Running for homecoming royalty, p. 2
Fashion tips and inspiration, p. 9
What we’re listening to this fall, p. 11
Red and Black
Montgomery County Public Schools
Northwood High School
919 University Boulevard W.
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Fall 2021
‘Being in school feels kind of new’:
Northwood students react to the reopening of in-person instruction by Rebecca Tran, Lizzy Alspach, and Red and Black staff Transitioning from online to in-person school has stirred a lot of mixed emotions for students, from excitement to anxiety. While Northwood students spent the majority of their time on laptops learning from home last year, this year students and teachers are back in the building receiving instruction. “Being in the school feels kind of new for me,” said Cameron Ali (‘24). “I still get lost.” It’s not just the way students learn that has changed. In-person teaching requires changes from how things were done before the pandemic–for instance, navigating the new mask mandate. Online learning also had its limitations. Returning to in-person instructions could be exciting for some students (cont’d on page 3)
Editorial: fallout from a racist incident If MCPS is serious about antiracism, stronger action is necessary by Jeanne Gnahoua On October 1, Northwood’s football game against Sherwood started ordinarily at first. Northwood and Sherwood faced off on Northwood’s field to see who would bring home the win. The game began, and, though Northwood’s chances of winning seemed grim - the team had 17 players, five of whom were injured at the time, against Sherwood’s 60plus - Northwood was still looking forward to a fun, clean game.
Scenes from Northwood’s reopening: Northwood cheer, freshmen orientation, the homecoming game, and the homecoming dance. (Photos: Mike Lynch, Angelo McNeil, and Chariot staff.)
Yet, that was not what occurred. During the first half of the game, in a play where one of Northwood’s players made a run towards Sherwood’s sidelines, some Northwood players allege they heard the n-slur coming from the Sherwood sidelines. At the time, they decided to leave the matter be, hoping that its use was just a heat of the moment decision. But according to a Northwood player who wants to remain anonymous, the abuse continued. “Another time [I heard the n-slur] was right before half. . . someone just yelled it out to one of [Northwood’s] players.” Sherwood’s demographics differ from Northwood’s. According to US News and World Report, 49.3% of Sherwood’s student body is white, compared to Northwood’s 13.6%. Though this incident is shocking, this isn’t the first time an alleged incidence of racist namecalling
by Sherwood against Northwood athletes has occurred. The @/blackatnorthwood Instagram page, an account where black Northwood students submit anonymous reports often detailing racist abuse, has featured posts chronicling alleged verbal namecalling. “I’m a part of the volleyball team at Northwood,” one post submitted to the account reads. “I will never forget [hearing] the ‘n word’ with the hard R.” The student goes on to describe how they felt intimidated and belittled by opposing players and fans. “It’s just the small things that add up,” the student added. Another football player shared a separate incident. “I think in my JV season when I was playing football around freshman year, it also happened. [I heard it] during the game.” Yet, with all these incidents readily available, one would believe that some sort of penalty was enforced
- that a fitting punishment eventually found people making bigoted remarks, and the victims of the harassment got their just desserts. Right? That didn’t exactly happen. In fact, nothing did. The players we spoke to expressed that they didn’t want to share their experiences with administration in the first place. But, why is that? One football player said they felt administrators “can’t really do much.” Another player expressed that they feel administration does not care about the plights they face. In any event, students often do not tell administration about incidents involving racism, allowing them them to go virtually unseen. These events might be part of a broader trend in MCPS schools. Many students of color are reluctant to share their experiences with admin because they fear their voices won’t be heard in the first place. (continued on page 5)
2 Red and Black
Homecoming: my experience running for royalty
Fall 2021
Red and Black Staff
by Samia Abdur-Rahim As a senior, attending Homecoming was a given - especially seeing as it’s my final year. But running for Homecoming Court? It seemed like just a waste of time. A joke, even. While Northwood Homecomings are nowhere near exciting as they sound, I still teased the idea of running for royalty. When I told my friends (as a joke) that I wanted to run for Homecoming, they were all for it. One of my friends even claimed that they’d seriously help me campaign. And so, in the next few weeks we had fully colored posters with my face plastered on them. Each one showed my face and pleaded with passersby to “vote for Samia Abdur-Rahim” while also supplying some non-specific threat. At first, it was extremely embarrassing. My face on badly edited photos for everyone in the school to see? Utterly humiliating. But of course, I still put them up with the help of friends. In the hallways and in multiple teacher’s classrooms - even on someone’s back. We were determined. Soon I realized that our advertising efforts weren’t enough. My competitors were advertising more than before, and I soon grew even more determined to win. So we turned to bribery. It’s amazing how many people you can get to agree with you for a lollipop. When I arrived at the dance that fateful Saturday night, I was pleased to receive a free ticket for snow cones and unlimited Capri Suns. Since I was worried about when the winners of Homecoming royalty were going to be announced, I managed to recruit my friends to arrive earlier than we normally would. The DJ was… questionable during the first half of homecoming. We danced to the Cupid Shuffle and Electric Slide, which definitely opened up the night to more fun dancing. My friends and I met a ton of cool underclassmen, saw our peers dressed to the nines, and took some nice pictures together. The red carpet (which was taped down with red duct tape) at the entrance to the Homecoming area was definitely a nice touch.
