Issue 5

VOL . X L I IS 5 M ARC SUE 2021 H 30,

PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL www.pvphsnews.com

Junior founds her own size-inclusive clothing brand FOCUS, PAGE 6-7

“I AM NOT A THREAT”

ADDRESSING OFFENSES

BEWITCHED BY MARVEL

Senior confronts misconceptions surrounding her Persian culture

PTSA seminar sheds light on the pervasiveness of microaggressions

Hit show “WandaVision” shows a new side to the Marvel Cinematic Universe

OPINION PAGE 2

STUDENT LIFE PAGE 9

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 11

2 The Duality of My Identity Student compares their Persian culture to the stereotypes of Middle Eastern people TILLY SAFAVIAN Growing up Iranian in Palos Verdes, a community where very few share the same heritage, I was completely enamored by my unique and vibrant Persian culture. My fondest memories consist of performing traditional Persian dances at the annual Nowruz (New Year) Bazaar at Ridgecrest Intermediate. At Vista Grande Elementary School, I loved showing off my kaleidoscopic traditional Persian dress at the annual World Culture Day while telling all my friends how to count to ten in Farsi. Now, every year, I count the days until the holiday Chaharshanbe Suri, when we jump over a bonfire to symbolize the better days that spring will bring. On Nowruz, my favorite day of the year, we put together our Haft-Seen, a customary table with symbolic items that each represent a positive manifestation for the new year. My life overflows with this beautiful and inexplicably loving culture that my father, Baba passed down to me.

Yet, what I initially learned at school about my heritage did not resonate with these memories I grew up with. Instead, my classmates and I digested the 9/11 terrorist attacks carried out by AlQaeda, an Islamic (and predominantly Middle Eastern) extremist group.

Now, I reflect on how this portrayal of the horrific Al-Qaeda attack, without acknowledging the separation between jihadist groups and the general Middle Eastern population, perpetuates the dangerous stereotype that all Middle Eastern people are threats to society.

But, I am not a threat.

The lack of cultural depth exhibited by our educational system is not something that can be overlooked, as it has resulted in multiple incidents of bullying within the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD). Because I am white and have green eyes, I have experienced mild forms of this treatment, such as the occasional “bomb threat” and “terrorist” comments by ignorant middle school boys.

Unfortunately, there are many students in our district that experience more than just a few mindless comments—they do not benefit from colorism in the way that I do. Junior Yahya Siddiqui is one of those students.

“I have suffered numerous occasions in which I have been called a terrorist, a jihadi and, unfortunately, even a suicide bomber,” Siddiqui said. “These experiences have made me feel like an outsider in my own school. It breaks my heart that even though I am an American-born Muslim, these are the terms that are associated with my identity.”

The name-calling that both Siddiqui and I experienced exposed me to the menacing view of Middle Eastern people that many Americans hold today. I am often confused by the duality of my heritage and which side I must believe: the horrible picture of Iran that society outlines or the nurturing Iranian culture that I have experienced all of my life?

Regardless, each side still warrants understanding of the difference between Middle Eastern countries’ governments, religious extremists and the general population. Like any other region’s population in the world, Middle Eastern people do not always agree with their government’s political actions.

For example, according to the University of Maryland’s 2019 public opinion poll of Iranian citizens, President Hassan Rouhani only reached a 42% favorability rating in August 2019.

Furthermore, Amnesty International reported in 2018 how the Middle East and its various governments continue to oppress their people. Politicians and citizens should not always be

considered synonymous with their world views; similarly, it is also completely unreasonable that anyone could ever associate extremists with all Middle Eastern and Muslim people. Not only is it racist to assume that anyone who looks Middle Eastern could be a terrorist, but it is also insensitive to the people who are victims of terrorism daily in Middle Eastern countries.

These misunderstandings only further emphasize the urgency of incorporating accurate portrayals of Middle Eastern history and contemporary, social and religious practices into PVPUSD’s upcoming Ethnic Studies elective class. Education is the key to changing societal misconceptions.

Considering that there are 18 countries in the Middle East, over 60 languages spoken and three major ethnic groups (Iranian, Arabic and Turkish), it is simply inappropriate how our society still characterizes Middle Eastern people as one in the same. As such, it is crucial that our upcoming Ethnic Studies class recognizes the differences of cultural and religious practices in the Middle East. If we as students learn and discuss these topics, we might be able to internally break away from the pigeonholed trope that we have been fed and instead see the positive traits in a group of people that, even 20 years post-9/11, are still feared by Americans.

Therefore, I cannot express enough how grateful I am for the implementation of PVPUSD’s Ethnic Studies class. I am a certain that it will impart immeasurable benefits upon each of its students and help students to grow as individuals.

Although not all of us can take the Ethnic Studies class, there are other ways to understand Middle Eastern culture. First, partaking in cultural exchanges can be a great way to expand one’s perspective of the Middle East. Exploring events like Peninsula’s Parent Teacher Student Association’s Persian cooking class, which was held on March 18, would be a great start. Next, I suggest watching the YouTube channel Yes Theory’s recent video, “Traveling Across Iraq for 7 days (Kurdistan)”, which dives into the heartbreaking struggles that Iraqi people endure, all tied together with the message of challenging our unconscious prejudices. Finally, I recommend reading Firoozeh Dumas’s short memoir Funny in Farsi.

This hilarious account of growing up Persian is one that I resonate with greatly, and Dumas does a fantastic job of outlining the complicated history between Iran and the U.S. and its role in societal discrimination against the Middle Eastern population.

Growing up Iranian in Palos Verdes, my home life was filled with sweet scents of rose water and saffron-pistachio ice cream. I was unaware of society’s preconceived notions about me as I spent long afternoons dancing on top of our dusty Persian carpets and helping my mom peel Persian cucumbers for dinner. I hope that moving forward, as our community continues to grow and share different cultures, little Iranian girls like me will feel that their own cultural identity is aligned with society’s understanding of Middle Eastern people.

