Unpublished Magazine | Issue 02: Movement

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What movements do you stand with?

What issues make your blood boil?

What do you demand a change for?

Is it the fact that people are still discriminated against based on the color of their skin, or that a bunch of old men somehow have control over what a woman does with her body?

Or how normal it is to be shamed for your own sexuality and who you love, and told you can’t be exactly who you wanna be just because it’s seen as “wrong”?

What about the fact that even certain activities, clothes, and colors have been restricted to a specific gender, and that people still aren’t facing the consequences they should for their actions?

Yeah, we’re fed up too.

But what separates us from our parents and relatives, is that we are the generation that is bleeding with change. The generation that is not asking, but demanding freedom and equality for all. And the generation that makes everybody feel like a somebody.

So continue to educate yourself. Use your voice. And scream until you’re heard.

Because They. Can’t. Hear. Us.

LOUDER!

There we go.

This is more than just a movement. More than an instagram story, a petition signature, a topic of conversation. Hold your signs up high, and your middle fingers to the system even higher, and know that we are the generation that is gonna help change the world.

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Ignite the fire within.

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p e t e r s’ Mr. Peters was always impeccably dressed. Every

words more than any teacher had previously; he allowed

day, his shirt and tie were ironed to perfection and

me to relate the material to my own life and explored

his signature khakis were stiffly starched. Despite the

complex topics with me, making the information so easily

concrete look of his pants, Mr. Peters could cross his

digestible that my appetite for knowledge⁠— especially

large classroom in seconds and though he had a mousy

uncomfortable truths like the history of slavery or the

look about him, his voice was exuberant. His voice

basis for the War on Terror⁠— became insatiable. Except

was my favorite thing about him; warm and versatile,

on that day. When I asked him why he was crying, Mr.

his naturally feminine tone could instantly change

Peters said, “Some parents are upset with me.” I was

pitch to make even the blandest characters come alive

dumbfounded. For the first time, I didn’t understand

when he read aloud. Mr. Peters was always incredibly

words that had exited Mr. Peters’ mouth. True to form

cheerful. Every day, his smile was the first thing to

as the Teacher’s Pet, I told him that I thought he was

greet his students and his laugh was soon to follow.

the most wonderful English teacher in the district and

Mr. Peters’ laugh was my second favorite thing about

was relieved when his smile returned.

him. Unnaturally loud coming from such a small man, his cackle was contagious and undeniably authentic; it

Seeing him rattled made me profoundly uncomfortable

peppered every weekday with joy.

for reasons I could not explain, and I felt anger toward anyone that could make my mentor seem vulnerable.

Except for one.

We ate lunch as we normally did, and the memory of his sadness faded almost entirely as we dissected my latest

On that day, I walked into Mr. Peters’ room unannounced

read. That day in class, he was his normal bubbly self as

to eat lunch with him as I sometimes did, and he wasn’t

we discussed The Hunger Games and acted out different

smiling. He wasn’t laughing. He was crying. Embarrassed,

scenes from it. I looked around at my classmates; every

I stopped with one foot inside the classroom and knocked

kid was smiling and had the glimmer of understanding

on the open door. Mr. Peters started slightly and wiped

in their eyes as he explained how “theme” and “motif”

his reddening face, telling me to enter in a gravelly voice

related to the scenes we were recreating. Mr. Peters’

I did not recognize. His tie was loose, and his shirt was

tear-streaked face flashed through my mind, and I

wrinkled in the front. I sat farther away from him than I

couldn’t help but wonder whose parents could possibly be

usually did and stared at “Peters’ Corner” across the room

offended by a man who made learning as fun as he did.

to avoid meeting his gaze. Spanning the entirety of one wall, Peters’ Corner was a private library in his classroom

***

that students could borrow books from.

“Mr. P, why do you talk like that?” asked Jerry Dugan, a I took advantage of Peters’ Corner more than any other

greasy jock strap with a mop of hair and a crooked smile.

student. We would have discussions about what I had

Outside of English class, Jerry and his buddies constantly

read, just he and I. Mr. Peters understood my love for

mocked Mr. Peters’ high-pitched voice and the graceful

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way his hands gesticulated to punctuate his every word.

bowling pins. Empty words like “faggot,” and “I’m

It was clear from the moment you first spoke to Mr. Peters

going to tell my dad that Mr. P is a queer,” wafted

that he was not like the other male teachers. The man

towards me on their breath as Mr. Peters waved us

in question stopped writing on the white board abruptly,

off, seemingly oblivious. The corners of his mouth

halting his impassioned speech about that week’s

twitched – whether it was a smile or a grimace that

vocabulary terms, and turned to look down at Jerry where

tugged at his lips, I’ll never know.

he sat on the floor behind me. Mr. Peters had a variety of pillows and bean-bag chairs, letting us sit on the floor and

Eating lunch in his classroom one Friday, I listened to Mr.

take notes if we were so inclined. It was the only aspect

Peters hum under his breath as he added new books to

of the class that Jerry seemed to enjoy.

Peters’ Corner. He’d stick each one into its new home and slide a finger down its spine adoringly. He left a couple

“Jeremy, I don’t think I speak any certain way.” Mr. Peters

of them tucked into the crook of his arm and sat down at

said, some of the shine gone from his kind eyes. “I mean

the desk in front of me. A slight man with no wrinkles, he

why do you talk like a girl?” Jerry crowed, not bothering

could’ve been a college student tutoring me. “This week’s

to feign innocence this time. His friends snickered behind

haul.” He said cheerfully, plopping the novels in front of

their hands. A nervous titter swept through the rest of

my tuna salad sandwich with a grin. His happiness was

the class. Mr. Peters said nothing. The giggles died off

infectious. I smiled too and sifted through my options.

as he looked Jerry directly in the eye. An awkward

Matthew Tobin Anderson’s Feed and John Green’s

silence stretched through the classroom.

Looking for Alaska caught my eye⁠— two books that would eventually live among my favorites.

Every student jumped when Mr. Peters shattered the quiet with a short, hard-edged laugh. “HA! I don’t think doing

I read the back covers and bagged them, giddy over the

anything ‘like a girl’ is a bad thing.” He said airily, turning

prospect of two new stories. I looked over at Mr. Peters,

again to the vocabulary terms and resuming

who had migrated to his desk a few feet away. He was

his lecture. The girls in the class exchanged smug

looking tenderly at a small photograph of himself

smiles and crimson crept up Jerry’s neck as boys and

standing next to a handsome young man, one with a

girls alike looked at him out of the corners of our

stubbly beard and bushy eyebrows over soft eyes. I’d

eyes. He slumped into his bean bag chair, deflated

somehow never noticed the photo on his desk before.

and maybe even a little ashamed.

Though I hadn’t said anything, I felt I was intruding on a private moment between Mr. Peters and the nameless man. I shifted awkwardly in my seat; not sure I should

I walked behind Jerry and his friends as we left the

interrupt him. After what felt like five minutes but was

classroom. I felt my stomach drop to the carpet when I

likely only a few seconds, I tentatively asked, “Who’s

heard what they were crudely whispering to each other,

that?” Mr. Peters turned abruptly and gave me a tight

their heads nearly smacking together like three greasy

smile, saying only, “He’s a good friend of mine.”