News Editors-in-Chief Lizzy Alspach Liya Tadesse Supervising Editors Samia Abdur-Rahim Jeanne Gnahoua Semira Tekle Kai Treadwell News Staff Megan Leatherwood Madison Riggs Rebecca Tran
Above: Jeanne Gnahoua (right) and I at Homecoming (Photo: Chariot staff) All this boiled down to one moment: the announcement of the Homecoming winners. By 7:15pm, the suspense had grown to a climax. We all gathered on the dance floor, our fingers crossed, waiting for that fateful announcement… to find that I didn’t win. Which was okay - I started this campaign on a whim, after all - but still a little bit of a downer. After the announcement, my friends and I grabbed our free snacks and hightailed it out of the school. There were really only 30 minutes of the dance left, but we got what we wanted and that’s all that mattered. One of my friends who can drive (love you Lizzy) took us to The Silver Diner, where I feasted on a delectable Greek salad. I thought about that salad afterwards (more so than my Homecoming loss), just as my friends thought about the waffles and burgers they got. I still enjoyed myself - even though I didn’t win - and Homecoming is probably one of those stories I’ll tell my kids when I’m old and wrinkly. Below: Scenes from Northwood’s Homecoming Dance (via Chariot staff)
Features Staff Mary Awii Aidan Lewis Michael Marquez Silas Myers Caroline Touhey Entertainment Staff Enson Cao John McLendon Barcomax Ouedraogo Shyla Rincon Anderson Solano Ruiz Music Editor Samia Abdur-Rahim Comics and Games Editor Jeanne Gnahoua Fashion Editor Malisha Gunawardena Design and Photography Zainab Coker Andru Orosco Faculty Advisor Ryan Acosta-Fox
News
3
Fall 2021
Northwood reopens for in-person learning (cont’d) their peers and teachers face-toface again in the building. In-person instructions can be more beneficial to students who prefer a learning environment where they can more easily connect with their teachers. Freshman Kimberly Mendez said she likes in-person school because it allows her to “interact with teachers and friends and that helps [her] focus.” Another member of the class 2025, Declan Ritchotte, was excited to socialize in-person with friends he had missed. “It was good to see friends again,” said Declan. Although many students are excited to come back to school, some are still anxious about COVID-19
and the safety of the building. At the beginning of the year, some students were cynical about MCPS staying open. According to Stella Ponce (‘23), “Starting school in-person was stupid because we are just going to close again.” While there are significant differences between pre- and post-lockdown schooling, Northwood and other MCPS schools are devoting resources to making school feel as normal as possible. Sports, practices, and extracurriculars now operate under much the same rules and regulations as pre-lockdown, and students are not required to wear masks while doing outdoor activities. In a year of uncertainties, perhaps only one thing is sure to be true: This will prove to be an eventful year.
Red and Black
More scenes from reopening: Northwood Cheer greets incoming freshmen, and students celebrate at the Homecoming Dance.
Seniors Say
Seniors answer questions from freshmen about how to live their lives by Madison Riggs and Megan Leatherwood
Tatyanna Murphy
Calvin Wood
Brandon Appleton
General advice to freshmen? “Don’t procrastinate. And take more challenging classes like AP and Honors, don’t be scared. It helps. I didn’t start taking them until later. . . don’t wait to take them because you’re scared.”
General advice to freshmen? “I would recommend FINDING ANY FRIENDS WHO PLAY MUSIC AND TELLING THEM TO JOIN JAZZ BAND. . . WE NEED PEOPLE! Also, don’t get sassy with your teachers. It will make for a very hard four years if all your teachers hate you.”
General advice to freshmen? “WALK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HALLWAY!!! No one likes it when you walk on the wrong side.”
“Are there things you feel like you missed out on?” (Marisa Davenport) “I missed out on sports and clubs and putting myself out there. Don’t be afraid to do that and go for it.” “Do you care about freshmen talking to you?” (Miles Riggs) “I try to reach out to them to comfort them, because you know, like ‘scary seniors’ and stuff like that, so I try to reach out and show them [that’s not the case]. I’m on the cheerleading team, so we have a lot of freshmen and I try to help them out on there, too.”
“Are there any things you feel like you missed out on?” “I missed out on my whole freshman experience because I was homeschooled, before the pandemic. I should have taken advantage of a real school while I had it.” “Are there any places on campus you should avoid?” (Eva Caron) “The whole campus is pretty cool but I would avoid the G hallway. . . Grimiest hallway in Northwood.”
“Are there any things you feel like you missed out on?” “Being open to meeting new people. You might just make someone’s day.” “Do you care about freshmen talking to you?” “I’m fine with being friends with a freshman.” “Are there any places on campus you should avoid?” “Any of the area behind the stairwells. People will become suspicious of you no matter what.”
4 Red and Black
Queerbaiting: all you need to know by Jeanne Gnahoua and Lizzy Alspach Queerbaiting: a term you’ve probably heard tossed around before, but you might not know the significance. Queerbaiting is a term used for media that makes promises of LGBTQ+ representation but in reality doesn’t provide any representation, good representation, or it provides problematic FX’s Pose (above) is the rare show that delivers LGBTQ+ representation. representation. Queerbaiting happens most heterosexual character who is in a Legendary Defender,” where Shiro, often in shows. In television meromantic relationship with Veone of the main characters, was dia, oftentimes two characters are ronica Lodge, while Joaquin is a said to be married to a man named hinted at being romantically involved, but the showrunners never known gay character who seems to Adam. The entire cast and crew published this, which got fans exactually follow through. “Riverdale” kiss Archie to establish an ulterior motive in the show. Though this cited, but in the final season, Shiro is a prime example of this: Betty and Adam have nothing to do with and Veronica are hinted at becom- isn’t inherently problematic, it became misleading when executives each other. This is how queerbaiting a couple; they kiss each other at the beginning of the series. Fans decided to use the kiss to advertise ing is used as a promotional tactic: “Riverdale” as an appeal to the get more viewers by appealing to were elated at first, thinking that LGBTQ+ community. a queer audience without actually “Riverdale” was going to provide While it might seem like it’s not delievering, without scaring away some much needed queer rep… but that important, these examples are those in the audience who might that quickly proved to be wishful actually harmful to the queer com- dislike explicit queerness. thinking as a sapphic relationship munity. Betty and Veronica’s kiss Queerbaiting is not a new was abandoned, and Betty and was also used as a promotion of development; celebrities have also Veronica end up in heterosexual “Riverdale,” but since the relationengaged in queerbaiting. One relationships. ship wasn’t developed any further, example is one of Katy Perry’s Two different characters in “Rivit was put in the series to attract a biggest hits: “I Kissed a Girl.” This erdale,” Joaquin and Archie, also broader queer audience. Anothfan-favorite song became extremely end up kissing in the series. Archie er instance comes from “Voltron: popular in the 2000’s, but some of Andrews is an established
Activision Blizzard’s “frat boy” culture by Kai Treadwell Activision, creators of big video game titles like “Call of Duty,” “Overwatch,” and “Skylanders,” is currently being investigated about their response to “numerous complaints about unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.” Over the summer, PC Gamer reported on employees who spoke with federal investigators citing the “frat boy” culture of Activision Blizzard, calling it a “breeding
Politics Fall 2021
its lyrics are questionable. Perry sings lines like, “You’re my experimental game,” and “I hope my boyfriend don’t mind it.” The latter line seems innocent enough but carries a homophobic connotation. We understand that Katy Perry isn’t really talking about a romance with a girlfriend, but instead a purely sexual secret she feels she has to hide. Queer relationships - especially sapphic ones - are sexualized and delegitimized, presented to the public as purely sexual experiences. Other musical artists, such as Cardi B, have denounced the term queerbaiting. On Twitter, she said, “I feel like [queerbaiting] pressures artists to talk about their sexuality or experiences that they don’t feel comfortable speaking about.” It’s important to note that queerbaiting isn’t about forcing artists to come out about their identity if they’re not ready; it’s about non-queer people using the promise of queer content to lure fans. Today, as society moves toward normalizing queerness, some shows have provided great LGBTQ+ representation, such as “Euphoria,” “The Owl House,” “Sex Education,” and “Pose.” As Bea Mitchell, a journalist for Pink News, put it, queerbaiting offers “just enough to keep LGBT people interested, without having to really represent us.”