HANA FUJII / THE PEN

3 ADDRESSING THE NEGLIGENCE OF “NOT ALL MEN” RHETORIC EDITORIAL STAFF In March, we celebrated Women’s History Month and acknowledged the struggles women have experienced in achieving gender equality. Yet, despite it being a month dedicated to the celebration of women, March has been wrought with unimaginable gender-based violence. On March 3, 33-year-old woman Sarah Everard was walking home from a friend’s house in London down a busy street just moments before being abducted, raped and brutally murdered by police officer Wayne Couzens. The case itself brought particular terror to women across the globe, given that Everard took all the precautions women are told to take in order to stay safe, including trusting an officer sworn to protect the public.

A week after her disappearance, the United Nations Women (UN Women) in the United Kingdom released a study through YouGov that revealed 97 percent of the 1,000 18 to 24 year-old women interviewed experienced sexual harassment in public. This statistic has rapidly circulated across social media platforms, including Twitter and TikTok, raising concern over how little progress has truly been made in promoting and protecting women’s rights.

However, rather that expressing support for women in response to this statistic being released, a number of people online, predominantly men, responded with “not all men” against the sexual harassment and assault accusations. The phrase and its overall rhetoric are defense mechanisms used to exempt men from allegations brought up against themselves. This response further emphasizes the lack of empathy many men exhibit for the sexual harassment that lives as a constant fear or traumatizing reality in the back of every woman’s mind. Yet, the harm in these comments is rarely acknowledged in conversation, let alone in settings like a high school classroom. Educating students and faculty about sexual harassment begins both inside and outside of the classroom, as platforms for intellectual discussions regarding gender inequity often remain virtually unheard.

The phrase “not all men” has contested origins, but online, it first appeared in the chat forum eNotAlone back in 2004, and has

since become a commonly used rebuttal against the collective responsibility of men to condemn threatening and offensive behavior toward women (Vox). Today, this phrase has been used incessantly on social media platforms to baselessly refute the incriminating evidence of the UN Women statistic. This is a prime example of indirect sexism, and questioning the validity of the statistic only serves to invalidate the fear of women. Emphasizing individual exceptions to actions committed by many men does not resolve the issue at hand—rather, the rhetoric of “not all men” serves as an interruption to hearing uncomfortable truths about the continual oppression of women.

Learning how to respect and avoid harmful rhetoric like “not all men” begins with open conversations about sexual harassment.

Regardless of where sexual harassment is experienced, it is a school’s responsibility to educate and actively combat such issues. The recent microaggressions seminar held by the PVPHS Parent Teacher Association is a prime example of a step that has been taken, for it discussed harmful behavior toward women; however, it was not created to focus on women specifically. The most effective way Peninsula can address these issues is through programs fashioned to spotlight women’s rights awareness. This can be done through seminars that emphasize taking action when witnessing harassment, as well as through increased resources to support survivors of sexual assault. Moreover, the responsibility of women’s rights education does not just fall on the shoulders of Peninsula, or any other educational institution; greater is the responsibility of men overall to shoulder the realities of their privilege and use them to support women in reaching an equal playing field. This includes men calling each other out when witnessing sexualizing or demeaning behavior toward women, carefully listening to the full breadth of women’s experiences and concerns and reflecting on their own behavior.

No woman should be expected to feel satisfied with their current treatment, and it is not enough for women to expect more out of men. In the end, true improvement will only be made when men as a collective can expect more out of themselves.

THE ROLE OF CORE NOVELS IN OUR MODERN CURRICULUM CLARA RECKHORN As social norms continue to change to be more inclusive and innocuous, so must the relevancy of literature that is taught.

Classics like “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald and “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck have been taught in schools across the U.S. for decades; however, some say that their vulgar language and poor treatment of minorities make them unsuitable to teach in our modern era. Though American classics such as these often display not socially acceptable behaviors, students should still see these pieces of history as an opportunity to understand why themes of sexism, racism and other issues are wrong. Simply banning these controversial novels robs students of the opportunity to learn from past mistakes and recognize how to fight against societal discrimination. In order to combat the harmful themes in these books while retaining their historical value, schools need to consider adding a more diverse and contemporary array of novels into the selection of core novels alongside the teachings of classics.

With these measures in place, students would be ensured an education on the issues within classics while retaining appreciation for the artistic value behind such literature.

“When we present classics [to students], it is important to [know] why the book is important and why it is considered a masterpiece, and then make a judgment about whether or not it deserves that place in literature,” English 2 Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) English Language teacher Kristian Engle said.

“Regardless, these books are valuable because they [broaden students’ horizons] and take [students’ imaginations] to a place they have never been before.”

The controversy over classic novels have recently sprouted from the concept of altering the curriculum of English classes nationwide. The Burbank Unified School District (BUSD) in California is one recent example. After four parents filed complaints of alleged emotional harm to the BUSD’s Black community resulting from the classic novel curriculum last November, the school district banned five traditionallytaught books: Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird,” Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men,” Theodore Taylor’s “The Cay” and Mildred D. Taylor’s “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.” According to BUSD, HANA FUJII / THE PEN the books were banned not only for

the use of offensive language but also in how they portray Black history and characters’ unacceptable behaviors toward minorities.

However, the context of the times that these classics were written in must be considered. The context of these books reflects how far less progressive society was at their time of publication than today. It is important to be aware of dated societal norms in order to understand the deep roots of systemic racism society still struggles to dig up to this day. If the focus of the BUSD curriculum had compared historic novels to modern ones, the students in question may have been better able to fully comprehend why these behaviors may have been acceptable then, but not in our sociallytransformed today.