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Later, after the bell signaled our release from English,

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That year, I read at least two books a week from his

sexual identity, I disclosed to Mr. Peters that I believed I

Corner, apart from the in-class reading assignments. Prior

was bisexual. I had shaved my head, and though I had

to his class I was an uncommonly avid reader, but I came

the eighth grade equivalent of a boyfriend, other

out of eighth grade English a literary addict. He inspired

students often called me a dyke or lesbian.

me to inspect the elements of a novel and see how every part contributes to the whole. He taught me to recognize

Quaking in my high-top converse, I’d asked him if I

the beautiful, subtle nuances of literature, and to use my

was “that obvious.” Mr. Peters reassured me that it

own words to create magic like the authors I so admired.

was probably just the haircut, emphasizing that I was

When I told him how much I loved Feed and Looking for

a wonderful and important person regardless of who I

Alaska, he let me keep them and wrote “The world is

chose to be romantic with. He never said, “I get it because

yours for the reading. -Mr. P,” on the first page of each

I’m gay, too.” He didn’t have to. When I returned to the

one, citing one of my favorite Betty Smith quotes from

eighth grade English hall to say hello the following year,

a novel of hers that I had read at his recommendation,

Mr. Peters and his books were gone, replaced by a

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: “From that time on, the world

young woman with a charming smile. She had moved the

was hers for the reading. She would never be lonely

bookshelves, now empty, to different parts of the room.

again, never miss the lack of intimate friends. Books

Ms. Charming-Smile had no idea where the

became her friends and there was one for every

room’s previous occupant had gone. Three years after

mood.” Thank you, Mr. P, for introducing me to so

taking his class, I came out to my entire high school

many new friends, and for being one of them.

as bisexual via the school newspaper, deciding I would speak up not just for myself and the other

The English class that unveiled how enjoyable school

queer students in the district, but for Mr. Peters, too.

can be, and helped me realize that my words have importance, was taught by a homosexual. I will never

There are good teachers and bad teachers, but to me, Mr.

know for certain, but I believe his sexual orientation

Peters was something else entirely. My first real mentor.

made some parents so uncomfortable that his brilliance

My favorite librarian. My lunchmate and confidant. The

as an educator and person was disregarded. It’s likely

first adult I came out to. He was born to be an educator,

that he chose to leave, but I wonder if there’s any real

and I fervently hope he continued to teach after leaving

choice in a “resign or be a pariah” situation. Maybe he

my school district. I don’t know where Mr. Peters went and

decided to teach a younger grade, one with children

frankly, I haven’t looked. I don’t even know his first name.

less likely to patronize him with rude comments or

What I do know is that I loved his class, and that I grieved

ostracize him with complaints to their parents.

his absence as I began high school. I also know that

Regardless, his refusal to conform his character to

wherever he is, he is impeccably dressed and smiling,

the culture of my school district had a profound impact

likely at a handsome man with bushy eyebrows over soft

on me. As an adolescent struggling with my own

eyes⁠— surely, his laugh is still soon to follow.

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by Nata

lie Bak

win

CW: Mention of violence against transgender people

new investigative narrative mainly conducted by Cruz.

It may be difficult to fully celebrate queer identities this

Experiencing the trials and tribulations of Cruz throughout,

year due to coronavirus restrictions, as we experience an

as she is denied any information and repeatedly

unprecedented pride month of postponed parades and

dismissed, is infuriating for viewers and we get a sense

canceled events. It is especially important, as members

of how corrupt the US justice system remains in the

and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community, to educate

present day. Like many social justice movements

ourselves on queer history and those who helped get

today, the fight seems to last for a very long time, but

us to where we are today. In short, we must

consistently asks for the same things: justice for Marsha

remember trans women of color and their vital place

P. Johnson, gay rights, trans rights, and equality.

in the queer liberation movement.

Unfortunately, the trouble with this documentary runs One of those activists is Marsha P. Johnson, a black

deep. Reina Gosset, a 36-year-old, black trans woman,

trans woman known for her positive attitude and influence

called out director David France for allegedly stealing

on others. For those who don’t know, Johnson played

her idea and work. On her Instagram (@tourmaliiine)

a major role in the Stonewall uprising and in the Gay

on Oct. 6, 2017, writer and filmmaker Gosset said the

Liberation Front. She also co-founded (along with Sylvia

following: “David got inspired to make this film from a

Rivera) the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries

grant application video that @sashawortzel & I made and

(STAR) organization, which has supported many

sent to Kalamazoo/Arcus Foundation social justice center

vulnerable queer people by helping them to stay off

while he was visiting. He told the people who worked

the streets. Even today, black trans women are the

there -I shit you not- that he should be the one to do this

group at highest risk of violence and abuse. The Trump

film, got a grant from Sundance/Arcus using my language

administration has revoked protections in the healthcare

and research about STAR, got Vimeo to remove my video

system for trans people. Within the past week, two

of Sylvia’s critical “y’all better quiet down” speech, ripped

black trans women, Riah Milton in Ohio and Dominique

off decades of my archival research that I experienced

“Rem’Mie” Fells in Pennsylvania, were murdered.

so much violence to get, had his staff call Sasha up at work to get our contacts then hired my and Sasha’s

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017) begins

*ADVISOR* to our Marsha film Kimberly Reed to be his

with the death of Johnson in July 1992, which was ruled

producer.” Source: @tourmaliiine on Instagram

as a suicide. This ruling sparks protests against the police for a lack of due diligence in investigating her

An important and possibly ironic point can be seen in

case. The Netflix documentary follows the sincere doubts

the film when Sylvia Rivera is booed and jeered at a

of those who knew Johnson and the unfolding evidence

Liberation Day Rally in Washington Square Park in

that there may have been foul play in the

1973. Drag queens like Rivera were banned from the

events leading to her death, as well as in the process

rally because they supposedly made gay activism “look

of justice afterwards. This investigation, led by activist

bad.” Rivera explains how it was trans people of color

Victoria Cruz with the Anti-Violence Project, is intercut

who, before, during, and after the Stonewall riots, put

with a retelling of Marsha P. Johnson’s life including

themselves at risk in an effort to better the lives of all

the main historical events, her colleagues, and her

LGBTQ people, yet they are now being forgotten and

dedicated work towards gay liberation.

even marginalized within the community. She states that instead, white middle-class gay people are idolized

With a whopping 96% approval rating from Rotten

within the community. How meta for Rivera to mention

Tomatoes, there is a consensus that this Netflix

this problem within the community in a documentary in

documentary is of a high calibre. The strength of this

which David France, a white cis gay man, profits off of

documentary is largely owed to the use of moving archival

the ideas of trans women of color and in turn bars

footage of prominent LGBTQ activists, along with the

them from this success. Much to think about.