ground for harassment and discrimination against women.” In July, more than 3,000 employees of the company signed an open letter that called for “official statements recogniz[ing] the seriousness of the allegations and demonstrate compassion for victims of harassment and assault.” Labor actions including strikes and protests followed. In their letter, employees also demanded Activision modify their employment practices and publish data of salary ranges and promotion rates for employees of all “genders and ethnicities at the company.” Not only that, but employees also demanded that Activision ditch all mandatory arbitration opers of games like World of clauses from all current and future Warcraft, who have been acemployee contracts, meaning that cused of serial sexual harassment. employees will no longer have to Many have mixed feelings about waive their rights to bring the com- these changes. Writer Kris Holt pany to court. said that the changes will “rinse the Since this happened, Activision stink of the scandal from the game,” has responded in numerous ways. but they won’t “fix the systemic They renamed Overwatch’s “Mcproblems at Activision Blizzard.” Cree” since he shares the name of ActiVision is still being called Jesse McCree; McCree is a longinsensitive in their responses to term developer for Activision who sexual harassment accusations on was outed for sexual misconduct in top of their responses to ensuring the workplace. The company also the safety of diverse populations removed references to other devel- within their company. Above and left: Activision employees protest a culture of harassment (Photos: LA Times).
Politics
Fall 2021
Racism and MCPS inaction (cont’d) But are students at fault for feeling this way? Absolutely not. It isn’t DCC students’ fault for not telling administrators what happened; it’s administrators’ fault for facilitating an environment where students feel as if they can’t share these details in the first place. What students need is proper action - amends for all the cases in which administration didn’t act and students were left to suffer in silence, their voices unheard. There are questions that administrators across the county should be asking themselves every time they wake up and go to work. Do our students feel safe walking into school buildings every morning? Every minute they’re in the halls? Every afternoon when they walk out the doors? If racist events happen at our school, can we confidently say that there will be actions taken to
5 Red and Black
discourage them from happening again? Is there anything that we can do to stop something like this from taking place at all? There have been other recent incidents featuring indifference on behalf of people in charge toward attitudes and actions of bigotry toward marginalized students. Well-documented incidents happened at athletic events between Sherwood High School and Albert Einstein High School this year. The first incident occurred during the varsity girls soccer match on September 30, when the Sherwood students’ section allegedly made several racist and transphobic comments against the Einstein team. According to the Washington Post, one Einstein student who participated in the game said in a social media post that she was referred to as “Asian trash” and “Asian man.”
Later, a student from Einstein who played in a girls’ volleyball game on October 4 recounted part of a different incident on Instagram. “Two boys walked past me and one of them said [a racist slur directed toward people of Chinese descent] directly to me.” Another Instagram story made by a different account reported that at the end of the same game, the Einstein volleyball team had to leave from a separate door, guided by Sherwood’s athletic director, in order to avoid the Sherwood student section. Part of the reason why some students feel so comfortable making racist comments is because students have too rarely faced repercussions for past infractions. The atmosphere gives them leeway to make such comments without fear of punishment. Thankfully, the two incidents involving Sherwood and Einstein students sparked helpful controver-
sy. Einstein students’ social media campaign helped spread awareness. Einstein students who were most affected shared their experiences on social media and asked other students to help spread word and seek justice. Students across Montgomery County answered their call and elevated the voices of the Einstein students who were harmed. MCPS, after noticing the events that transpired on social media, quickly responded. MCPS implemented restorative circles, both at Sherwood and at Einstein, to both give students a safe space to talk about what occurred and to identify the beliefs that caused this incident in the first place. In a statement, Einstein principal Mark Brown said, “While restorative circles help, the students and spectators who engage in this offensive behavior need to be addressed directly and specifically. Being part of an athletic team and attending athletic events are privileges that can be taken away.”
Northwood players (right) square off against Sherwood players (left) (Photo: NAA).
Einstein planned for Sherwood students to be under parental supervision at the next game they attended. Meanwhile, Sherwood’s principal, Tim Britton, wrote in a letter directed to the Einstein community that his school will be investigating the incidents and that there would be “serious consequences” for those responsible. It feels like change is finally happening. But what about events that don’t receive so much attention? An entire social media campaign should not be necessary every time something like this happens. It should be enough for a student to report an incident to administration and have appropriate consequences take place. Though MCPS administrators finally took action in this case, it is clear there is still work to be done - as the Northwood-Sherwood
football game indicates. The repercussions happening in the wake of the Einstein coverage at Sherwood must not be ignored. The change that Sherwood implements must be lasting and far-reaching. This should be the precedent, not the sole example. We believe that MCPS administrators should: - permanently suspend any athletes that use racial slurs; - ban any students found using a slur against other students from all extracurricular activities; - require parental supervision at following games if derogatory remarks are heard but perpetrators cannot be found; and - remove the increased police presence on school grounds for extracurriculars. Increasing police presence at schools where students of color fre-
quent is not the answer to solving or preventing racist incidents when they have historically aided in the disenfranchisement of black and brown and queer bodies. The football players we spoke to want a sincere apology from Sherwood, as well as action to take place. Many encouraged the permanent suspension of any athletes who used the inappropriate language toward the Northwood team. As a football player puts it, “I just don’t think it was right how some of the players on the team [were] saying some racial slurs.” Though some of these proposals may be challenging to facilitate immediately, they should serve as a guideline for the next time a type of incident occurs on MCPS grounds. Any step from MCPS that would make students feel more comfortable sharing their stories would
be a step in the right direction for MCPS. It is the job of administration to crack down on the culture of racism that is present in MCPS schools, the culture that enables students to say such vile things. The fact that such things are even happening - often without proper repercussions - calls into question the ability of administration to do the job of antiracism. To represent the lack of sportsmanship shown to Northwood players during the game, one Northwood player decided against giving a final handshake to a player from the Sherwood team. Though this appears to be a small act of protest, the player hopes it’s something small that could ignite a larger fire. It’s the little things that add up, after all.