One teacher who recognizes the value of classics is English 1 Honors and English 3 Honors teacher Christine Logan. By having her students read a chapter of Bryan Stevenson’s “Just Mercy” after reading “To Kill a Mockingbird,” she exposed students to both the artistic beauty behind the classic and the racial issues behind the writing of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The novel exhibits racism and vulgar language that is no longer socially acceptable nearly 60 years after its publication, but also depicts characters with integrity, teaching students that courage and honesty are key in resisting the pressures of bigotry and injustice. Logan was able to give students additional context on the themes of rape, use of profanity and racial slurs while still allowing them to experience the beauty of the classics.

“I believe the classics continue to teach us about our world, our history and our mistakes,” Logan said. “But I also believe we need to supplement our curriculum with materials about the current subject matter to reveal diverse perspectives.”

As a society, we must acknowledge that these classics contain undeniably offensive content, yet consider their ultimate benefits in many ways to students’ greater understandings of historical context and the foundations of English literary techniques. Rather than banning certain classics, another solution would be to have history classes coincide with English classes to provide accurate, historical context for each core novel. Peninsula has already done so in some of its block classes, like the English 2 Honors and Advanced Placement European History block. Strategies such as this enables students to consider historical context as a key factor in how societal norms have developed and changed over time.

“I think we can appreciate the art behind the literature itself while still being extremely critical of the author and the themes in the book,” senior Jeannette Benedict said. “There is so much educational and artistic value behind novels that we would miss out on if we stopped teaching them.”

THE PEN PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL 27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 EDITORS IN CHIEF Fiona Andersons Fiona Yang MANAGING EDITOR Keila Bara HEADS OF DESIGN Helen Huang Maddie Yeh HEAD OF BUSINESS Lina Kugaya ADVISER Jaymee DeMeyer OPINION EDITOR: Maddy Christen WRITERS: Clara Reckhorn Tilly Safavian NEWS EDITOR: Caitlyn Lee WRITER: Jenna Long Nomi Tsogmagnai FOCUS EDITOR: Kaitlyn Ho WRITERS: Hannah Corr Riley McAlpine STUDENT LIFE EDITOR: Jeremy Kim WRITERS: Jacelyn Chen Jami Galdones Deborah Mok ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT/SPORTS EDITORS: Emma Mulligan WRITERS: Jillian Farley Imogene Tomicic GRAPHICS Shai Becker Hana Fujii Alicia Jeong Giulia Monti Sakura Sasaki Jihee Seo Lynn Takahashi Brian Wang ADS Leah Aoyagi Makayla Lui Victoria Rhodes

“The Pen” is the student newspaper produced by the advanced jounalism students of Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. It is published eight times per year. Advertising inquiries may be directed to Head of Business Lina Kugaya at (424)404-0303.

The Pen editors appreciate Letters to the Editor, which are accepted up to one week before publication.

You may submit them digitally to thepennews@gmail.com in an email.

Copyright © 2021 COVER DESIGN BY HELEN HUANG

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LOOKING BACK ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH

JENNA LONG

Martin. Eventually, BLM led to a widespread advance against racism in America that was recently reignited this summer following the death of another African American man, George Floyd, at the hands of former police officer, Derek Chauvin. Before 2020, the BLM movement was not as widely recognized throughout the U.S., but with its’ reignition brought awareness towards recent discrimination and inequality towards the Black community. Despite this movement to gain acknowledgement for struggles in the Black community, French 2, Spanish 2 and Spanish 2 MCR teacher Jazz Thompson feels that America is still struggling to overcome racial inequality. “[Over the summer], we saw racism, segregation and hatred on a great deal of display,” Thompson said. “As you could imagine, we continue to see setbacks. Whatever history or systems we lack education on we tend to repeat, so it is absolutely necessary that we continue to expand and educate on Black History Month.”

Black History Month is not the only way for Americans to celebrate Black history and culture respectfully. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People advises people to visit Black history museums, support local Black-owned businesses and attend a Black culture event in the community. As African Americans only make up 7.9 percent of Peninsula’s student population, BSU seeks to enhance Black appreciation and recognition to accommodate for such underrepresentation. During this year’s Black History Month, BSU taught students about Black history through interactive games like Kahoot and virtually hosted multiple Black guest speakers to speak during their February Teams meetings in hopes of giving students a sense of inspiration. On their Feb. 24 meeting, Dr. Chijioke Nze, one of the guest speakers at the BSU club meeting, discussed with students how the African American community has the potential to achieve more in the future.

“While it is great to have a month dedicated [to the recognition of] the Black community, it feels more like a one month student assignment [to celebrate Black History Month],” Williams said. “[This culture heritage month] does not truly capture the essence of what it means to be Black in America [because we] are achieving much more today.”

The National Museum of African American History and Culture continues to articulate the role that Black History Month plays in everyday life so America can continue to celebrate Black achievements. Senior Odinache Anene believes that African American history should become a larger part of the school curriculum rather than a month of celebration.

“Black history should not just [be] an isolated time period in our History class,” Anene said.

“Not only that, but resilience should be a part of this year’s [Black History Month] theme as it highlights how Black people have taken the hardships they have endured throughout history and have grown to improve their circumstances in society. It really comes down to knowing about history because the fight is not over.”

BLACK HISTORY MONTH TO ME IS NOT ONLY CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE, BUT ALSO TAKING THE HARDSHIPS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE PAST AND USING THAT TO LOOK FORWARD AND PROGRESS IN THE FUTURE. - JUNIOR KOURTNEY WILLIAMS

SH A I BEC K P EN T HE ER /

From Kamala Harris’ appointment to office as the first Black female vice president to Nicholas Johnson’s graduation from Princeton University as the first Black valedictorian, this year’s annual Black History Month commemorated a variety of prior and current African American achievements, and the Black community as a whole. In other recent Black history, Dr. Kizzmekia S. Corbett, a viral immunologist at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was one of the youngest lead scientists on the Moderna coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine team. Additionally, Amanda Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet to present her work, “The Hill We Climb,” at the 2021 inaguration, which she hoped would inspire national unity. Gorman believes that this cannot be achieved until America forgoes the oppression of Black, Indigenous and People of Color. As African Americans such as Gorman continue to make history in the face of adversity, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History chose to focus this year’s Black History Month on “The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity,” which includes the mass transportation of African people to America during the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and follows how Black families spread across America.