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by Tallulah Frigo Robert Mapplethorpe always knew he would become a

changed popular culture. The sort of erotic photographs

revolutionary, even when he had nothing. In the late 60s,

he once dared to shoot and now standard in society –

he lived in decrepit apartments with Patti Smith, never

taken every day on Snapchat and Grindr.

knowing when they’d be able to afford their next coffee and donut for lunch, but he was determined to create.

His most truthful explorations of the human body and desire came about towards the end of the 1970s and

He was the third of six children, born in 1946. His

early 1980s, in works such as Brian Ridley and Lyle

household was conservative, heavily catholic, nestled

Heeter (1979), Ken Moody (1983/1984), and Joe/

within the quiet suburb of Floral Park. Mapplethorpe

Rubberman (1978). The inherent vulnerability that is so

always saw his hometown as too safe to stay, too safe

clear in the male figures he worked with brought about a

to ever provide him with what he needed in life. It was

new acceptance of sensitivity and embraced femininity

only once he met Patti Smith, after leaving Floral Park

for men in America. To this day, the legacy of these

for Brooklyn, that he began to experiment fully with

vulnerable masterpieces remains important.

his art. Together, they threw themselves into creating, experimenting with drugs to develop their artistic styles

His art proved that gay erotica and love could also be

throughout their tumultuous and intense relationship.

high art and could be classic – he worked in studio blackand-white photography, through fine portraits highlighting

Heavily influenced by Andy Warhol, Joseph Cornell, and

human grace and beauty. He combined traditional class

Marcel Duchamp, Robert explored a variety of mediums,

with rebellious ideas, and that is what captured the world.

from collages, to paintings, to drawings before picking

They couldn’t look away.

up a polaroid in the late 1960s. His father had always been a photographer – their basement even included a

By demonstrating the immense beauty within sex and

dark room. However, Robert had not shown an interest

love, in particular in the LGBTQ+ community, Robert

until he began photographing Patti Smith – someone

invited New York, and indeed all of wider America, to

who completely changed his world vision, he says.

understand the community in a new way. He taught

They loved each other dearly, and remained close

them to see the common ground between all – love.

friends throughout Robert’s life.

Sensuality. Intimacy.

In the 1970s, his art took a turn for celebrity – he

When he died of AIDS on March 9, 1989 at the young

discovered the value of public outrage. Robert

age of 42, Robert left behind a legacy of thousands of

Mapplethorpe’s queer BDSM works redefined

beautiful photographs of faces, bodies, and fetishes that

photography, providing the frame for a sexual revolution.

assaulted American concepts of sex and gender and

He was able to explore, through his trademark black and

reconstructed them altogether. For that reason, his works

white nude images, the LGBT male BDSM subculture

are still loved and lauded three decades later.

of New York City, in the late 60s and early 70s. These images were so intimate and true that they became

Robert’s works are now classics, with auction prices to

quintessential of LGBT art history. His works were poetic,

match. However, his power is so much more than just the

shocking, and offered an examination into a culture that

price tags on his photographs. By pushing the American

most Americans, by default, knew nothing about.

culture wars into high gear, Robert left a legacy that changed the LGBTQ+ community.

He was able to both thrill and horrify – even referring to his own work as “pornographic,” aiming to arouse his

Canonization is complete – Robert is seen as a saint both

audience all while regarding it as high art. He took the

in the art world, and beyond it. Once rebellious, his works

dark areas of human sexuality and made it into art. His

now hold less controversy, absorbed into the mainstream.

exploration of LGBTQ+ culture was grand, masculine,

Now, he is seen as a martyr, the start of something

and noble – embracing a wholly male presence without

amazing. Art as sex, sex as art. For Robert, art was a

any sacrifice of feminine grace. This was entirely

turn-on in every sense. The pictures that once exiled him

renegade, something never seen before, elevating

from society, now keep him in history.

the mysticism of the male experience. Through this, he

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ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE an LGBTQ icon

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My art is a reflection of distance between the world understanding of myself and the man I know myself to be. My work can not exist without the confrontation of this worlds hatred of trans faggots like me. Grown inside of Harmony Korine’s fucked up world of “GUMMO” (1997) theSe wearable sculptures are the: “TORNADOS, COWBOYS, BUNNIES AND THE GIRLS WHO RAISE THEM ALL!” The work is dedicated to all those who have died daring to be exactly who they are, all those people that go screaming, that go laughing, that go way too soon. Through making self defense mechanisms suits that shield the wearer from the outside world I am exemplifying the violent visibility of queer bodies in a hetero/cisnormative space. Hiding but screaming at the same time, refusing to be silenced while protecting one’s self. I am making the wearer an escape route out of the straight and narrow. I invite you to play dress up in

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my junkyard, just be careful i think my brain threw up in there.

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Kiara

Lewis

Nicole Lipp is a director/photographer born and

phone to ring to get an audition to be on the CW

raised in Los Angeles. She received her BFA in

because that’s not going to happen. If I want to make

Acting from UC Santa Barbara where she acted in

movies, I have to make them myself. I made my first

and directed several theatrical productions. Since

short film in 2015 just before getting into the social media

returning to LA, Nicole switched from theater to

world. I ventured more professionally into photography

on-camera work, acting in and directing several film

after being in social media for so long. In the beginning,

and television projects; and photography, shooting

when I was producing content for brands, I was hiring

for musicians and brands. Off camera, Nicole runs a

photographers and I would shoot secondary stuff on

social media marketing agency, AYF Media, where she

the side. I thought, “Why am I hiring someone to do the

creates Instagram content for brands.

thing I love when I could be hiring myself?” A lot of it was about confidence and I hadn’t given myself

[UNPUBLISHED:] Tell us about yourself.

permission to call myself a professional. I directed my

[NICOLE:] I founded and run a social media marketing

first music video just over a year ago. Since then I’ve

agency called AYF Media and I specialize in creating

directed four more and have six more in pre-production –

content for brands. I’m a director, photographer, and actor.

we’ll shoot as soon as COVID allows!

I’m always making stuff, I do my best to create everyday!

[UNPUBLISHED:] What advice would you give [UNPUBLISHED:] When did you first get into directing

to young artists starting their own photography

videos and photoshoots?

business or who are trying to go in a creative

[NICOLE:] I got into directing in college but mostly

direction?

theater. I started directing videos because I was an actor

[NICOLE:] My number one piece of advice is to just do

and I was like, “I’m not going to sit around and wait for my

it. Don’t wait for someone to give you permission. Don’t

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wait for someone to call you up and hire you. If you want

was exploring. It was crazy culture shock – this job was

to make something, make it. No excuses. For a long

so all-encompassing. Nine-to-five is a myth, it’s really at

time I made excuses and put myself into a box. I thought

least eight-to-seven. I learned so much but after doing

since I got my degree in acting, that was all I could/should

that for two years, I was super depressed again. I now

pursue. I think I was just scared but once you start making

know that I go through cycles of pushing really hard

stuff, you learn. I’m a big fan of the school of experience.

and burning out. I learned that later in life but I wish I

Yes, get a degree, it provides a strong foundation, but

knew that then. I wasn’t ready to take the plunge into a

you’ll learn so much from just creating IRL.

fully creative career, but I knew that social media was something I was good at even though I didn’t like the

[UNPUBLISHED:] How has being an actress affected

corporate lifestyle. I was like, “Fuck it, I’m gonna start my

the way you direct?

own business.” So I did.

