videos and even footage of their children’s Sephora trips.

This seemingly innocent trend is causing quite the uproar on social media. Older generations are taking to platforms such as TikTok to express their discontent with children using skincare. Some have complained about young kids being allowed to enter beauty stores alone and how they conduct themselves in the store. These videos often feature the condition of tester displays after they have been handled by children. Employees are even joining in to show themselves cleaning up the messy sample shelves after a full shift. While some videos are playful jabs at a generational shift, others put young people at risk.

Several videos of children inside of stores have been uploaded to TikTok, many of them amassing a large amount of views. One video in particular, which received 1.7 million views, clearly displayed the hoodie of a young girl. Her hoodie listed her school’s name and her graduating class.

Additionally, young content creators are directly receiving hate on their social media accounts.

Popular child influencers such as GarzaCrew have been driven to disable the commenting feature on their videos due to the amount of criticism spreading online. Their account has 4.8 million followers and features a pair of seven year old twins who create skincare and lifestyle content. Many users

have dueted a popular video of theirs that features the sisters talking about their habits as “Gen Alpha influencers.” A recurring conversation about child influencers has been formed across social media, with many people observing child content as exploitation. This practice, that is commonly referred to as “sharenting,” involves parents of young influencers using their children as sources of profit by overexposing their lives on social media. Behind many family content accounts are parents that facilitate the posts and rake in the profit while their children do the heavy lifting. In France, a law that will protect minors on social media has been passed. Although Illinois will take similar measures as of July 2024, other states have yet to see such changes.

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“Kids these days”

PHYSICAL HEALTH

nderneath the promotion of products from online ors lies a whirlpool of misinformation. Although not communicated on social media, the obsession skincare can have rather adverse effects on preure skin. Children as young as 10 years old are dly using acids and retinoids as daily skin care. uch a premature age, the skin barrier is still in evelopmental stage. It is not recommended that ne under the age of 20 use strong chemicals bee proteins such as collagen and elastin are already -present in young skin. Licensed dermatologists observed harmful qualities that these supplets can pose to children. he most common effects of topical retinols/retis for any age group include dryness and irritation. e effects are less with over-the-counter strength oids when compared with prescription strength oids,” Rachel Cleypool, dermatology assistant at nta Dermatology, said.

Additionally, kids may develop allergies to these products later in life because their skin is not meant to handle such harsh ingredients. The small skin cells are largely prone to irritation. While parents should stray from complex serums and acids, proper skincare is still vital to avoiding acne and other skin issues in the future. For this reason, it is recommended that kids stick to a simple regimen that meets basic needs.

“Preteens should be using a gentle cleanser, light moisturizer, and sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30 every day. My favorite over-the-counter brands for preteens are Cerave, La Roche Posay, and Cetaphil,” Mandy Ramer, a family nurse practitioner at Olansky Dermatology and Aesthetics, said.

As for children who struggle with acne, it is recommended that they schedule an appointment with a dermatologist as opposed to experimenting with a variety of products.

MENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY

h so many popular influencers earning high profom videos and sponsorships, many people desire ame lucrative lifestyle. This seemingly easy way ecome successful has urged parents to leave their and turn their children into content creators as y as possible. The constant filming often allows mate information to become available to predators ne. example, mother Jacquelyn Paul managed a Tikaccount where she showcased the daily life of her ler. Videos that feature her child doing things such laying with tampons and eating pickles quickly ered negative attention and inappropriate comts from predators. This has made people wonder r social media is safe for children to be exposed ournalist Fortesa Latifi has personally studied the ct that social media has taken on children who introduced to it at a young age. don’t think we fully know yet how damaging it be in the future to have been a child influencer but e starting to find out, like the source who told me feels resentful of all the work her parents made put in over the years and another one who told me t like she was always performing,” Latifi said. hild influencers face the risk of lasting psychologeffects such as anxiety and depression. e midst of chasing a viable career path, parents lose sight of their children’s best interests. Child encers are expected to upkeep a routine that ofdeprives them of a typical childhood. Instead of ing friends and playing sports, they serve as a

primary source of income for their families, which places much more environmental pressure on their shoulders. Children playing such an important role in their households has led to several cases of physical abuse. In 2019, Michelle Hobson was arrested for abusing her seven adopted children. She ran a popular YouTube channel called, “Fantastic Adventures”, which had almost 800,000 subscribers. More recently, family YouTuber Ruby Franke was arrested in 2023 for abusing and starving her children. The account, “8 Passengers”, had been live since 2015 and amassed about 2.5 million subscribers.