As the Black community makes up 13.4 percent of the U.S. population, Black History Month has become one of the most celebrated cultural heritage months in the nation (U.S. Census Bureau). According to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, this year’s theme focuses on celebrating the roots of Black history within America, which includes the shift from slavery to freedom and beyond. Since Black History Month’s official adoption in 1976, American presidents have maintained February as its designated month.

The creation of Black History Month is credited to historian Carter G. Woodson, or the “Father of Black History.”

The Harlem Renaissance, the movement that spread appreciation for Black history and Black culture through music and creativity, inspired Woodson to inform white Americans about the role that Black people have played in shaping America (Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture). By emphasizing Black achievements and educating white Americans, Woodson was better able to demonstrate why African Americans were deserving of equality and recognition in the U.S. (The National Museum of African American History and Culture).

Furthermore, Woodson dedicated the second week of February to celebrating “Negro History Week,” accompanying Abraham

Lincoln and Frederick Douglass’ birthdays, which was later renamed by President Gerald Ford in 1976 as “Black History Month.” By fulfilling Wilson’s goals of increasing recognition for the Black community, his successful actions also set a precedent for future Black activism. Peninsula Black Student Union (BSU) Vice President and junior Kourtney Williams believes that Black history has not only impacted her life, but society as a whole.

“Black History Month to me is not only celebrating our heritage, but also taking the hardships of African Americans in the past and using that to look forward and progress in the future,” Williams said. “[When I was younger], I never [felt] Black History Month to be that important until I learned more about my ancestors’ pasts.”

Through the civil rights movement, which began in 1954, African Americans made history by calling for the dismantling of the South’s Jim Crow laws and brought awareness to the discrimination against Black people. American civil rights have especially amassed a large amount of attention in light of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, founded in 2013 by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi.

The movement began after the acquittal of a police officer, George Zimmerman, who shot and killed African American Trayvon

5 A rise in Asian American hate crimes incites terror NOMI TSOGMAGNAI In San Francisco, security footage captured from an Anza Vista neighborhood appeared on multiple media outlets, including Cable News Network (CNN), showing 84-year-old Thai man, Vicha Ratanapakdee, being pushed to the ground by an unknown assailant. Ratanapakdee’s assailant was later identified as 19-year-old Antoine Watson, but Watson was not convicted for committing a hate crime because his intent was labeled as unidentified. Cases like these that target Asian Americans are often rooted in the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and its speculated origins, which have attracted increasing hostility toward Asian Americans.

After the Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced that COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China, former president Donald Trump began to use terms such as ‘China Virus’ and ‘Kung-flu’ to refer to COVID-19 (USA Today). As a result, many Asian Americans feel that this mindset promoted by Trump has contributed to the belief that all Asian Americans are COVID-19 carriers. Sophomore Amanda Sakimura associates this influx of violence with the fear of contracting COVID-19 and desire to blame a group to gain a sense of safety and control.

“I think [what aggressors have done is] horrible, but at the same time, I think [they] are scared,” Sakimura said. “They think that they can blame [COVID-19] on a person or something.

[However], that does not excuse everything that they are doing.”

Already, National Broadcasting Company News reported that anti-Asian American crimes have increased by 150 percent in 2020 alone.

Physical assault and verbal harassment are among the various forms of violence that many Asian Americans experience frequently. Verbal harassment consists of racial slurs, gestures and threats, both in person and online. A particularly violent example occurred on Oct. 8, 2020 when noncommissioned U.S. Marine Jarrett Morford posted a video threatening to shoot Chinese Americans following deployment (The New York Post). Although the U.S. Marine had not carried out his threat, many Asian Americans experienced increased fear that they could be a victim of a mass shooting. On March 16, Crisp

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County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia released a photo of 21-year-old Georgian Robert Long after he had been taken into custody for open firing at three Atlanta spa parlors and killing eight people. Six of Long’s victims were Asian American women, their names being Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Soon Chung Park and Yong Ae Yue. Although Long’s motivation for these shootings has not been officially announced by Atlanta police, Georgia state representative Bee Nguyen suspects that the aggression was at least partly motivated by xenophobia towards Asian Americans. In response to this event and the numerous other recent attacks, Asian Americans have been protesting to end Asian American and Pacific Islander hate crimes at the Georgia State Capitol and in Washington D.C. In addition to these protests, numerous public figures have also used their platforms to condemn Asian American hate crimes. Lana Condor, the lead actress from the “To All the Boys” franchise, and George Takei, an actor known for his role in the original 1960s “Star Trek” franchise, are among the Asian American celebrities who have chosen to use their online presence to raise awareness.

On Feb. 28 of this year, entrepreneur Andrew Yang also supported protesters by attending the Rise Up Against Asian Hate rally. The protesting took place in Foley Square in Manhattan near the place where a 36-year-old Asian man was stabbed (Columbia Broadcasting System). Several independent accounts on social media platforms, especially Instagram, have also dedicated themselves to informing their audiences about Asian American hate crimes through posting infographics, resources and statistics. For example, @asians4antiracism on Instagram posted a thread listing ways to help Asian Americans in New York City, such as reporting hate crimes and volunteering for elderly care services in Chinatown.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Fujiki attributes this shift of news being displayed through various media platforms to the influence of young adults and teenagers.