[NICOLE:] I think every single human on the planet should take an acting class. You learn so many skills from

I left TOMS, founded AYF Media and a month later I had

studying acting, whether it’s learning confidence

three solid clients on retainer. Now, three years later,

in public speaking or communication or listening. Really

I’ve worked with a lot of amazing people/brands and I’ve

listening. Listening is everything. In a lot of ways, acting

learned and grown so much. I’ve been through a couple

taught me how to direct. I understand the language of

cycles of working really hard and burning out and I’m

actors and I understand what it takes for me, as an

finally at the point where after all that, I realized what

actor, to get somewhere and I can pull from those tools

makes me happy and what really makes me fulfilled is

to help the actors I’m working with. I also think

photography and directing.

photography has helped me so much in directing because in addition to understanding actors, there’s this

[UNPUBLISHED:] How did you first start out?

super visual part of me. I know how to create an image

[NICOLE:] I had two years at TOMS under my belt.

in my head and bring it to life or how to see things

Plus Flower hits the BIG time helped me build a resume

through a unique lens. The combination of those things

from collaborations with big companies like Sephora,

is why I love directing so much.

Coachella, Absolut Vodka, Reebok, etc. I didn’t know the first thing about starting a business – thank God for

[UNPUBLISHED:] Tell us about your social media

my husband Michael who is my partner at AYF; he is

boutique. What inspired you to start your own

super business minded! I told my friends and my family

agency?

about AYF and people just started reaching out to me like,

[NICOLE:] My life journey has been anything but linear.

“Hey, my friend works for this company and they need

I have done and tried so many things – but I wasn’t

social media, can I put you in touch?” Once I was in touch

always like that! Until I was 22, I was like, “I’m an actor

with these people I had to really prove myself. This was

and nothing else.” I put myself in a box and I became

three years ago when this was more rare, now everyone

really depressed. I started my Instagram, Flower hits

and their mom is like “I do social media.” At the time it

the BIG time, as a creative outlet. When I started, it was

was novel to have a social media boutique, especially

a music festival fashion blog, it has since evolved a lot.

one run by a woman who was giving you all of her

This was in the beginning of the Instagram boom and

attention as opposed to hiring to a gigantic advertising

it grew really rapidly to 20,000 followers in my first few

agency with a social media wing.

months. Everyone has a million followers these days but at the time it was really exciting! At that time, I was

[UNPUBLISHED:] What kind of services does your

pursuing acting, I was working like 10 different day jobs

agency offer?

just to make some money, I was running Flower hits the

[NICOLE:] I have a different contract with every

BIG time, I was teaching acting/improv classes to kids

client I take on. Micheal and I are the only two full

with autism, I was making a short film, I was dealing with

time employees at AYF Media. We have a network of

my depression. I was doing a million things and really

contractors who we work with on a project by project

exploring for the first time in my life!

basis. For each client we are working with we bring on a different person we think is perfectly tailored to the

Then this opportunity kinda fell in my lap – I knew a girl

client. AYF offers content creation, strategy, engagement

who was a recruiter and she called me up and said,

– the customer service side of social, ads/paid

“TOMS is hiring a social media person, do you want to

media, graphic design, and more. If it’s in the social

interview for it?” I figured sure, why not! I got the job and

media realm, AYF does it.

all of a sudden I was working a nine-to-five in an office in [UNPUBLISHED:] What have been your favorite

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brands to work with?

business, I needed clients in order to prove myself. I

[NICOLE:] For Flower hits the BIG time, several vintage

would take anyone who wanted to hire AYF. I’m at the

shops have reached out and sent me clothes. Those

point now where I’m very choosy with what clients I

have been my favorites because I pretty much only wear

take on. I need to be sure I ethically align with every

vintage unless it’s a brand that’s explicitly sustainable

brand I work with. This was a big lesson: a client that

and ethical. Vintage is guaranteed sustainable!

I was working with for over a year is a huge fashion brand. It was a crazy feeling when they wanted to hire

For AYF, I was working with a skincare company for a

AYF. I mean, this was a legit, brand name and I had

while that I really love, I still use their products

major imposter syndrome, I thought, “I can’t believe

everyday! It was a really awesome experience to work

this is a client I can book right now.” I signed a contract

with them because they were brand new and I was

even though I’m so against fast fashion and so careful

working directly with the founder to launch their social

with my own consumption habits. I had major cognitive

presence and he let me have creative control. Some

dissonance because I was supporting something that was

clients hold the reins a little too tight because the

against my personal values. So yes, I’ve learned to be

company is their baby, and I get that! But this was fun

way more deliberate about the brands I work with.

because the client let me make weird memes and quirky shit, he let me really have fun with it.

[UNPUBLISHED:] What advice would you give to creatives who want to start their own agency or work

[UNPUBLISHED:] What have been some challenges

for an agency?

you have run into owning and running your own

[NICOLE:] Again, just do it. Find a mentor. Email me, if

agency?

you’re hearing this advice, through this interview, reach

[NICOLE:] Losing a client because of something

out! I want to pay it forward. I get people emailing AYF

completely out of my control is rough. Like that skincare

via our website all the time saying, “Hi, I just graduated

brand, our contract was terminated because of

college and this is interesting to me, here’s my resume.”

COVID-19. They had to let go of every agency that they

Since I put together teams based on clients, I have this

were working with and restructure everything. That was a

huge database of these really cool, qualified, badass

big personal wakeup call to the reality of this pandemic. It

people that I may call when the right project comes along.

wasn’t because they didn’t like our work and you just can’t

Reach out, just do it. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and

anticipate stuff like that. Agency life is hard because there

don’t be afraid to fail, just do it and you’ll learn as you go.

isn’t guaranteed consistency – you have to be able to adapt quickly because things can change in an instant.

[UNPUBLISHED:] Do you have any plans to expand your boutique?

This is such a cliché challenge to talk about, but being a

[NICOLE:] Always, I love expanding my community of

woman, there are some sales calls that I wind up on

contractors because you never know what’s going to

with a potential new client where I can tell the guy on

come your way and who’s going to be perfect for it. We’ve

the other side of the phone is not taking me seriously.

been expanding more into creative production – I’m doing

It’s frustrating for sure but you just have to hold your

more and more video/photoshoots and that’s the most

own and know your value.

fun for me. That’s where I want to be all the time! To me, expanding means making shit with cool people and

A big thing I learned when I started was that as a new

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creating every day. The hustle never stops!

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1. Budding I am woman.

Skin honey, hair cinnamon.

Arms naïve, legs fragile.

Eyes—

borne of littered constellations lassoed by dreamy women who once were.

Smearing mother’s rouge on my chaste cheeks, I blush.

2. Bloom She is woman.

Skin scabrous, hair coarse.

Arms open, legs closed.

Eyes— painful confluence of resignation and sorrow.

From cracked crevices, rife with feminine indignation.

3. Shrivel We are women.

Skin bruised, hair windswept.