For parents, the world of social media can be just as bearing. Parents take to content creation to present themselves as perfect adults and to earn validation from an audience. The abundance of family content online is a breeding ground for comparison. This constant desire to be accepted by an audience is a stress factor that can be exuded onto their children. Since social media is a source of income, it is a job that is taken seriously by families who depend on it. Inadvertently, innocent content family content becomes a brand extension. This transformation is one that negatively impacts the dynamics of families who createcontent.

According to a report by Goldman Sachs, the social media creator economy is projected to grow by 500 billion dollars in the next four years. This thriving industry will only see younger audiences as it continues to mature.

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NIL in high school sports 7A classification Ady Grace Miller Staff Writer

College sports were forever changed two years ago when the NCAA granted college athletes the right to profit off of their names, images, and likenesses without jeopardizing their amateur status and eligibility. This historical ruling has had an enormous impact on conferences, schools, programs, and athletes. Top earners like Jaden Milroe, Bronny James, Livvy Dunne, Shedeur Sanders, and Arch Manning have racked up millions in NIL deals.

Subsequently, the world of high school sports has been quick to follow suit. Shortly after the NCAA ruling, California became the first state to allow high school athletes the same opportunity for potential earnings. Since then, a number of other states have also lifted their NIL restrictions.

A GHSA ruling in October 2023 made Georgia the 30th state to allow high school athletes to monetize their name, image, and likeness. This covers partaking in product endorsements, signing autographs, teaching at camps and private lessons, starting businesses, and more.

With this decision, bylaws have been put in place to safeguard the integrity of high school sports amid this new era of NILs. Students cannot wear their school’s uniform or use their school’s name in any promotional content. In addition, deals and payment cannot be based on a student’s enrollment in a particular school or contingent on future athletic performance, such as stats or win/ loss records.

The effects of this landmark decision can already be seen over these past few months and are sure to reverberate throughout high school sports for years to come. Top performing athletes now have the chance to make a fortune before even turning 18. While a majority of endorsement deals have been with small or local businesses, a handful of elite high school athletes have amassed noteworthy sums from deals with prominent brands.

Carrollton High School’s star quarterback, Julian Lewis, is one such athlete that has capitalized on this opportunity.

Lewis’s NIL is valued at an estimated $627,000, higher than any other high school football player in the country.

On top of contracts with Jaxxon Jewelry and Leaf Trading Cards, Lewis recently entered into a lucrative deal with Alo Yoga, which before has struck up contracts with several prominent college athletes, including JJ McCarthy and Caleb Williams. Lewis is just one of several student athletes cashing in big. Jada Williams, a high school basketball player from California, has an NIL valuation of $433k. With a massive Instagram following, William’s brand endorsements have proven to be very profitable for companies such as Gymshark and Spalding.

On a national level, the NIL conversation is far from over. Similarly to the college NIL debate, the primary case made by proponents of high school NIL rights is that it gives athletes greater autonomy and freedom to make decisions about their own lives. It also provides athletes who come from low-income backgrounds with means to support themselves and financially prepare for the future.

On the other hand, opponents of lifting NIL constraints argue that doing so would undermine the amateur nature of high school sports and tarnish its integrity. It could be detrimental to the team first mentality and lead to illicit recruiting and transfer activity like player inducements.

Unlike college athletes, high schoolers are minors, making them highly vulnerable to financial exploitation.

Allowing NIL deals could present an opportunity for guardians, agents, and sponsors to take advantage of these athletes.