6 Features Red and Black
Fall 2021
How to survive the Zombie Apocalypse Northwood Hallways by Michael Marquez and Red and Black staff Now that schools have reopened, it’s time to prepare for the worst: not only did you survive quarantine, but now you must survive the Northwood hallways! Fortunately, with the help of seasoned Red and Black staff, I have made a set of rules to guide you. Stay strong. Rule 1 Give up all hope. Rule 2 Use brute force only if absolutely necessary. Moving is key. This can sometimes be the only effective way to get through. Rule 3 Say “excuse me.” No one seems to realize you are all going to the same place. When saying “excuse me,” people might not notice. It’s possible they even let you pass. Rule 4 Blend in; they can smell fear. Rule 5 “Don’t stop in the middle of the hallway. People will push you.”
(Lizzy A., ‘22) Rule 6 “Avoid eye contact. It will just make things more awkward than it already is.” (Samia, ‘22) Rule 7 “Use all your opportunities. When there’s a gap of people, take it.” (Lizzy A., ‘22) Rule 8 “Trust no one. In the hallways, nobody’s a friend.” (Silas M., ‘25) Rule 9 “There is no prize for first place. Don’t martyr yourself; stay vigilant.” (Mr. Acosta-Fox, ‘02) Rule 10 “Stick to both walls of the hallways so people can get through.” (I forgot who said this but it makes good sense.) Follow these rules like the 10 Commandments, and not only will you be prepared to survive the Northwood hallways, but a none-too-dissimilar zombie apocalypse as well. You got this!
What’s your favorite scary movie? I asked 33 students at Northwood what their favorite movie is. Here’s what I learned. by Andru Orosco
Jaidyn M. (‘22)
Alex L. (‘22)
Northwood Consensus
Favorite Scary Movie: The Conjuring 2
Favorite Scary Movie: Insidious
Favorite Scary Movie: Scream 2nd Place: Halloween (tie) 3rd Place: Nightmare on Elm Street (tie)
Features
Fall 2021
“Candyman” (1992) vs. “Candyman” (2021): an analysis (with spoilers) by Andru Orosco “Candyman” (1992) tells a haunting story that traumatizes a whole neighborhood, a curse that the Cabrini-Green housing complex couldn’t break. Directed by Bernard Rose and starred Virginia Madsen as Helen Lyle, the 1992 version tells the story of a student at a university writing a thesis, and Kasi Lemmons as her friend Bernadette. A creature called the Candyman suddenly appears when you say his name five times in the mirror. Helen and Bernadette decide to investigate. At the Cabrini-Green housing ocmplex, residents tell Helen about the Candyman. One woman speaks of her murdered next door neighbor. After this, Helen gets a closer encounter than she anticipated. When Helen and the police believe they have apprehended the Candyman, he blames her for ruining his name. That’s what keeps his spirit alive, we learn: the fear of Cabrini-Green. That’s why he’s doing this to Helen. Till she gives into Candyman, and becomes his protege. The 2021 adaptation is directed by Nia DaCosta, with a screenplay by the legendary Jordan Peele. It features Yahya Abdul Mateen II playing the artist Anthony Mcoy and Teynoah Parris playing his wife in the lead roles. Some actors reprise their roles from the original. The main premise of this version differs from 1992: Anthony and his wife decide to follow a story that drives them insane - with horrifying consequences. Both movies were box office successes, and the original has become a cult classic over the years.
To be considered a resounding success, a movie should make double its production budget. According to Box Office Mojo, “Candyman” (1992) had a budget of $6 million and grossed $26 million. On the other hand, “Candyman” (2021) had a $25 million budget and grossed $60 million dollars. Personally, I think “Candyman” (1992) is better: it has better performances, visuals that are great for its time, a script that’s so enriching, and a plot that’s simple but takes it into new platforms to explore. It is clear that cinematographer Anthony B. Richmond knew where, what, and how to shoot for the theme and mood of the original movie. Richmond deftly filmed in perfect locations to show the grittiness and horrible conditions of Cabrini-Green. Cabrini-Green is a gang-controlled neighborhood that Chicago really doesn’t care about. The set design is very well accomplished. Cabrini-Green hallways are filled with graffiti, everything looks abandoned and feels dark, with mold and dust in all public spaces. Then you have Helen who lives in the city of Chicago with her husband, a professor. The scale of everything feels so right, from the compact apartments, to the wide college classes and campus, to the huge bonfire at the end. I don’t want downplay the cinematography from 2021. They did some things better. But looking at the bigger picture. “Candyman” (2021) had a much bigger budget from Universal Studios, unlike the $6 million the 1992 feature used. Acting performances from both movies are amazing, but Virginia Madsen so perfectly portrayed her character losing their grip on reality and becoming frustrated with her world. The acting becomes unnoticeable at times. “Candyman” (2021) captures this as well, with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II performing an equally great performance.
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Red and Black
Virginia Madsen (above) shines as Helen in “Candyman” (1992); Nia DaCosta (below) skillfully directs Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in the 2021 version (Photos: IMDB.)