Arms embracing sister ghosts, legs cut by scornful lips of prose.

Eyes— sunken, rheumy, shuttered. silent tears roll, drying in blithe resistance.

Singing interwoven psalms abreast to the fading beat of justice, we surrender with loaded pistols pointed at our chests.

4. Dispersal Sister—

you are woman.

Whispers stifle the rape discourse, fervent hysteria drills into bone, sanguine silence trickles into the veins of our daughters.

Do you feel the lust for reclamation, sister?

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Oh, to become a woman From youth’s gentle cusp Childhood painted innocence Naive of what comes: My labors may be hindered And form preyed upon Always glancing behind me Despairing cruelty These struggles I must bear forth In this feminine life Yet, defiance is my sword And vigor my shield For myriad loveliness Can never decay I’ll build on those before me Sow for those who come Like a rose, there is harshness Rare beauty blossoms Oh, to become a woman This is what awaits

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CREATING COMMUNITY WITH JULIA HABER Transcribed by Kiara Lewis

[UNPUBLISHED:] Tell us about yourself.

colleges across the country, building relationships with

[JULIA:] I went to The New School in Syracuse and I

students and understanding their pain points and their

graduated with an advertising degree with an emphasis

journeys. What was the difference between a school in

in new business design and development. I started a

Arizona versus Duke versus Ithaca? I was understanding

company while I was in college called WAYV. WAYV is

what the identity of students was so we could provide

an experiential agency in which we work with brands big

value on their campuses. The thesis has always been

and small to create activations out of shipping containers

that there isn’t a brand of the college market to help

and trailers and move them around to different campuses

support students throughout that journey. What I built

across the country. I also started Home from College right

was specifically for when students are physically on

in the beginning of the pandemic. I was actually building

campus and don’t go to a school that has a lot around it

a completely different business that was going to have a

and it’s hard to get exciting cool things to happen. It’s a

physical space – think of Soho House meets a clubhouse

similar vibe with Home From College but thinking more

space on campus – an inclusive environment. It would

pre-professional. You go on LinkedIn and you think,

be a paid subscription by universities to give access to

“There’s nothing for me on this platform. How do I even

brands and products. Students should have access in

communicate with people that are more senior than me?”

second and third market schools so we’re not in big

There’s nothing consumer-facing or approachable about it

cities. We were planning on launching that in January

as a college student. It’s like college students trying to be

2021, then coronavirus had different plans for us, so

professional adults, when really, you’re not that and you

we pivoted the whole business and created Home from

shouldn’t be that. We wanted Home From College to be a

College, which is an online platform and community for

platform to help support students in defining who they are,

college students. Think LinkedIn meets Masterclass

what they’re passionate about, experiences they

specifically for the college market.

may not have gotten on their own, and help guiding through that period of time when there isn’t a guide

[UNPUBLISHED:] What inspired you to create both of

and you’re isolated. They are both within the theme of

those businesses?

supporting the college demographic because the

[JULIA:] I started WAYV because I went to a school in

industry clearly needs to be disrupted and it hasn’t

Syracuse and there’s not a ton going on nearby. It’s in

been and hopefully coronavirus will help that.

a third tier campus where there’s a pizza place that’s pretty much it. I realized there was so much more to the

[UNPUBLISHED:] How did you manage to start a

college experience that I was isolated from because I

business in college while balancing schoolwork?

was in the middle of nowhere and I didn’t go to a big city

[JULIA:] I definitely did not balance it. Somebody said

school. I couldn’t learn about alternative career paths

to me a while ago, “There’s no such thing as work-life

that worked for my major, it’s just hard to get outside the

balance.” It’s the same thing in college, it’s about work-life

classroom experiences in ways that felt more real-world.

integration. I am somebody who has always prioritized

I’m a big brand person, I developed brand relationships

my professional life over my personal, social life. I never

and I realized all brands want to do is reach college

loved the college thing, I wasn’t a big party girl. Senior

kids, but there was no way for brands to easily access

year I didn’t care about my grades and I was like, “I

this target audience. I spent a year going to hundreds of

have so many opportunities in front of me and support

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and mentorship from professors and grants and pitch

day who started a program for Cornell students who

competitions, why am I not using my last year to suck

think, “I have an idea but I don’t know if it can be a real

everything I can out of college and just make it happen?” I

business, I’m not even sure where to go.” It’s interesting

remember October of my senior year, thinking, “I’m going

because either you’re gonna do it and you’re gonna make

to compete in every pitch competition I can. I’m going to

it happen or you’re not. I think it’s a hard balance between

go to as many office hours as I can. I’m going to build

people who need to figure out if the idea can actually

relationships with as many professors as I can so it can

be a business or if it’s just a passion project, because

help set me up for life.” If I didn’t do that, I don’t think I

they are two very different things and you need to be

would have had the ability, financially, to do this after I

open to hearing if it can actually be a business. If you’re

graduated, or the like skill set to do it.

struggling, thinking about starting a business or you have started a business that’s pre-traction and pre-revenue,

[UNPUBLISHED:] What age did you decide you

I would highly encourage you to talk to as many people

wanted to become an entrepreneur?

as you possibly can. It’s something that I did. People’s

[JULIA:] I’ve always been somebody who’s done

theories about not sharing your ideas with others – I don’t

outside of the box things. I made up my major in college

personally relate to because if you can talk to people who

because I didn’t like what they told me I should do. I

have 20 more years of experience than you, you should

took all alternative assignments in class. I told all my

probably do that. When I graduated, I had upwards

professors I never wanted to take a test, I always wanted

of nine meetings a day with people across different

to do an alternative creative option that usually didn’t exist

industries picking their brain and asking their feedback,

– I just had to make it up. I’m a graphic designer so I

thinking about how I could change things. I think that

used to design study guides for the class instead of

should be the first step everybody takes, just

taking a test. I grew up with a learning disability so I

to see what the feedback is because even if you don’t

always had to find a better solution for myself. I may not

agree with their opinion and you don’t see eye to eye with

have been the normal, mainstream student in that way so

them, it’s a good data point and if you hear that

it pushed me to think outside of the box. It’s always been

thing coming up over and over again, maybe it’s

who I am. I had some internships throughout

something to consider. With that said, take everything

college where it was very structured and I realized I

with a grain of salt, don’t completely change your

just would move faster than the structure would let me

business because somebody says to.

and I could do it but it would be limiting.