“Asian American hate crimes have always existed before [COVID-19],” Fujiki said. “[However,] people were less inclined to report [these crimes], whether it is the fear of not being taken seriously or to avoid unnecessary confrontation. [Generation Z] is more vocal about crimes against the Asian American community than the older generations, [including through social media]. [That is why] we are seeing a rise in media coverage [of these incidents].”

Another recent Asian American hate crime that targeted 61-year-old New York resident Noel Quintana, who is of Filipino descent. Quintana was slashed across the face with a box cutter by a stranger on a train; although Quintana survived the attack, he now has to live with a permanent scar on his face (New York Daily News). Junior Christina Chen is appalled that people would not only target Asian Americans, but the elderly as well.

“In a lot of the cases that I have been reading [about], hate crimes are being committed against the elderly,” Chen said. “I think it is horrible that people would not only go after [Asian Americans], but [also] go after the elderly in the community, who [generally] have weaker bodies and cannot really defend themselves.”

In an effort to combat Asian American violence, various organizations, such as Stop Asian American Pacific (AAPI) Hate, founded in Jan. 2020, and Compassion in Oakland, founded in Feb. 2021, have been established to raise more awareness about the issue.

According to Stop AAPI Hate’s website, they are dedicated to recording and tracking all reported incidents of Asian American hate crimes in the U.S. Compassion in Oakland has already gathered over 700 volunteers to help safely escort vulnerable elderly Asian Americans in the Oakland Chinatown community to their destinations. On a local scale, Peninsula’s Asian American Alliance (AAA) club also opened a discussion about the recent Asian hate crimes at their club meeting on Mar. 23. AAA showed videos to inform club members about recent Asian American hate crimes and asked questions to guide the conversation. Chen, one of the internal vice presidents for the AAA club, is hoping that people will continue to value staying informed on this issue.

“The internet has displayed a lot of Asian solidarity, [along] with support from people of different backgrounds,” Chen said. “I hope that with the internet and the way the media covers these topics, more people will be educated on this issue. I think that the attacks could be mitigated if there were more consequences to the actions of [aggressors]. These [consequences would serve] as a message to society that this is not okay.”

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SAKURA SASAKI / THE PEN

THE RISE OF FAST FASHION BRANDS HANNAH CORR Shelves of stores such as Urban Outfitters are decked out in colorful, trendy clothes, with syntheticallymade crop tops or flared leggings on every hanger. However, what may not be as noticeable is the manufacturing process behind these pieces of clothing--oftentimes, they have come from the fast fashion industry. Merriam Webster defines fast fashion as an approach to the design, creation and marketing of clothing that emphasizes speedy production of fashion trends that are also cheaply available to consumers.

Popular companies considered to be fast fashion include Forever 21, Zara, H&M and Shein, which inexpensively produce clothing to provide their consumers with alternatives at low prices. Buying clothes through fast fashion companies has also grown common because it offers people a way to participate in short-lived trends without paying exorbitant prices. Many feel that they do not have alternatives to buying clothing first-hand when prices for clothing items have slowly increased. For example, Levi Strauss. Co is a company whose mission statement is to make clothing without the use of factories that practice child labor and have poor environmental effects. As a result, their jeans, which have cost $20 in the past, have now jumped in price to $70 per pair (Levi Strauss.

Co), an effect of choosing not to resort to fast fashion practices in order to lower the cost of production.

Sophomore Emily Quan buys fast fashion herself and believes that affordable clothes provide multiple options for expressing herself.

“People use fast fashion because it is easy to get clothes, and personally, I do not think that fast fashion is that [harmful],” Quan said. “People do not want to pay full price for [simple clothing items like a t-shirt]. Using fast fashion, people can buy more clothes, which gives [people] more [styling] options.”

Although many recognize the affordability and convenience of fast fashion, others argue that its consequences outweigh its benefits.

The industry has been under scrutiny due to its environmental consequences, including aquatic habitat destruction from toxic chemicals and waste production.

According to the United Nations Environment Program, the fast fashion industry produces 20 percent of global wastewater and 10 percent of global carbon emissions. Furthermore, textile dyeing is the second largest polluter of water globally; the eye-catching colors and patterns commonly found on trending clothing pieces are manufactured with harmful chemicals, as reported by Refinery29.

Senior Hailey Beilke used to buy fast fashion, but after researching the environmental effects, she cut down her purchases.

“Fast fashion has the plus side that it is affordable, but it is also bad for the environment. The more people that buy [cheap products that break easily], the more likely it will be that they throw the clothes away after just a few wears,” Beilke said.

Child labor is another consequence of fast fashion. In Turkey, multiple customers found hidden tags in Zara clothes that they had purchased which stated, “I made this item you are going to buy, but didn’t get paid for it!” according to the British Broadcasting Corporation. This sparked an investigation by Public Eye (a Swiss investigative group), and Zara was accused by the public of using child labor to make their clothes.

Public Eye discovered that Zara was severely underpaying workers.

While children get paid, their wages are far below the minimum wage of respective countries. The International Labour Organisation calculates that approximately 170 million children laborers among 260 million worldwide work in the textile

and fashion industry. Although this statistic encapsulates the fashion industry in general, the Guardian reports that fast fashion is a greater contributor to child labor; fast fashion companies search for even cheaper manufacturing practices, including cheap labor. Among many who are outraged by the companies’ actions, junior Jessica Mendez admits that the using children for labor is inhumane.

“Child labor is [horrible],” Mendez said. “There is no reason why a child should be making less than minimum wage [manufacturing] clothing. The [fashion] corporations have no [right] to [hire] kids, and it is inhumane.”

As consumers, some ignore how the clothes they purchase are produced because they are cheap; as a result, countless issues fly under the radar. Buyers can never be completely sure where their clothes come from because work could be sub-contracted to other locations (BORGEN Magazine). While fast fashion remains an option, there are actions that can be taken to counteract its effects. For example, purchasing less items and wearing clothing over longer periods of time. Additionally, buying clothes second-hand at thrift stores and vintage shops is an efficient way to reduce waste. While senior Erica Wan acknowledges fast fashion is an industry that will not be stopped soon, she believes that if people attempt to contribute to the fight against fast fashion, the businesses will slowly start to change their ways.