State high school athletic associations in places that still prohibit NIL monetization are receiving a considerable amount of pushback by those who fear that it will prompt their top performing athletes to relocate to states with less restrictions. Likely, it will not be long before the 16 remaining states change their regulations and high school NIL monetization is permitted nationwide.

Shaded areas represent states that currently permit highschool NIL monetization. Graphic by Ady Grace Miller

eliminated by GHSA, increases competition Aidan Allegro Staff Writer Georgia High School Association eliminated class 7A for the next two school years. Every two years, GHSA reclassifies. There are seven different classifications across GHSA now, which are based on school enrollment numbers. The 7A class typically includes the largest schools in terms of student population. Currently, 7A has 46 schools.

Next year, 7A will be eliminated, and the new 6A classification will have 65 schools.

This year marks the 8th year of having seven classifications. Prior to 2016, there were only six classifications, which GHSA is now reverting to. It was originally expanded to seven because of the creation of several new highschools.

High school sports classifications were originally created in 1900s to make sure that schools of varying size were able to fairly compete with each other. Schools are usually placed in specific classifications based on student population, sports offered, travel distances, and the school’s success in sports. Since the elimination of Class C in 1972, this is the first time the GHSA has entirely eliminated an entire category. The GHSA added 4A in 1978 to make up for the removal of Class B, which moved everyone up a class overall.

A big part of the reasoning for the reclassification is logistics.

“The current classifications create region games that are very far away from each other, especially in the South Georgia regions, where some teams have to travel 140 miles to play a region game,” Athletic Director, Craig McKinney said.

Currently, Marietta is in a five team region. It includes Marietta, Hillgrove, McEachern, North Paulding and Harrison. Four teams from each region advanced to the playoffs, which means getting into the playoffs in this region is not overly difficult. Getting rid of 7A is going to make for regions to have a larger amount of teams, meaning it is harder to make playoffs and increases the competitive level.

This reclassification will ultimately affect Marietta High School in a couple ways. There will be much more competition leading to a more competitive playoff situation and increased region games.

The new alignment will place Marietta in 5-AAAAAA with Cherokee, Etowah, North Cobb, North Paulding, Walton and Wheeler.

Tennis complex dedicated in the name of Love

The tennis complex was named after and dedicated to Cheryl Love on Feb. 8. Love taught at Marietta High for 43 years and retired in 2010. Since her retirement, she remains an active member of the MHS community, and a scholarship is given to Marietta students through the Marietta Schools Foundation every year. Read more on www.mhspitchfork.com

Superintendent Dr. Grant Rivera, Board Members, and Mayor Tumlin, officially dedicate the tennis complex to Chery Love.

Cheryl Love recognizes her former tennis players in attendance. Representatives from every decade she coached were present, including three from her 1990 state championship team. Photos by Libby Barnes

Sports

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page 9

Continued from pg. 1 Colleges go through an extensive process of finding the best athletes for their school, the process is hard on athletes as they have to communicate consistently, attend plenty of games, and go through intense research for the athlete. Recruiters show interest in athletes who show key ability in their sport and foresee that individual advancing college athletics in the future.

Being an athlete does not only require being above and beyond at the sport, but a good recruit is a student who exemplifies leadership, adversity, determination, balanced, and plenty more characteristics.

These students should be congratulated for their hard

work as they have shown efficient character while balancing academics and athletics. Signing onto a school is a huge commitment and a tremendous help to students to be confident in their abilities and financial needs. Schools offer partial and full-ride scholarships to athletes they want in their organization.

Signing Day is a cumulation of years of dedication, perseverance, and hard work to pursue college. This is the beginning of a new chapter for these students as they embark on a new path in a new environment with new teammates and coaches. Nevertheless, this is a big step into the upcoming journey for the seniors as they deal with emo-

tions of joy and pride. Many sacrifices are made along the way and signing day is just one day where fellow students, teachers, coaches, and family can celebrate the individuals. Sports create a foundation of lifelong friendships, endless opportunities, and personal growth in one’s identity whether it is on or off the field.