Regarding funding, if you’re a college student, it’s never [UNPUBLISHED:] What obstacles have you faced in

going to be easier to get money because you have the

the industry as a woman?

student card to play, which is huge. I won a substantial

[JULIA:] There haven’t been many times where I felt

amount of money in pitch competitions my senior year.

disadvantaged for being a woman, which is a rarity. I

I competed every weekend in a pitch competition which

felt more ageism than isolation for being a woman. 99%

was the most amazing practice for me to help get money

of my meetings are with men and there have been many

to get started. There’s a bunch of college-based

situations where I have been not only the youngest in

venture funds, there’s one called Dormroom Fund,

the room by about 20 years but the only female as well.

there’s one called Rough Draft Ventures. There’s

That’s just something you have to get used to, but I don’t

grants, there’s all these things you can do to get money.

feel like it’s disadvantaged me. I think it’s just made me

iFundWomen is an amazing initiative that supports

come to a realization that you have to work well with

funding women owned businesses. I highly

men and you need to be assertive. I’m very opinionated, I

recommend not raising money if you can, it’s a

definitely let that be known. There have been one or

grueling, stressful, exhausting, depleting process.

two scenarios where I’ve been in conversations where people address a conversation to my business partner

[UNPUBLISHED:] Did you have a mentor or someone

because he’s a man, when in reality, I’m his boss. It’s an

at your school helping you when you were starting

interesting dynamic to see how people have

these companies?

preconceived notions or want to fall into specific

[JULIA:] The reason I started WAYV was because during

communication structures because of stigmas.

my freshman year my dad came up with this concept for a pop-up in one of the most highly trafficked areas

[UNPUBLISHED:] Do you have any advice for college

on campus. I convinced Lululemon and a bunch of

age entrepreneurs who want to start a business but

other companies to start selling products in that space.

don’t know where to start or where to get funding?

Companies made almost $100,000 in that location and I

[JULIA:] I was talking about this with somebody the other

was a freshman in college, I had no idea what I was doing

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and my one of my mentors, who was an entrepreneur

was thinking about the pain points of students who are

in residence at my college said to me, “Julia, there’s

experiencing things similar to me. When I was building

something here. I don’t think you’re ready to make it a

WAYV, I went to 92 campuses across the country. I

business yet but keep it on the back burner.” His name is

would have freshmen who I’ve never met drinking coffee

Mike and he has been a mentor of mine for eight years.

with me crying about how isolated they felt or how they

We talk three times a week, we have become family,

have culture shock coming to the south if they’re from

and he’s my rock for everything. But I have different

the Bay Area. I realized no one was supporting these

mentors for different categories. If I need sales help,

students and it’s such an interesting age because it’s the

I go to John, if I need fundraising help, I go to Mike.

first time you’re alone. You’re experiencing things the

Arm yourself with a support system because there isn’t

first time, you’re able to break out of your shell without

one perfect mentor for everything you need. Find that

preconceived notions and there’s no one that supports

database of people, which all for me, started because of

you – schools are supposed to but they don’t. I’ll

college. I didn’t randomly get them off the street, it was

probably build businesses for every period of life I’m

very much one connector to the next connector.

in, if I can. For right now this is an area and an age demographic that hasn’t been disrupted in this way. I’m

[UNPUBLISHED:] We noticed both of your companies

open to all areas and all kinds of companies but I think

cater to college students. Is there a specific reason

I’ve been seeing what’s around me, within my age

you chose that demographic?

range, and thought this was a big opportunity.

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[JULIA:] I think I built these companies for myself. I

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by My’Kayle Pugh I don’t want to make a hero out of my father.

Black blood on concrete, days old, flies buzzing ‘round, eyes half-open like America’s; she can’t see that we don’t want to make heroes out of our dead.

(We already know you want us dead.)

Do not come to me with the promise of martyrdom.

I know how this goes; this is how it goes: birth body inpull body outlock body uplay body downthrow body downgun body down.

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See? I know how this goes. Emmett knows how this goes, Martin knows how this goes, Malcolm knows how this goes, Rodney knows how this goes, Latasha knows how this goes, Trayvon knows how this goes, Mike knows how this goes, Laquan knows how this goes, Philando knows how this goes, Freddie knows how this goes, Breonna knows how this goes, George knows how this goes, Tony knows how this goes, Riah knows how this goes, Dominique knows how this goes, Robert knows this goesI’m sorry, is this tiring for you? Are you bored yet?

Are your hounds sick of the same taste of flesh yet?

Don’t bother to speak to me of peace and treaties; I no longer negotiate with terrorists, much less ones who brandish the same guns that will tell me to “stand up; no, sit down; yes, now roll over.”

When it hits the 4th of July you will smile wide, wide like the destiny of your forefathers, and you will turn your head towards the flash and the bang in that star-spangled sky.

Watch as the pitch-black is splattered with crimson and blue, and you will ask me

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THE PERPETRATOR BEGINS WITH THE BUYER

by Sophie Norton

Hilarity isn’t in the joke, it’s in the spoken statement

has become an economic condition. This entire

advocating political “wokeness”. Tell you what, we’ll do the

disposition is an ironic juxtaposition! We called for

talking. Sure, we’re ordinary folk - pretty broke and trying

demolition of the industries, the big footprints. But

to provoke change, but it doesn’t feel like our country any

franchises are in opposition.

more. Take us to administration! This generation’s living out a simulation of televised gunfire and unsustainable

There’s a call for carbon neutrality, zero waste and a

attire, where the perpetrator begins with the buyer. Law

punch to the face of the man who’s responsible for the oil

enforcement isn’t taking adequate control, we want

spills in Siberia, Nigeria, and the Gulf of Mexico.

some RESPONSIBILITY, some ACTION! Do we look

WHY IS EVERYBODY SUPPORTING FAST FASHION?

prepared to give up another massive fraction of our land

You heard Greta the first time! This isn’t a game, we

for the sole purpose of oil extraction?

are the ones to blame, the ones to promote change and to treat our home with the same love we extend to our

We’re witnessing carbon emissions, unstable nuclear

sisters, our mothers, and our lovers. The kettle has

fissions, enterprise acquisition, lack of government

boiled, isn’t anybody going to react? It starts individually,

contrition - “Here, sign this petition!” Illegal admissions

it starts inside. Think of the consequences and trust

with monetary ambitions. Spark the ignition, we want

me, your actions will be justified.

government remission. Increasing virus transmission

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by Marie Beschi Racism is at the heart of fast fashion

unions among the workers, making it even harder for

Racism is more than the calling of derogatory names;

the garment workers to be granted living wages, better

it is structures that are built around discrimination,

working conditions, and treatment. In Bangladesh,

oppression, and exploitation. The fast fashion industry is

for example, a garment worker is paid 33 dollars a

a perfect example of this. Fast fashion heavily relies on

month, while the living wage is about 60 dollars. The

the exploitation and oppression of people of color. Brands

workers, some of which are children, are forced to work

created a business model to maximize profit at the cost

14-16 hours per day and are exposed to carcinogenic

of workers’ health and rights, turning a blind eye to illegal

chemicals. They don’t even have appropriate work attire

subcontracting, forced or unpaid overtime, and child labor.

or uniforms. Since 1990, approximately 400 workers have died under these circumstances and several

“The economic exploitation that fast fashion is reliant

thousand have been injured.

upon is a legacy of colonialism. From the 1500s until the middle of the 20th century, European imperialism was a

Worldwide, there are around 74 million textile workers,

way to create extractive states and oppress non-white

of which 80% are women of color.

people”, as Kalkidan Legesse, entrepreneur and fashion activist, stated in an article for The Guardian. Legesse

Reportedly, these women face a lot of sexual harassment

owns an ethical fashion business called Sancho’s.

in the workplace and are not granted maternity leave.