But Virginia Madsen had more challenging and disturbing scenes she had to shoot. In one, she is framed for kidnapping. Helen gets arrested and goes to the police station to be processed. She is covered in blood and has to take all of her clothes off. She’s traumatized by everything that has happened to her so fast: her friend’s baby is with the Candyman, and no one is willing to listen to her. She sits there, sobbing, trembling, and embarrassed, as the female cop watches her. She begs the cop for a phone call, to get the detective, for her to be able even to clean herself. This was the scene where I real ly wanted to help Helen; I felt like she was a real person who really needed help. Virginia Madsen’s acting in “Candyman” is a perfect example for what horror movie acting should be.
On the script-writing: well, “Candyman” (1992) definitely takes this. This is not to say the 2021 version had atrocious writing, but it was a bit basic, and just okay overall. On the other hand, Bernard Rose did great for “Candyman” (1992). When the title character speaks in this movie, it truly did feels like a spirit who has been living for hundreds of years haunting Cabrini-Green. Helen accurately sounds like a college student reporter. The director Bernard Rose really does well contrasting the different tones and the way characters from different places speak, between Helen, her friend and the citizens of Cabrini-Green. Both movies have a lot of similarities, but a few differences make “Candyman” (1992) better overall. I would give “Candyman” (1992) an 8/10 and “Candyman” (2021) a 7/10.
8 Music Red and Black
Fall 2021
Kanye West “Donda” performance (Photo: Getty). “Donda” vs. “Ceritfied for at least 12 years. They’ve dissed each other on countless tracks. Lover Boy”: a review Enough of the beef. What about the music? by Enson Cao “Donda” has been highly anticipated for months. Consistent with This hip-hop heavyweight battle the title, “Donda” is an album that has reared its ugly head again, as acts as a memoriam to his now-deKanye and Drake released their ceased mother, Donda West. It deals much anticipated 2021 albums with heavy subjects like the loss of almost simultaneously. However, a loved one, religion, and spreading before a single bit of music was the gospel. Overall, the messages on released, beef was cooking up. the tracks are clear to understand, After a diss from Drake on Trip- and Kanye does this while also givpie Redd’s “Betrayal,” Kanye took his ing a beautiful production matched anger to a group chat and followed with a sonically great album. that with a now-deleted Instagram Overall, the pros of “Donda” post of Drake’s home address. are production, quality, lyricism, It’s not like this is the first time and theme. Cons are definitely these two musical pioneers have overhype, lack of anthemic songs, beefed; their fued has been going on time of release, and memorability.
“Working For The Knife” Mitski
Some standout tracks are This doesn’t compare with the “Moon,” “Jail,” “Pure Souls,” “Ok clear narrative in Kanye’s album. Ok,” and “New Again.” I feel like “Certified Lover Boy” feels like a the hype of “Donda” was more jumble of songs put together with memorable than the actual release no cohesion and with little to no due to its suddenness and dimmed intent behind them. down hype at the time. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed I tried my best to like “Certified two tracks: “Champagne Poetry” Lover Boy”; I really did. However, and “The Remorse.” I feel like the the record failed to meet many of pros to this album are its anthemic my expectations. I feel as if Drake’s value, its time of release, and its attempt to challenge “Donda” by sales, but the cons are production, releasing so close to the record lyricism, theme and quality. “Cerdate and continuing the narratified Lover Boy” was disappointtive of him and Kanye’s beef was ment for me and many others. extremely lackluster, and not much It’s safe to say that both “Doncame out of it. da” and “CLB” were letdowns comSonically and production-wise, pared to the hype that built them “CLB” doesn’t come close to up. However I feel like “Donda” “Donda.” Lyricism also falls short has the edge over “CLB” due to its as you could call many of the lyrics overall enjoyability, themes and “corny” or “uninspired”. production. Drake performing on Coachella stage (Photo: Getty).
Red & Black Playlist Fall 2021
“Passion” Pink Pantheress “GlitchGang” Dropout Kings “Get Back” Chong the Nomad “Statues” The Crawlers “Accordion” MF DOOM “Dorian” Men I Trust “Broken Clocks” SZA “Daydreams/Wetdream/Nightmare” Saint Motel
International music and its influence on us “Kiss Kiss” Machine Gun Kelly
“Roshambo” The Network “6 Five Heartbeats” The Alchemist “THE LIGHT” BROCKHAMPTON “Pain” PinkPantheress “Love It If We Made It” The 1975 “Fairy Of Shampoo” TOMORROWXTOGETHER “Love Affair” UMI “love language” Ariana Grande “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” Tame Impala
by Shyla Rincon Everybody has their own music taste. Some listen to pop, others to rap, and others RnB. But there is music all around the world - from Latin music to Kpop, Bossa Nova, even Afro-beats, and all have influenced American music. Latin artists like Selena, Gloria Estefan and Celia Cruz have impacted Latin music since the 1980s. Other artists like Daddy Yankee, Pitbull and Shakira made it huge in the Latin music industry following their predecessors. Kpop, which originated in South Korea, has groups like SHINEE and Girls’ Generation who made their debut in the early 2000s. Today, BTS, ENHYPEN and TWICE stand as big contenders in the industry, earning millions of fans around the world. Music as a whole has influenced people everywhere and can also help people get in touch with their cultures. People can listen to different types of music and artists from all over the world with streaming services like Spotify. Exploring music from around the globe will let you see new horizons.
Fashion Fall 2021
Fashion Corner by Malisha Gunawardena
The clothes you wear are essentially how you present yourself to other people. They’re the first thing people notice about you, and meeting new people is all about first impressions. Your outer appearance should be a reflection of your inner self. You want to make sure the things you wear represent your unique personality! Remember: you are in control of who you are. These looks offer an indie/retro style. Layering, especially as the season gets colder, can be fashionable.
(Photos: Pinterest.)
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10 Sports Red and Black
Skateboarding: the underdog of the Olympics by Michael Marquez The Summer Olympics has been a worldwide favorite of many, with varied events ranging from weightlifting to speed-walking. The games featured 28 different sporting events and 339 medal events. With the wide array of options the Olympics offers, it could be difficult to pick an event to watch. I want to introduce you to Olympic skateboarding. This past summer, Olympic skateboarding was an intense mixture of skill and entertainment. Skateboarding was officially add-
Fall 2021
ed to the Olympics in 2016, and it finally debuted in 2021. NBC, TV host of the Olympics, featured skateboarding legend Tony Hawk to attract viewers. It worked. The events had plenty of watchers, an audience of skaters, sport fanatics, or just casual viewers. Skateboarding operates a bit differently than other Olympic sports. CBS Sports explains: “Athletes will compete on a course that features real-life obstacles, such as stairs and rails. Each skater will take two 45-second runs and perform five tricks that will be judged on a score out of 10. Out of those seven total performances, the four highest scores of each skater will count.” With Japan winning three gold medals - Yuto Horigome (Men’s
Momiji Nishiya at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics (Photo: Reuters).