“It will be hard to stop [fast fashion], as it is [such a big industry] and it [continues] to grow,” Wan said.

“We need more alternatives. [People] should try to [help fight against the negative effects] by taking small steps, and contributing [in small ways as much as they can].”

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FIGARO: SIZE-INCLUSIVE FASHION RILEY MCALPINE Popular clothing brands such as Victoria’s Secret, which has been criticized for catering to smaller body types, are known to cause self-esteem issues, according to the High School Los Angeles Times. Fortunately, sizeinclusive clothing brands are growing across the fashion industry—already, brands like Girlfriend Collective are beginning to offer sizes ranging from XXS to 3XL. However, clothing brands that still offer limited sizes, such as American Eagle Outfitters and Brandy Melville, risk negatively impacting people by making them feel like they need to conform to a certain size, according to Observer. Junior Claire Robinson has experienced this feeling firsthand while struggling to shop for clothes and find her right size in stores. To address this issue, Robinson launched her brand, Figaro, on Jan. 30. Accessible through the Instagram account @figaro.ca and website figaro-ca.com, Robinson’s clothing brand offers fashionable clothing with sizes ranging from S to 4XL. Inclusivity in clothing brands, such as Figaro, is a notable contribution to promoting a fashion industry that values positive body image, therefore creating an uplifting environment for all customers.

“In my experience and others’ experiences, I think most clothing brands have [size] restrictions,” Robinson said. “I know a lot of people have had negative experiences shopping for clothes, so I wanted to make [Figaro] something fun for everyone to wear. [Figaro] clothing [is] for everyone because I do not have any size restrictions.”

Robinson was inspired to create Figaro after scrolling through the Instagram page of ZMagazine (ZMag) @_zmagazine, a fashion magazine designed for Generation Z teenagers,

because she related to the magazine’s purpose: to “bring people together through fashion, art and culture,” according to ZMag’s website. ZMag’s mission influenced her to bring people together through size-inclusive clothing, and she now creates her own product designs using symbols such as flowers and smiley faces.

She is the sole manager of her own business and crafts all clothing items to order. Junior Angelina Mendoza is a Figaro customer who enjoys this personalized touch that Robinson adds to each piece she produces.

Additionally, Robinson uses her brand as a platform to help everyone feel represented in clothing sizing, as opposed to companies who do not necessarily showcase every body.

“I think [Robinson’s designs] are really cute and [the brand] spreads a good [message] about positivity. They are creative and make people feel good [about themselves],” Mendoza said. “[I like Figaro] because everyone deserves to have clothes that fit them, and everyone should be able to wear the same clothing [brands].”

Robinson also gratefully recognizes the recent surge in support for local businesses, many of which have struggled due to restrictions placed on the retail industry to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), according to the New York Times.

Since starting her brand through her Instagram account during the COVID-19 quarantine, Robinson has gained support from community members such as senior Erin Suhr, who has tried to aid small businesses during the pandemic. Robinson uses social media as her main platform for advertising, as she is able to spread her message to a larger audience, including customers like Suhr.

Robinson hopes that she will be able to expand her business by opening a pop-up shop for Figaro on Peninsula’s campus when it is safe.

“I bought a shirt [from Figaro] because [of] the [design] and because I wanted to support a local business,” Suhr said. “[Since] I am drawn to small businesses, [it is nice] seeing more [of them] pop up and seeing the support they are getting. I think [local businesses] enrich communities because [the brands show] a lot of passion and creativity.”

Due to the increasing presence of body-positive influencers on social media, younger audiences have become more aware that body image concerns can lead to mental and physical health issues, such as low self-esteem and eating disorders.

According to Media Smarts, 50 percent of advertisements found in teen magazines use specific sizes and standards of beauty to sell products, creating a mindset from a young age that beauty is confined to a set and defined beauty standard. Robinson’s brand attempts to combat this by representing different ethnicities as well as body types when advertising on Figaro’s Instagram and website.

Figaro’s models are not a set race, unlike clothing brands like Brandy Melville, which has been accused of being racist towards Asians, according to Today. Other brands are also growing more aware of the negative effects restrictive sizing can have.

Such brands have started hiring social influencers who promote healthy body image standards to take their brands in a new direction. For example, influencers such as popular TikTok user Sienna Gomez create positivity about having body types that do not meet the beauty standard. By spreading awareness, Robinson has been able to promote body positivity for people of all shapes and sizes.

“I do not think [clothing brands] need to have [sizing boundaries], so I decided not to [have those boundaries] be a part of [Figaro],” Robinson said. “I want Figaro to be represented [as a brand] that has clothing for everyone.”

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ENDING ON A POSITIVE NOTE “Our practices would usually last two to three hours long, and we would play so loudly [that] we When senior Aidan Lam created the band SNAK sometimes had to wear earplugs,” Anvaripour said.