Western consumers want affordable prices and brands

Sweatshops also come at a tremendous environmental

want larger profit margins. This simply cannot happen

cost. The chemicals used to make our clothes more

without injustice in the fashion industry; supply chains

vibrant in color are often dumped into rivers and

either accept, ignore, or try to cover up these unjust

streams on which nearby villagers depend. The factories

practices. They go so far as to employ conscious

are unregulated since they’re located in corrupt

marketing to seem “woke” or peddle messages of

countries where the government and authorities turn

female empowerment whilst continuously polluting the

a blind eye to environmental damage.

planet and oppressing women of color.

Prior to COVID-19, factories acquired a lot of textiles Additionally, most of our clothes are made in sweatshops,

for upcoming sales that have now plummeted. Now

where the workers are underpaid, overworked and

stuck with the material, because the virus put a halt to

exploited. What’s more, factories also prohibit trade

production, they’re letting go of countless employees

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to prevent more financial loss. The industry doesn’t

single garment is individually packaged. And yet again,

care for the workers, their families, their livelihood, and

this plastic is mixed with cheaper synthetics which makes

bills. Brands simply need to start paying their workers

recycling impossible.

throughout the supply chain, a living wage; they can well afford it. The brands, that stand behind these

Lastly, some reports claim the textile industry is one of the

practices are estimated to be worth billions. Also, if

“dirtiest” industries in the world, second only to big oil. The

post lockdown, consumers’ first action is to raid the

making of garments produces more greenhouse gas than

high street for sales, it only sends this message:

international shipping and aviation combined!

“You are more than willing to let [corporations] continue to leave garment workers in perpetual poverty” -Kalkidan Legesse

Textile disposal A lot of people donate their used clothes to make room for new. But today, this is somewhat counterproductive, because the donated clothes are almost entirely made out of plastic. This makes recycling almost impossible and our clothes can be viewed as “pretty trash”. In Germany, for example, 1 million tons of clothes end up donated. In Britain, about 300,000 tons of clothes end up in landfills every year. Textile waste is the fastest-growing category of waste in the country. In the United States, the average

Textile production & manufacturing of garments In the last 20 years, the production of clothes has doubled. As a result of this, companies had to imagine new ways to keep up with the competition. This begins in the textile production: the fabrics used to make our garments are mixed fabrics. In other words: natural fibers are mixed with plastic. Natural fibers, like cotton, are not eco-friendly because they require a lot of land and water, but synthetic fabrics are even worse.

Polyester, Nylon, and Spandex require around 340 barrels of oil every year. 33% of the Viscose in our clothes, comes from ancient or threatened forests and only 30% of the collected wood actually ends up in our

individual throws away 70 pounds of clothes every year. To put this into perspective, the U.S. population constitutes 4.25% of the world’s population. Finally, it is estimated that by 2050, global clothing sales could triple.

We are anything but slowing down.

Polyester, Spandex, and Nylon are mixed into fabrics like cotton or wool, and the more the garment leans on the synthetic side, the harder it becomes to recycle it.

Anything that can’t be reused has to be discarded by burning or selling. Most clothes end up incinerated. This is greatly harmful to the environment because of the smoke, and is also not good business for charity shops. These

garments. The other 70% is incinerated.

shops buy clothes by the ton, but if more than 50% have

About 50% of the worldwide textile production involves

money. The clothes that are not burnt are sold to third-

Polyester and about 60% of our clothes contain Polyester.

This synthetic fiber is not biodegradable and is very hard to recycle, which makes these numbers worrisome. The industry imperatively needs a new textile, because at this pace of production and consumption, the resources needed are going to be used up in a pinch. Worldwide, 1% of recycled clothes are used to make new clothes.

To put this into perspective, it is more affordable for a manufacturer to produce new clothes from scratch than buying used textiles and repurposing them.

to be ruled out because of synthetics, the shop loses world countries. But even the third world doesn’t need the amount of clothes they are sent - some countries in Africa have put in place an import ban for old clothes.

5% of landfill space is filled with textile. But the problem doesn’t only lie with the consumer throwing away too many goods; many brands do not donate their unused stock. They would rather incinerate their stock, because donating it would “ruin” their image. Designers and affordable fashion companies alike are guilty of textile waste in tandem with consumers.

Almost all of our clothes are produced overseas in regions Philippines, Bulgaria, India, and Turkey are only a few examples. But this poses another problem: the goods need to be shipped from these countries to manufacturers and retailers, so they are packaged in plastic. They’re packaged and repackaged multiple times and every

Plagiarism Screen Shot 2020-06-23 at 12.57.55 PM.png A huge issue in the industry is plagiarism. How do big retailers come up with new styles every week? Trick question. They don’t. They often steal silhouettes and designs from independent designers and artists, and slap iss

where the economy allows for cheap labor. Hong Kong,

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their brand’s name on it. If they see a style on the runway,

came up with a new alternative for fabric: dog hair! Uhl

that they suspect is going to be a trend, they simply copy

decided to help dog owners brush their companions and

it. This is fully legal as long as retailers slightly change

spin the dog hair into yarn. This alternative is readily

the design, but it doesn’t mean it’s ethical, especially

available, cruelty-free, and biodegradable. Wool, made

when large brands take credit for the creativity of small,

from sheep hair, is very similar to dog hair, which is why

independent creators. This very principle is constantly

Uhl was inspired to make this work. Another alternative is

exploited by big retailers at the cost of these independent

textile made out of wood, called “Tencel”. Scientists have

business owners. This is very tragic because independent

found a way to rid trees of cellulose and weave them

artists work hard for their designs, and if a big retailer

into fibers and thread. Plus, the chemical solutions used

steals their work and sells it fat a cheaper price, artists

for this process can almost fully be reused making this

struggle to keep their clients. It’s a losing game for smaller

alternative very eco friendly and biodegradable.

businesses competing with big retailers like Zara, Gap, and H&M.

There are also a lot of ways to help workers in third-world countries. The “PayUp” movement demands fashion

Retailers & consumerism The consumer market strives to attain the high fashion aesthetic at a low cost, and retailers respond to this very wish. Sellers created the idea of “keeping up with trends” to make more money. Instead of replenishing sold-out items, they simply replace them with new styles, which forces the previous items “out of style” and marks them as undesirable. Another tactic the bigger retailers use to promote a high turnover of fashions and more frequent buying is advertising. Since they can afford to invest millions into ad campaigns, we’re constantly surrounded and reminded of rapidly-changing fashions.

Even if we don’t acknowledge every single ad we see, our subconscious mind internalizes its message. We all know the feeling: we want more, and we want it fast, before it goes out of style yet again.

The industry tries to constantly trick us into buying more, which is why we need to educate kids, adults, and everyone in between about the advertising techniques brands use. Overall the blame is evenly dispersed; both brands and consumers, need to imperatively change their approach to fashion. Media literacy is a critical step to holding brands accountable.