Please take a moment to congratulate students who have signed as they have worked hard behind the scenes to have a future pursuing their beloved sport. Those students who are not featured will be in the senior issue of the Pitchfork to be congratulated for their efforts and accomplishments.

Aden Canty

Bobby Butler

Jaylen Frazier

Jaleel Smith

Washburn University Football

Iowa Western College Football

Reinhardt University Football

Reinhardt University Football

Shane and Sean Roach

Kyle Jansen

Diego Lopez

Oliver Wagner

Syracuse University Soccer

Reinhardt University Soccer

Air Force Academy Soccer

Mackenzie Jones

Brooke Kelly

Morgan Terry

Nora Hart

University of Charleston Lacrosse

Xavier University Lacrosse

Virginia State University Lacrosse

Amherst College Cross Country/Track

Carolina Hansen

Nicholas Cannon

J'Kelyn Carroll

Keyshawn Dickey

Berry College Tennis

Berry College Swimming Cross Country

Sienna Heights University ESports

Huntingdon College Basketball

Brooks Gresehover

Marley Quammie

Morgan Wingo

Jaya Moore

Oglethorpe University Baseball

South Carolina State University Softball

Bethune Cookman University Volleyball

University of North Carolina at Charlotte Volleyball

Virginia State University Soccer

Entertainment

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page 10

Setting the Records Straight for the Grammys Mae Bullington Staff Writer

The 66th annual Grammys were hosted on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024. Some award announcers included: Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Kacey Musgraves, Lizzo, U2, Oprah Winfrey, Lionel Richie, Celine Dion, to name some.

Dua Lipa opened up the Grammys with a mashup of songs like "Dance the Night," "Houdini," and "Training Season," an unreleased song.

The host, Trevor Noah, a comedian, made some iconic jokes, including, "It's the 66th annual Grammys, which is younger than all of the presidential candidates."

This year, the Grammys favored women; for example, SZA had the most nominations of anyone, and the most women nominated for Grammys ever.

The first award of the night awarded was under the category of Best Pop Solo Performance, given to Miley Cyrus for her song "Flowers," which she performed later that night. After this award was given, Luke Combs sang his cover of "Fast Car" with Tracy Chapman, the song's original writer, surprising the crowd.

SZA came out and performed her songs "Snooze" and Kill Bill." During the performance, backup dancers came out of the audience, most of her dancers being women. Billie Eilish and Phineas came on stage to sing Billie's award-winning song "What was I made for," which was awarded Song of the Year.

The next award was for Best Country Album, given to Lainey Wilson for her album "Bell Bottom Country." SZA was then awarded Best R&B Song for "Snooze."

"Who do you think was robbed at the Grammys?"

Olivia Rodrigo came onto the stage to sing her hit single "Vampire," with memorable effects being blood coming from the walls.

The award for Best Pop Vocal Performance was awarded to Taylor Swift for her album "Midnights." During her acceptance speech, she announced her new album, "The Torchered Poets Department," to be released on April 19, 2024.

Jon Batiste sang "Ain't No Sunshine," and Fantasia Barrino performed to pay tribute to Tina Turner who passed away earlier this year.

Joni Mitchell won an award for Best Folk Album, and sang her song "Clouds."

Harvey Mason Jr, the CEO of the recording Academy, came onto the stage and spoke about how music brings everyone together, even through tragedies. After this, Travis Scott sang his song "I Know/ Fein" which caused controversy after what happened at AstroWorld in 2021.

Best Musica Urbana Album, given to Karol G for her album "Mañana Será Bonito." Victoria Monét was awarded Best New Artist. The Best Record of the Year award was awarded to Cyrus for the song "Flowers."

Billy Joel came onto the stage to sing his first song in 30 years called, "Turn the Lights Back on."

Finally, the last award of the night, The Best Album of the Year, was given to "Midnights" by Swift. This award made her the first person in the history of the Grammys to win 4 Best Album of the Year.

Kyle Jansen (12)

Kaleb Whitlow (11)

"Travis Scott got robbed at the Grammys because he had 5 billion streams on his album and didn't win."