(Super gNarly Asian Kids) in 2017, he could not “I miss the feeling of playing [my] favorite songs with have imagined that they would still be successfully friends and being able to have fun.” performing together four years later. The band, In order to temporarily replace their in-person led by Lam, first performed at the Ridgecrest performances during the pandemic, the band began Intermediate School Talent Show in eighth grade; releasing their music on YouTube and Instagram, Lam was the violinist, and he enlisted his younger @snaktheband. To share their performances online, brother, current sophomore Spencer Lam, to be the the four members separately record themselves pianist. Eventually, he recruited three other friends playing their respective parts of the songs that to play the violin and the drums. At the talent they cover. Once they complete their final take, the show, the group performed an instrumental cover members send their recordings to Lam, who edits of “Demons” by Imagine Dragons. Later that year, and combines the clips together on the Wondershare their audience only grew once they were asked by Filmora X application. To complete the process, the school music teacher, Jacqueline Lewis-Wang, he shares the final product on their multiple social to play at the eighth grade graduation ceremony, media platforms. Their Instagram account, which where they performed instrumental covers of contains their renditions of songs such as “Take On songs, including “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay, Canon Me” by A-ha, has gained nearly 500 followers since in D Major by Johann Pachelbel and “Hall Of Fame” March of 2020. While the members look back fondly

by The Script. However, the Lam brothers’ three on being able to hold their in-person performances, friends decided to discontinue their roles in the spending extra time at home has also provided some band after middle school, so SNAK recruited two unpredictable benefits for their musical progress. new members: sophomore Brevon Anvaripour, who “[I miss] the thrill of performing live for others,” would play the guitar, and junior Hunter Ruiz, who Spencer Lam said. “But on the bright side, we have would play the drums. been able to learn more songs than before because “It has been crazy that we kept going even of all our extra time.” though we lost people along the way,” Aidan Lam Moving forward, SNAK may look to recruit a new said. “The fact that we continued to play reflects lead singer once Aidan Lam leaves for Bringham our perseverance and passion to make music.”

Young University (BYU) for the upcoming school year.

After their performances at Ridgecrest, SNAK Since he was the founder of the band, SNAK will began to reach out to various local venues, where most likely discontinue their public performances they played their covers of both pop and rock songs together instead. Even though the members may no in front of audiences of over 100 people. During longer stay in the same band, they all still plan to a Chinese New Year party in February 2018 at continue playing music for audiences. For Aidan Lam, the Trump National Golf Course, they performed he hopes to continue his music career by singing “Believer” by Imagine Dragons and “Today” by in the BYU Vocal Point, BYU’s all-vocal ensemble.

The Smashing Pumpkins. For these performances, Before they are forced to disband, however, SNAK SNAK wanted to add lyrics to their covers, so Aidan has another project they are working on. In order Lam switched his role as violinist to vocalist. In to recapture the excitement of live performances, addition, SNAK also performed at the Palos Verdes they will begin streaming concerts on YouTube Live Stake, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in April. for their Halloween party in October 2019. Most “It was an amazing experience to perform with recently, they were invited to play at the 2020 each other for all these years, and I am very thankful Fiesta Hermosa in Hermosa Beach, which was later for it,” Aidan Lam said. “We will make the most of canceled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Prior our remaining time together. As I leave for college to the pandemic, the band came together every this summer, I hope that my bandmates and I will Friday at Ruiz’s house to practice, but this was continue to share our passion for music and keep on halted due to quarantine. playing for others.”

JACELYN CHEN

LYNN TAKAHASHI / THE PEN

9

MANAGING MICROAGGRESSIONS JAMI GALDONES

ALICIA JEONG / THE PEN

Seeing how many misconceptions surround the subject of microaggressions, the Peninsula Parent Teacher Student Association (PVPHS PTSA) held a seminar called “Understanding Microaggressions and their Impact” on Feb. 17. The seminar was attended by 85 students to increase their awareness of how to identify and address a microagression. Vice President and Chief of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Hanna Song spoke about identifying and addressing microaggressions at the seminar. As defined by Oxford Languages, microaggressions are “statements, actions or incidents regarded as an instance of indirect, subtle or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group.” Victims of such microaggressions are often labeled as “overly sensitive” or “dramatic.” After reviewing the harmful implications of microaggressions, as well as the increase in discrimination in 2020 and 2021, the PVPHS PTSA DEI Committee, which consists of parents, teachers, students and school administrators, believed this was a timely topic to discuss.

The committee decided that Song was the best choice to present the seminar, as she has earned multiple degrees in majors relating to DEI, such as a Ph.D. in High Education Organizational Change. Additionally, she has overseen programmatic and policy initiatives for the Center of Inclusion and Diversity while working at the California Institute of Technology.

Reflecting on her identity as being part of a cultural minority, Song dedicated a portion of the seminar to discussing how people from different ethnicities can react differently to certain stereotypes. One student who attended, junior Kellie Au, has been stereotyped several times about being part of a model minority in the past, but she usually brushed off the comments as jokes. Instead of crediting her for working hard, people assumed she was strong in math and science because of her cultural background. However, she

learned that she is justified in standing up for her individual hard work.

“In the past, I always thought being part of a model minority was a positive thing and I had nothing to complain about,” Au said. “After going through the seminar, I definitely learned that it is okay to feel negatively after you are stereotyped in any type of way.”

Junior Natalie Hsu has experienced similar discrimination as Au. After hearing about the seminar through some of her teachers, Hsu decided to go for extra credit. Unexpectedly, she learned how society has mislabeled the microaggressions she faces as harmless words. One example of this is when people ask about her nationality and say “Oh, I meant where are you from?”

“Even if [a microaggression is] a joke or unintentional, it can still hurt,” Hsu said. “I had no idea what [they were, but] now, I can try to avoid [doing] them [and] reevaluate relationships based on the new information I learned.”

Throughout this seminar, Song talked about impact versus intent, in which one must assume that the person delivering the microaggression is not conscious of what effect it may have on others. By doing so, one can take a less hostile approach in confronting a microaggression; this creates a more open environment where the person who said the microaggression can acknowledge the pain they may have unknowingly inflicted. Hearing Song’s explanations, senior Mia Yamada has used this information to make sure that she does not unknowingly hurt others.

“The most important thing I learned would be impact versus intent, [and] how we have to be more mindful about how our actions and words impact others,” Yamada said. “[Although] something seems okay to you, [you must] understand that others may not think the same way, and then learn from your mistake.”

For more information, the recording of the seminar can be found on the Peninsula website under the PTSA DEI page.