Aori Nishimura at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics (Photo: Reuters). Street), Momiji Nishiya (Women’s Street), and Sakura Yosozumi (Women’s Street) - it is clear that the country has all but conquered the Olympics skateboarding leaderboard. Winning these gold medals wasn’t easy. Yuto Horigome attempted the “Caballero kickflip backside lipslide with a fakie 360 flip”; it’s just as hard to say as it is to do. Another skater, Sakura Yosozumi, hit two 540 spins off the walls of the bowl, rotating herself one-and-half-times in the air before landing back on
her board. Lastly, Momiji Nishiya earned a score of 60.9 to become the youngest person (13) ever to win a gold medal for Japan, and the third youngest to win one in history. At the Olympics, skaters were made and dreams achieved. Competing against popular sports like basketball, skateboarding was not talked about as much as it should have been. Skateboarding deserves the attention, and to me, it was theunderdog of the Olympics.
PWC: into the world of pro wrestling
The difference between pro wrestling and the wrestling you hear about in, say, the Olympics, is that pro wrestling focuses more by Megan Leatherwood exclusively on entertainment. WWE has three different brands Are you bowing down to your you can see: Smackdown, NXT 2.0, tribal chief, or have you barely and Raw. Raw and Smackdown are heard of WWE but want in on the the main rosters on WWE and are fun? most talked about. NXT 2.0 is the In either case, the Red and Black development stage; most people Pro Wrestling Column (PWC) is who are on Raw or Smackdown here for you. have gone through NXT. With the PWC, I will aim to Did you know that on April 10, show the wonder of wrestling, and 2021, history was made? Bianca why I love the sport so much. You’ll Belair and Sasha Banks, two curget the latest wrestling news and rent WWE superstars, became the maybe find a new show to enjoy. the first black women to headline a Speaking of shows, here’s a run- major WWE event, WrestleMania. down of the fall slate of wrestling They were even honored at this on TV: year’s ESPY awards for that perfor- WWE Monday Night Raw mance. Girl power! (Monday, 8pm, USA network) Not only that, but on October - WWE NXT 2.0 (Tuesday, 8pm, 4, 2021, WWE drafted 21-yearUSA network) old Olympic gold medalist, Gable - WWE Friday Night SmackSteveson. Steveson competed and down (Friday, 8pm, Fox) won the gold in wrestling at this If you’re new to wrestling, you year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo. may be asking yourself: “What’s Talk about major star power! WWE WWE?” Great question. WWE hosts a yearly draft, just like other - short for World Wrestling Entersports, to obtain or shift talent. tainment - is a professional wresNow that you know the basics, tling broadcast. Wrestlers from all I hope you stay tuned for more around the world come together to WWE news here on the PWC. compete for entertainment.
Above: Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks at WrestleMania (via WWE) Below: Gabe Steveson competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (via AP)
Culture Fall 2021
Reflecting on Spooky SZN: Markoff ’s Haunted Forest and Six Flags’ Fright Fest by Aidan Lewis October is the month where people prepare themselves to dress up or seek out different scary attractions. Luckily, I was able to get to two different well-known attractions: Markoff ’s Haunted Forest in Dickerson and Six Flags America Fright Fest in Bowie. First, let’s consider the atmosphere. You need to have a really good atmosphere to set the mood, and both attractions do this well, but in different ways. Six Flags has giant statues and signs with cool creepy lighting throughout the park. Markoff ’s, on the other hand, is on a whole different level. Right when you walk in, you immediately see a vast array of lights synced to music. It feels like you’re at a rave or a concert and pumps you up before the main experience. The next most important thing is the actual quality of the attraction.
This fall, you can’t go wrong with pumpkin pie by Mary Awii us.
Cooking brings out the best in
Whether cooking with your family or serving them, food can be a fun bonding experience for yourself and others. There are many foods and recipes to choose from that can help us get into the fall spirit. One of the best is pumpkin pie. While this embraces the fall spirit, it’s also a good treat to serve to your friends and family. All Recipes offers this recipe for the perfect pumpkin pie. To make it, you will need: - 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin - 1 (14 oz) can of sweetened condensed milk - 2 large eggs
(Photo: All Recipe.)
Fright Fest has multiple haunted houses with good quality scenery, but these settings either have a notable lack of actors - or worse, actors with cheesy and overused lines. Markoff ’s Haunted Forest has two trails and a haunted town. I was lucky enough to experience the quarter-mile trail which is the longest trail, with a walk time of 30 minutes. All the scenes were top-notch and the actors coming close to touching you at times made the experience all the more intense. Last, but certainly not least, is the actual entertainment value. At Fright Fest, it was fun enough just walking around the park in the dark with limited vision because of all the fog. Markoff ’s was extremely entertaining, with some funny moments on the trail and places for people to hang out around giant bonfires while waiting for their turn. In the end, both attractions are fun, but I would most likely recommend Markoff ’s Haunted Forest. It’s an amazing experience, with frights at every corner you turn.
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon - ½ teaspoon ground ginger - ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg - ½ teaspoon salt - 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust The instructions are easy: “Preheat the oven to 425 degrees before whisking the pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, spices and salt in a medium bowl until smooth. Pour into the crust. Bake for 15 minutes. Then reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking for 35 to 40 minutes or until a knife inserted 1 inch from the crust comes out clean. Cool. Garnish as desired. Then store the leftovers covered in the refrigerator.” After the pie is made, you’ll have a good dessert to give out to your friends and family. Couple this with other fall classics turkey, and you’re on your way to a wonderful fall meal.
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An actor ready to scare you at Six Flags’ Fright Fest (above), and an absorbing scene from Markoff ’s Haunted Forest (below) (Photos: Business Wire and Mysterioustrip).