"Travis Scott was robbed at the Grammys.

He is better than Killer Mike's album."

Cole Baumgartner (10)

Chloe Herrero (9)

"I believe Metro Boomin' was robbed at the Grammys for the rap album of the year."

"I think that Noah Kahan should've won Best New Artist. He had a lot of good music."

Percy Jackson comes to life in new adaptation

Amelia Jenkins Business Manager

“Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood.” The quote, which inspired a whole fandom and universe of its own, shows up in the reputable book, Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief; the first of many in one of the most popular young adult book series. What started off as a five-book series gained so much admiration that it took to the big screen two times. And now, fans have another chance to watch the well-known characters and story come alive again in the recently debuted television series.

In 2004, 20th Century Fox acquired the film rights to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief book, and in 2009 began filming for the first movie.

The movie starred actors Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, and Brandon T. Jackson as Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. While the first movie was not a huge hit, and only grossed $226.4 million, the second movie, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters was introduced in 2011, and was released to theaters in 2013.

The movie was disappointing to fans, and at the box office as it only earned $199 million. Fans waited for an adaptation that stayed true to the books for several years until the television adaptation was announced in 2020. This time, Riordan promised that the series would reflect the story inside the book and would remain truthful to the plot.

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians television series debuted on Tuesday, Dec. 19 when the first two episodes aired on Disney Plus. The first season consisted of eight episodes, with a new one released every Tuesday at nine p.m. Eastern Time. The show stars Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson, Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood, and Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase. One of the many ways the series followed the books is by using the chapter titles in the books for the episode titles in the show. While not all of the chapter titles are used, popular ones such as “I Accidentally Vaporize my Pre-Algebra Teacher” and “A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers” show up in episodes one and five.

While the producers of the new show have tried their best to keep the show true to the original books, like every adaptation, changes must be made. While these changes

are not as drastic as the ones made when the books were originally adapted to movie form, some changes have been controversial and some fans have been in favor of them.

One of the bigger changes appears in episode five when Annabeth and Percy venture to Waterland to retrieve Ares’ shield.

In the book, the shield is located at the bottom of a drained pool inside of a boat with cameras positioned around it. The trap is set by Hephaestus as he tries to catch Ares and Aphrodite together and then broadcast it to Olympus to humiliate them. However, in the episode, Annabeth and Percy travel down the Tunnel of Love and find the shield sitting above a golden throne. Percy is trapped when he sits on the throne and is turned to gold, while Annabeth is then able to retrieve the shield. Hepha-

"All the stories are true." estus then appears and frees Percy from the trap, allowing them to take the shield and leave together. While there are many other changes throughout the eight-episode series, none of them change the show too drastically or affect the flow of the plot.

Additionally, fans highly approve of changes that add to the plot rather than take away from it. Throughout episode seven there is a series of flashbacks that show young Percy as his mom decides to send him away to a boarding school.

We see Percy wonder why his mom is making these decisions, while his mom deals with the sadness and guilt of having to send Percy away from her to protect him.

Furthermore, during one scene Sally, Percy's mom, makes a sacrifice by burning a sundae to call Poesdion, his father.

He meets with Sally and she confesses that she does not want to take Percy to Camp Half-Blood, but feels like she

must to ensure his protection. She continues by saying she wants Percy to know who he is before he enters into a new world and the Gods try to turn him into something else.

The scene is very emotional and shows Sally’s thoughts that fans do not get to see while reading the book.

On Wednesday, January 30 Disney Plus released a documentary all about the production of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. The 50 minute documentary allows fans to experience the world from behind the scenes of the show. Viewers hear from the producers, actors, and even Rick Riordan himself about how important keeping true to the story and exceeding fans expectations is. The producers speak about finding the right actor by looking to see if they had the soul of the character, rather than only looking for their physical attributes. They touch on Walker’s sense of humor, snarkiness, and sense of wonder that helps him successfully bring Percy to life.

As well, they had to make sure that the chemistry between the three main characters helped to enhance the story.