10 CROSSWORD CLUES DOWN 1. Protagonist’s last name is a type of cat 3. This anime’s protagonists are often compared to crows 5. Protagonist’s name is a shortened form of a type of fish cake popular in Japan 7. One of the main characters lives in a box during the day 9. The protagonist’s right hand talks and is named “right” in Japanese

ACROSS 2. Pink hair is considered normal in this anime 4. This anime’s author is married to the author of “Sailor Moon” 6. Holds a Guinness World Record for the most copies sold from a comic book 8. A side character has an obsession with apples 10. Deceiving love interest with piercings who is very timid

GUESS THE ANIME!

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New series “WandaVision” kicks off MCU “Phase Four” JILLIAN FARLEY Marvel’s “WandaVision” captivated audiences worldwide with its powerful tale of grief and love through the medium of decadehopping sitcoms. Inspired by several Marvel comics including “House of M” and “West Coast Avengers,” “WandaVision” is the first television series from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to air on the streaming service Disney+. The show follows Wanda Maximoff, also known as the Scarlet Witch, after losing her true love Vision during the events of the movie “Avengers: Infinity War.” “WandaVision” does not follow the typical Marvel formula--its premise, format, characters and themes are unprecedented. As the show makes waves in the current MCU, it also establishes the foundations for the next era of Marvel.

Wanda and Vision’s debut movie “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” was released in 2015. Wanda’s telekinetic and mental manipulation are proven worthy as she becomes an Avenger. Her powers originated from the Mind Stone, one of the six Infinity Stones, which are powerful gems in the MCU that were created after the Big Bang. Wanda and Vision are two characters that have been out of the limelight in the MCU, and are now given their chance. In her grief over losing Vision, Wanda uses her powers to envelop the town of Westview, N.J. and into a tangible sitcom set where she can live in her perfect reality with a reconstructed Vision. Coined “the Hex” by side character Dr. Darcy Lewis, Wanda’s hexagonal-shaped pocket dimension is investigated by a team from the Sentient World Observation and Response Department (S.W.O.R.D.).

The show marks S.W.O.R.D.’s first appearance in MCU along with the idea of the Hex, which sets the stage for a complex story.

One of the immediate, noticeable differences between “WandaVision” and the current MCU titles is the show’s unique presentation. Airing every Friday, each episode ages a decade starting from the 1950s to present day for the initial half of the season. Vision, technically being a robot with artificial intelligence, explores his humanity with his love for

Wanda and the desire to help the trapped residents of Westview.

Another notable feature in the construction of the show is its use of “easter eggs,” which are “hidden features in commercially-released products” (Merriam-Webster). The comic-based costumes worn in the episode “All-New Halloween Spooktacular!” and the various references to other sitcoms in the show are “easter eggs” entertained for the Marvel fanbase.

“I love Marvel leaving ‘easter eggs’ knowing [that their viewers are searching],” senior Brianna Yi said. “Whenever you are watching “WandaVision”, you are on the hunt for clues [and creating theories].

My favorite episode is Episode 7: [“Breaking the Fourth Wall”] because the show’s creators confirmed most people’s theories, [specifically Agnes being Agatha Harkness, the witch from the Marvel comics].”

The show expanded on other MCU side characters, such as Dr. Darcy Lewis, Jimmy Woo and Monica Rambeau. These three characters, like the audience, are trying to uncover the mysteries of Westview.

Others include S.W.O.R.D. leader Tyler Hayward, who acts as the main antagonist outside the Hex, and Billy and Tommy Maximoff, Wanda and Vision’s twins who develop telekinesis and superspeed later in the series.

Interfering with Wanda’s happy fantasy is the Maximoff family’s neighbor Agnes, who enters the Hex to figure out the secret to Wanda’s power in hopes of taking it for herself. She is the first to give Wanda the name of the “Scarlet Witch” and accidentally helps Wanda awaken to the full extent of her powers by inadvertently teaching her about witchcraft and her destiny. These new side characters add depth to Wanda’s character development.

“Side characters, such as [Wiccan and Speed], show how powerful the Scarlet Witch is,” AP Chemistry, Chemistry Honors and Biology teacher Robert Snodgrass said. “[I look forward to seeing] more impactful individuals, [and] who the next ‘big bad’ is.”

The show prepares for future

MCU films by introducing the concept of the multiverse. This theory is attributed to Marvel’s use of stunt casting, is defined as “the casting of a very famous actor or other celebrity as a guest star in a movie or TV show in order to garner publicity” (Oxford Languages).

Taking place in the episode titled “On a Very Special Episode...” the arrival of Wanda’s brother Pietro Maximoff, also known as Quicksilver stunes many. In the MCU, the superhero Quicksilver was played

by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, yet the Quicksilver played by Evan Peters is who arrived on the Maximoffs’ doorstep. Peters played a version of Quicksilver from the X-Men movies, a completely separate franchise to Marvel. However, Peters’ appearance in “WandaVision” was simply just as a resident of Westview. In the upcoming movie “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”, Wanda’s feature in the MCU multiverse led many to hope for the actual appearance of X-Men characters soon.

“Incorporating characters from other universes is finally becoming a reality,” senior Daniel Kent said.

“Featuring X-Men [characters] would be cool. I had no idea that [Peter’s apperance] was coming; it caught me off-guard.”

“WandaVision” thoroughly explores the complexity of grief that was unprecedented in the MCU, while successfully kicking off Marvel’s “Phase Four”, which is its new era of movies and shows.

The five stages of grief (a popular model for the emotion developed by psychologist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross) is a framing device for the entire show. Wanda goes through the stages of denial, anger, bargaining and depression following Vision’s death, which culminates into a well-executed finale, as she learns acceptance. Despite the confusing premise at first glance, the beautifully crafted story should not be overlooked but appreciated

by Marvel fans.

P EN H / T HE E Y IE D D MA