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Marvel’s “Shang-Chi” a must-watch by Anderson Ruiz Whether you are into Marvel movies or are not very fond of the superhero scene, you have probably heard the name “Shang-Chi,” either from your friends or in the media in the past months. “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” brings everything the fans love about Marvel movies, like action and humor, but with a new addition - that is, the beauty of martial arts. This critically acclaimed movie comes from Marvel Studios and the mind of director Destin Daniel Cretton. Of the 25 movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it is the first to feature an Asian lead character. The main character of the movie, Shang-Chi, is played by Simu Liu. “Shang-Chi” is Liu’s biggest lead role to date. Many fans, old and new, have fallen in love with Simu Liu because of his lovable personality and amazing work in the film. The film revolves around the Ten Rings, and how after ShangChi obtains them he gets new powers - but also the attention of the film’s villain, the Mandarin. The Mandarin, played by Tony
“The Nightmare Before Christmas”: Halloween or Christmas movie? by Silas Myers In 1993, director Henry Selick gave a holiday classic to the world, a film that would remain iconic for years to come. The film in question was “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” a story about a town of Halloween ghouls and monsters who discover the holiday of Christmas. Antics ensue when the main character, Jack Skellington, plans to steal Christmas by capturing Santa Claus, and then steal his place, and the role of Santa. With all the creepy designs and dark color scheme, it begs a question that grows more complex with deeper consideration: Is this a Halloween movie, or a Christmas movie? It may seem like a simple question at first, but for all the time spent stealing Christmas and setting up for Halloween, we aren’t given a clear answer. Something that could hint at the answer, however, is the release
Leung, has been alive and in power for hundreds of years thanks to the rings. Shang-Chi has a martial arts background, but he left it behind for a normal life - until the Ten Rings were in his possession. He now faces many challenges, including figuring out how to be a hero. “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is one of the first films in Phase 4 of the MCU, and so far its success has resounded. It brought home $71.4 million on its opening night. As the MCU enters a new phase, the company has done a good job introducing fans to new heroes. Shang-Chi’s debut did not disappoint.
Movies Fall 2021
Michelle Yeoh and Simu Liu in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (Photo: Marvel Studios).
(Photo: Marvel Studios) date. The film was released on October 13, 1993, which tells us it could be a Halloween movie. Furthermore, the first song in the movie is entitled “This Is Halloween,” which offers yet more evidence for the Halloween claim. But, later, the movie features distinctly Christmas elements. The answer is still not clear. At one point in the film, Jack discovers a town that is in the process of celebrating Christmas. He then sings a song about the people decorating; he sings about the snow and myriad other Christmas things. Then he decides to share his discoveries with the rest of the Halloween Town, which leads him to a plan to become Santa and give out creepy gifts. This does carry some similarities to “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” which, like “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” has a strong theme of holiday spirit. What do Northwood students and teachers think about the movie? Results were… direct. “Halloween. Just because of all the skeletons, the main character’s a skeleton, and the plot involves all the holidays and I think the main one is Halloween. . . because of
Jack Skellington, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (Photo: Touchstone.) colors, and the Halloween-type all the Halloween songs, and it’s a atmosphere, and the tone of the creepy movie,” says senior Asha movie.” Weinfeld. Based on this evidence, we “It’s a Halloween movie set in must classify “The Nightmare a Christmas tone,” says a student who wishes to remain anonymous. Before Christmas” as a Halloween “The movie shows Halloween ele- movie. Students and staff seem to ments, but it’s based in a Christmas agree. Even one Google search shows setting.” you that it’s heavily percieved as a The answers I received from students pointed to Halloween, but Halloween film. So to those around the school I decided to go to Northwood staff and the world, I wish you a belated for more opinions. Yet the answers happy Halloween, and a goodnight. were the same. “I always think of it as a Halloween movie,” says Mr. Sheridan, a teacher at Northwood. “The dark
Video Games Red and Black
The revival of Sinnoh: a Pokémon review by Lizzy Alspach Just as Pokémon fans have wished, the newest Pokémon games coming out this year are remakes of the 2006 Diamond and Pearl games. “Pokémon Diamond and Pearl” (DP) are fan favorites, as these games were the first on the Nintendo DS. “Pokémon Platinum,” released in 2009, also takes place in the Sinnoh region, but it follows a different plot than DP. On November 19, “Pokémon Scene from “Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl” promotion (Photo: The Pokémon Company”)
Review: “Until Dawn” is worth another look by John McLendon
“You need to listen to me. I don’t care if you believe me or not. Because you will. You need to go down to the mines.” “What’s in the mines, Sam?” “I’ve seen what’s down there. And I’d give anything to unsee it.” Eight teenagers trapped on a snowy mountain. Someone is out there. Coming for them. They must survive until rescue comes at dawn. The cast is invited to the Washington Family Manor on Blackwell Mountain, where a year prior sisters Beth and Hannah Washington vanished. Josh Washington, their brother, invites the other seven characters to a party in their memory, but things take an unsettling turn. “Until Dawn” is a story-driven horror game where your choices affect the outcome of eight different characters: Sam, Ashley, Jessica and Emily are the girls, and Mike, Josh Washington, Chris, and Matt are the boys. Each character is based on a stereotype - for example, Emily is the mean girl, and Matt is the jock. The game’s core mechanic revolves around the butterfly effect. The flap of a butterfly’s wing can cause a hurricane. While playing the game, you will be presented with choices. Some are direct, others are non-direct. Your choices heavily impact the characters and
Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl” (BDSP) will be released. These games will follow the same plot as DP in the Sinnoh region. The only differences from the old games is that they are formatted on the Nintendo Switch and production will be done by ILCA, with oversight by Game Freak. ILCA is ensuring the games still have the nostalgic appeal older fans are looking for. They want to pay homage to the original games with the “chibi-style” avatar, a step back from Game Freak’s evolution to a more realistic-sized avatar. These are the first games in the main series not to be produced by Game Freak, since GF will instead be working on “Pokémon Legends: Arceus.” “Legends: Arceus,” which will be released in January, is a completely different take on Pokémon than before. This game will take place in the feudal Sinnoh region, called Hisui, with a completely different set of starter Pokémon. Originally, Pokémon fans believed “Legends: Arceus” would be an can lead to their deaths, or survival. The game does not allow you to save, so once you’ve made a choice, you’re forced to take the outcome. A choice you made much earlier can be the sole thing that gets a character killed. Sometimes not making a choice is the best choice to make. “Until Dawn” utilizes an open roam feature in order to search for clues to uncover the mystery, to progress through scenes and totems to show you what might happen as a result of your actions. These totems can predict death, good fortune, danger, guidance, and loss. The game essentially warns you of what’s coming, impacting your choices. Even if the totem only happens way off in the future, it really gives you another layer of anxiety if you are doing the right thing. You can collect every totem in a set to build a complete totem pole. More on the clues! Glints will appear in areas - some obvious, some not. Each clue will give you more and more insight about what happened on the mountain a year ago, among other things. There are four total clue categories. Two of these clues are vital for a character’s survival. These clues, once pieced together, reveal the horrors of Blackwell Mountain. The game also utilizes a quick time event feature. You must press a button before a thin white circle around the prompt disappears. Failure can cause your character to trip and fall, which in some cases
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Legends: Arceus scenery from “Pokemon Presents.” open world RPG, but recently new Growlithe, one of the first ever trailer leaks suggest that it will still Pokémon, has a new design. Bravifollow the same format as previous ary, Stantler, Basculin, and Scyther are Pokémon that received new games. This means that there will evolutions special to Hisui. still be a linear level progression, With all the new Pokémon, with starter Pokémon beginning at fans are also happy to know that levels 5 and below. character customization options Since “Pokémon Sun and Moon” was released in 2016, each will still be available. Players are able to choose between a variety of new game has included a “regionoutfits and can ride other Pokémon al variant.” These are essentially to reach hidden areas, just as in Pokémon that look one way in “Pokémon Sun and Moon.” one Pokémon region, but different “Pokémon Diamond and Pearl” in another. One example is how were beloved games to generations Weezing, originally a pure Poison of players who are overjoyed to type, gains an additional Fairy find their favorite games being typing in “Pokémon Sword and remade in a new light. The newest Shield.” games look promising for players “Legends: Arceus” follows new and old - worldwide. this trend of regional variants. is the difference between life and death. The game also makes use of the Playstation 4 controller’s gyro control, forcing you to stay still. The game can detect if you move, so if you are not completely still, you will fail the “Don’t Move!” The “Don’t Move!” matches the characters’ emotions and fears as bad things happen around them. Failing this sequence causes the bad thing to happen. The game is split into 10 chapters, each with its own name. Each chapter is another hour passed ‘until Dawn.’ Between each chapter, you play a mysterious person being interviewed by psychiatrist Dr. Hill. You are presented with options and Dr. Hill reflects on your choices throughout the given chapter, giving you a small break to really think about the weight of your actions. During the interview, you are presented with more choices - what you are scared of and your likes and dislikes towards the characters. (A small Easter egg - your choices during this interview affect what things pop up to scare you!) Between each chapter, as things get worse, Dr. Hill and his office slowly deteriorate, adding to the horror and making the breaks less and less useful. In the menu, you can check the character’s relationships with others and their personality traits, and your choices. There is a small menu detailing how each character feels
about another, with a line to indicate the starting point, and their personality based on their actions, with another line to indicate where they started. You can also check small butterflies which detail the first part of the choice you made and its outcome, when that happens. As you go through the game, each butterfly will be completed. While you play, certain choices can unlock trophies, which are essentially the achievements. Most of these stem from bad choices, and there are 19 in all. (My favorite trophy is the Four Daughters of Darkness, which you get if all four girls survive.) In the development of the game, the jump scares were taken very seriously. Beta players were forced into a dark room in order to test each jump scare until they were scary enough to make each Beta tester jump in fear. The game’s looks are focused around the motion capture of real people played by the voice actors. The game features Rami Malek and Hayden Panettiere as Josh and Sam. You can see a direct resemblance there. A warning to anyone considering playing: this game definitely earns it’s Mature rating! HEAVY TW for gore, body horror, jump scares, and other unsettling topics. Help is only coming at dawn, and your job is to get every character to the end. Something is on top of Blackwell Mountain, something dangerous. And it’s your job to survive - Until Dawn.
14 Comics December 2018 Red and Black
J and G “His Name” by Jeanne Gnahoua
Not That Hard by Samia Abdur-Rahim
Red and FallBlack 2021
A Punny Encounter by Samia Abdur-Rahim
J and G “Mess on Aisle 8” by Jeanne Gnahoua
Games Red and Black Fall 2021
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Obligatory Fall Season Horror Crossword Puzzle
Fin com ished to M plete ? Br i A2 r. Ac d Gam ng yo 04 o to w sta- es p ur in a Fox age pri in ze* ! *a s ma ll p riz e
Mad Libs Choose-Your-OwnHorror-Movie
We open on _______________ [Autumnal Holiday]. A young couple sits in a secluded, idyllic grove, far away from the madness of the world. Suddenly, they hear a sound behind them. A demonic _______________ [Occupation] approaches carrying a rusty _______________ [Weapon]. The screen goes black. We cut to a modern day _______________’s [Occupation] office run by _______________ [Celebrity]. The office is reeling from a slate of recent _______________ [List of Crimes]. Suddenly, things become surreal when _______________ [American president] appears and attacks __________________ [Celebrity]. A Secret Service agent appears and attempts to cover up the crime, but the president finds themselves kidnapped, trapped in a _______________ [Adjective] _______________ [Location] by someone wearing a _______________ [Adjective] _______________ [Animal] mask. _______________ [A Different Celebrity] plays a no-nonsense _______________ [Occupation] who stumbles upon the identity of the kidnapper. The kidnapper is played by ___________________ [Yet Another Celebrity]. The movie culminates in a flashback to _______________ [A Different Holiday] where _______________ [Famous Person] owns a _______________ [Adjective] _______________ [Animal] that can predict the future. Instead of stopping the events, the _______________ [Famous Person] flees to __________________ [Place]. We close with the song ________________ [Famous Pop Song].
IN THE HALLWAY Liya Tadesse Even though we have to wear masks indoors this year, Gladiators have still found a way to express their individuality. You too can find inspiration from these snazzy masks worn by your Gladiator style icons. Keep an eye on the hallway for more!