Every line and word was critiqued to perfection and the locations they filmed featured cities all over the country, and even virtual ones brought into the studios. The documentary shows the viewers just how much work goes into perfecting an iconic books series adaptation.

The Percy Jackson series let fans immerse themselves into the world of Olympus and revisit their childhood. On February 7, Percy Series, the official Percy Jackson page, and Disney announced that there will be a season two of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. In his post on Instagram, Riordan said “I can’t wait to bring the next season of Percy Jackson to Disney Plus! Raise anchors. Hoist the mainsail. All hands on deck, demigods.

We’re heading for the sea of monsters!”

Fans responded with enthusiasm and delight, commenting their favorite scenes from the second book they couldn’t wait to see on the big screen. Additionally, there has been speculation of who the directors may cast as several new characters. Tyson, a cyclops and son of Poesidon, as well as Thalia, Zeus’ daughter who was mentioned in the first series, will make their debut in the upcoming season. While there has yet to be an official date set for the release of the new season, fans can not contain their excitement and wait anxiously for it to be released.

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page 11

Filling the steps of J-Hall: FCA at Marietta Libby Barnes Design Editor

The First Amendment says that everyone in the United States has the right to practice his or her own religion, or no religion at all; however, in Georgia, prayer in public schools is considered “unconstitutional” due to thinking that public prayer is forcing a religion upon students who don't believe in said religion. As a result, students who wanted to have a place to practice their religion here in Marietta, created the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Entering Marietta, Eleanor Rand Lines (12) knew that she wanted one of her new-found favorite parts of the week to grow into a club with hundreds of people all together to worship Jesus.

“When I came into Marietta my freshmen year, there were about 9 people who attended FCA. It was super small and most of the people who attended came from the same church,” Lines said.

She helped start a leadership team where she was able to connect people from different backgrounds and communities to come together to worship the Lord. She also started Tuesday Bible study for all members of the leadership team. Being a student-run club, the leadership team can create a relationship with all of those who attend and know what students want at meetings to create a welcoming and open environment. She is now one of the current copresidents of FCA and, to this day, loves hearing student voices fill the steps of J-Hall every Friday morning as they worship and praise the Lord.

“It is really special because this year, my best friend Camilla and I are presidents together. So it’s just awesome seeing where we were 4 years ago to where the Lord has brought us now,” Lines said.

Co-president, Camilla Weigle (12), has the same gratitude and love for FCA that Lines shows as well. She also entered FCA when it was quite small and has been able to see it grow into what it is today.

“It’s truly been one of the coolest experiences to be able to witness what the Lord has done and the growth of FCA. Most Friday mornings, our entire J-hall is completely packed with students,” Weigle said.

In this student-centered club, everyone is in a tight-knit group and it feels much more welcoming to new members.

“I think that the student body as a whole feels more welcomed and encouraged by a club that is run by their peers, and as students, we are able to see more clearly the needs of the study body and how to communicate to them clearly,” Weigle said.

Students plan all events for the club by inviting members of the community to come and talk to students and leadership members will also each have to speak at least one morning in the year. Creating a community of Christians at school has helped students grow closer to God and to each other.

Micah Polk (12)

Ali Patrick (11)

Student Micah Polk loves to attend FCA on Fridays especially because of all the speakers that come to talk. “[The speakers] always bring a relatable lesson to Friday mornings, and most of the time when they talk it’s either about something I’m going through or about something I can apply the next day,” Polk said.

Team leader Ali Patrick leads at school, at her church MFUMC, and has learned to lead worship at Passion Worship Academy.

“Being on the FCA leadership team combines two passions of mine, leadership and faith. My Christianity is one of the core values of my life and I think that FCA leadership has encouraged me to be a leader in my faith at all times,” Ali Patrick said.

Photos by Libby Barnes

Charlotte Bullington praying over the students before she starts her testimony.

FCA leadership team takes turns each week speaking to the group teaching a lesson they have learned from the Bible. Bullington spoke about how she has learned to put God in front of everything else and how to get rid of distractions for God."When we intentionally seek a relationship with Christ, we are able to rely on His strength and not our own when we are going through different difficulties and trials," Bullington (12) said.

Blue Devils keep busy outside of school

Sydney Hernandez Section Editor

Students at Marietta High School take charge of their businesses inside the school community, fostering a culture of entrepreneurship. These student-run businesses, which vary from inventive startups to creative projects, display a wide spectrum of skills and goals. This emerging entrepreneurial mindset develops students' initiative and leadership skills and gives them practical experience. There is an ever-changing scene of student businesses at MHS, highlighting the passion and creativity that drive these young company owners.

Mason Gazaway and Eli Owen Mason Gazaway (11) and Eli Owen (11) are juniors at MHS who run a business called Marietta Leaf Removal.

They travel around Marietta to aid neighbors and community members in clearing their driveways, yards, and surrounding areas. Through Instagram, they share their projects and showcase pictures of people's yards. Gazaway and Owen began this business earlier this year and believed this was the best time to do it.

“We decided to start this business to make money to help support ourselves. We take care of things better when we are paid for them. It also allows for us to go out with our friends more,” Gazaway said.

Gazaway and Owen have been friends for many years before the beginning of their business. They believe that helps benefit them with working effectively and still having fun at the same time.

“My favorite thing about running the business is being able to choose my hours, the amount I charge, and getting to work with someone I enjoy being around,” Owen said.

Through the next fall and winter seasons, Owen and Gazaway plan to continue working with people around the communit to keep their houses and lawns fresh.

Follow their journey at @marietta_leaf_removal.

Aduwa Ajie Aduwa Ajie (11) is a design artist who creates bracelets based on customer requests. Through her selling bracelets, Ajie lets clients create original and customized designs based on characters, albums, or anything they desire. Ajie knew she would not have much time to get a job, so she put her creative side out there to earn money.

“I wanted something to fulfill me because I didn't want to stay at home being idle. I also couldn't get a real job because I have to watch my younger brother all the time.I thought it would be a good chance to show my creativity,” Ajie said.

Ajie has a bright Instagram profile where she posts many of the patterns she has created for clients. Ajie adores what she does and looks through a wide variety of designs so everybody can have their own style.

“The best part about running my business is getting to explore my creative capabilities. I love working at my desk and making a bunch of fun new designs for people to wear because it fulfills me,” Ajie said.

With her creativity, Ajie soon plans to sell keychains and necklaces for people to buy and wear with style.

Follow her on @aduwabracelets.

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page 12

BHM: Black history from Marietta’s roots Amber Ryan Business Manager

Founded in 1892, Marietta City Schools was initially for white students only as segregation was still heavily enforced across the United States. MHS existed in six locations: Kennesaw Avenue, Waterman Street, Lemon Street, and Haynes Street. It moved to where the current Marietta Middle School is on Winn Street in 1924. The MHS campus would not move to its current location on Whitlock Avenue until 2001.

Marietta High School was the school for white students, and Lemon Street was the school for Black students. Originally opening as Lemon Street Grammar School in 1894, the school was used to educate Black students. However, it needed to become a proper high school.

Due to pushback from the community, Marietta City Schools opened the Lemon Street High School a few minutes away from the grammar school in 1930. While this opened up more educational opportunities to Black students, it still did not amount to the quality of education that Marietta High School students received.

Although the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision ruled that students should not be denied quality education based on race, Marietta High School did not integrate until 1967. As combat to desegregation, white residents would “gerrymander” school district lines to not include minority neighborhoods as well as to diminish black voting strength. Gerrymandering is a political term used to describe

adjusting city limits or district lines to benefit one party, race, or group unfairly.

Specifically, in Marietta, the court case Grogan v. Hunter disputed this exact notion.

This was deemed a successful progressive movement as Hugh Grogan was elected the first African-American to hold a seat on the city council.

With the backlash of the Marietta High School integration from those already attending, there was a lot of turmoil surrounding the city. Over time, the Marietta community became more accustomed to people of all races coexisting.

However, that does not mean racism is not still prevalent today. Many students of color still face racial discrimination whether that be direct or underhanded. As of November 2023, 38.2 percent of the school’s population was black with only 19.1 percent white. The ratio between black and white has flipped since the early 1980s.

Marietta’s diversity of students and cultures is what makes it such an enriching environment today, that provides students with the opportunity to learn about those different from themselves. It also allows for students oppounities to grow in thier professional lives after high school and college.

MHS alumni, Rashad Milligan and Maya Williams are examples of Black students that have become an extension of Black success from Marietta.

Senior Staff Writer for “Rolling Out”

Booking Assistant for NBC’s “Karamo”

Marietta High School alum Rashad Milligan is making waves as a senior staff writer at Rolling Out, an esteemed news outlet that focuses on Black news. Milligan started at Rolling Out as an intern during his senior year at Georgia State University. This came to be after winning first place in the Sports Reporting Onsite Competition at the Southeastern Journalism Conference, SEJC, in 2017. He transferred to Georgia State during his junior year and remembers his first year as a challenge—a challenge he soon overcame winning this award his senior year.

Milligan recalls seeing the Rolling Out magazine as a child and reading Black celebrity headlines that otherwise may not have been deemed newsworthy in other publications. Growing up, he always admired sports. This was ingrained into him by his father mostly. As a Hickory Hills Elementary School student, Milligan always loved going to the book fair to get the latest sports magazine or book. Attending a Marietta City school has helped shape Milligan into the person he is today.

“Getting everybody in all social statuses, all economic statuses and backgrounds, it really taught me how to communicate with everyone and exist with everybody,” Milligan said.

Being a journalist comes with its challenges, however being Black in journalism puts an added responsibility onto the journalist to advocate for the community.

Throughout his career so far, his favorite article to write was about football player and activist Colin Kaepernick donating money to various organizations, specifically Helping Oppressed Mothers Endure, or H.O.M.E. In order to make a conscious effort to, “dive below the surface,” of Colin Kaepernick donating money, he asked the recipients how the donation impacted them. Telling the heart and impact of a story is what inspires Milligan to continue his work.

“There are so many people nowadays that want to have a podcast or want to have a YouTube channel. All of these things are amazing, but I would actually encourage journalists to be independent and have your own brand instead of just leaning all of your weight on a company because media changes so often,” Milligan said.

Inspired by her love of storytelling, Maya Williams, a Marietta High School graduate and former Pitchfork member, navigates the path of an aspiring journalist. She reflects on her time at MHS as a defining moment in her life that shaped the kind of person she is today. MHS gave her the groundwork that she needed for college and implemented an esteemed academic literacy that still translates today.

Williams attended the HBCU Florida A&M University and was a part of their student newspaper. While on staff, she wrote a feature article during her junior year about a friend who battled a type of skin cancer.

“As a Black journalist, you see the world through a different lens. You have the opportunity/duty to report on issues within your own community or world that may have otherwise gone unnoticed by the masses,” Williams said.

As a scholarly Black student, it can be difficult in some environments to feel seen and heard due to race. However, that was not the case for William at FAMU. She describes her time there as influential in heightening her confidence since she was no longer a minority but surrounded by fellow Black students with similar interests.

“It was a major change in environment when I attended FAMU versus MHS. Initially it was a small culture shock to go to school in Florida. The next adjustment was being around all Black kids from all over the globe. The state of Georgia can be kind of limited when it comes to the type of people you meet on a daily basis, but FAMU helped me grow,” Williams said.

After graduating early from college, Williams continued her journalism path by working as an executive assistant at Fox News. In this role, she helped produce well over 200 episodes. While she describes the time as difficult, she appreciates her time there because it allowed her to transition to New York City where she currently works as a booking assistant on the show, “Karamo” on NBC. “I tell any rising Black journalist to be their authentic self. No idea is too big or too small to pursue. Don’t be afraid to speak up and continue to work on your craft,” Williams said.

Rashad Milligan

Maya Williams

www.mhspitchfork.com

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