Social media also is a big factor as to why we buy so much: posting the same outfit twice is frowned upon, which is utterly absurd. When did outfit repeating become a bad thing? Our need to show off a new, fresh outfit every time we post on “the gram” is also a reason why the fast fashion industry is on the rise. Now, brands like GAP, Hollister, and Burberry want to adapt their supply chains to emulate profitable aspects fast fashion, which is the last thing we need.

Alternatives & ways to help Fast fashion isn’t the only option. There are buying alternatives to suit a range of budgets and styles.

In Germany, a textile engineer named Franziska Uhl

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brands to honor their commitment to overseas workers.

Fashion Revolution and the Fair Wear Foundation are fighting for the respect for garment workers. Lastly, you can help by buying from independent businesses owned by people of color or by only supporting ethical brands that are transparent about their practices.

One of these brands is Patagonia. Well known for their responsible practices, Patagonia promotes “buying well, buying once” and mending clothes for a longer life span.

A direct quote from their website reads, “We seek not only to do less harm, but more good.” Patagonia offers a repair service for clothes to be used longer, and they even have mobile repair stations all over Europe and the U.S. They have an anti-fashion, environmental message and they urge consumers to keep their clothes longer instead of immediately replacing them. One might think this business model isn’t profitable, but that is incorrect; between 2008 and 2014, Patagonia has tripled their profits! They have proved the fast-fashion industry wrong, and shown ethical and fair business practices do not have to result in less profit. Brands like Patagonia are rare though, so they try to encourage other brands to tackle this environmental issue.

Another up-and-coming alternative is “Rent the Runway”.

It’s a clothing borrowing service through which users can choose to borrow an article of clothing for up to eight days at a reduced price. This company wants to change consumers’ views on their clothes, since, on average, only 20% of our clothes are worn regularly. If they know a piece is merely fashion and want to wear it as a novelty, they don’t have to commit to owning it and run the risk of it becoming just another drop in the textile waste bucket.

Through this service, consumers still cycle through a lot of clothes, but they are not worn by only one individual.

“Rent the Runway” has a couple of physical stores and offers their services online.

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It’s no secret that the film industry has shown a

All “Harry Potter” books were originally written with only

strong bias toward majorities throughout history,

one Black character, who was later changed into a very

and this issue is now being brought to light. Shows

minor, white character. In the newest book, “Harry Potter

like “Hollywood,” on Netflix highlight the struggle

and the Cursed Child”, Hermoine was portrayed by a

minorities have constantly fought through to be shown

black actress, which received a wave of harsh criticism

and represented in the media. Although these shows are

from the audience, even after J.K. Rowling, the author

typically set in the 1950’s when Black people and other

of the books, approved this change. Many watchers say

small groups were making their breakthrough in

that the change of these characters will distort our view of

the industry, the issue has not disappeared since then.

them and change the story overall. Audiences were even

Even movies set outside predominantly white countries,

upset at Rue from “The Hunger Games” being shown as

like “The Great Wall”, which is set in medieval China,

a Black girl, despite having even been Black in the books.

stars Matt Damon, a white actor.

The recent announcement of the live action version of “The Little Mermaid” was met with enthusiasm and

In movies that we now consider classics, like “Star Wars”

excitement, until the viewers learned

and “Titanic”, it is rare to spot even one Black character.

that Ariel would be played by a Black woman. Many

This is the industry that we are raised on, and these are

people used the argument that Black characters, such

the actors we are accustomed to seeing, so it no longer

as Tiana from “Princess and the Frog”, would never be

surprises us when a cast is all the same shade, though

changed to white, so why would it be okay in a reverse

it should. Black kids across America rarely see people

situation? However, this concept doesn’t actually hold up

who look like them on the screen, who is supposed to be

well, as many Black characters’ stories are very

their inspiration when the world is telling them they don’t

relevant to their race, but since the typical character is

belong on the other side of the camera?

white, it is very rare that their race has a big effect, if any, on their story, so it doesn’t necessarily change

Even award shows such as the Oscars have been flooded

anything at all if their race is changed.

with a shocking lack of diversity, not only in the nominees, but also in the crowd. The audience at home noticed this

Although many movies and shows attempt to show

and quickly made the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite trend

diversity, similar to “The First Purge”, many of them

for days after. Actor, writer, and director, Don Cheadle

only reinforce stereotypes rather than trying to dismantle

recently told the Telegraph how companies and producers

them. For example, in “The First Purge”, the main cast

refused to fund his film, as it had a strong Black lead, with

is Black, however they are all portrayed as thugs and

very few main white characters.

criminals, especially since it is a very violent movie.

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Meanwhile, all the characters in a position of power

Jackson in a film. White-washing these figures is not

are played by white actors.

only disrespectful to the person, but also gaslighting the public and discouraging to Black actors. Actors such as

Many people deny this is an issue, and use the excuse

Laurence Olivier played Black roles and were encouraged

that since Black people only make up 13% of the

by the producers and directors to perform in blackface.

population, it doesn’t matter if they are represented.

Although, the media was outraged by this and the concept

However, this is only ignoring that 13% and supporting the

was (thankfully) removed from the industry.

idea that their lives are worth less. Hiding from the issue, like these people are doing, is not only not

The same issue presents itself in the music industry.

helping, it is strongly harming these minorities. Hiding

Many talented singers are turned away constantly

them in the media tells people it is okay to look down on

due to their skin color because labels are scared

them and it is only romanticizing the thought that they

people will think less of Black artists. These brands

are lesser than anyone else.

should ask themselves, why are they tailoring to the needs of white supremacists?

Many films that attempt to show diversity also have the issue of “token characters”. This term is meant to

Jaden Chandler, a half Black singer in the band “The

describe a character that serves no purpose other than to

Shady Village”, recently said in an interview that as a

show minorities. Although this is not as big of a problem

child, she never saw or heard singers who looked like her.

as ignoring minorities, it still is an issue. It is so rare to

She now says her goal as an artist is to show that you

see a Black character as a lead without being

have to work against the bias in the music industry and it

stereotyped, why is white the default?

is possible to succeed in a system pushing against you.

Movies such as “Sierra Burgess is a Loser” show one or

Although these issues have greatly declined in the

two Black characters who double as LGBT+ or another

past fifty years, the issue is not gone. It shows up

minority, although these characters are easily disposable

constantly, and if your privilege allows you to ignore

and rarely have a storyline of their own. Characters such

it, then you are specifically the people that should be

as these are examples of “token characters”.

speaking up. White communities should be just as outraged by this injustice as anyone else, we are no

Even African Americans who have actually existed, such

different than anyone else and it is people just like us

as Micheal Jackson, are being played by white actors in

who are being discriminated against everyday.

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movies. Joseph Fiennes, a white actor, is playing Micheal

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POTUS

by Zeila Hobson

The following is the enduring legacy of President Trump: “[Women] are far worse than men.. and boy, can they be smart!” ‘Ninety-seven.

Dinner not ready?

Trump said he’d “go through the roof.”

“My daughter, she has the best body.” To H. Stern, two thousand and three.

Could he have nailed late Princess Di? “I think I could have.” ‘Ninety-seven.

“If she was not my daughter.. I’d be dating her.”

To The View, ‘oh-six.

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“You have to treat [girls] like shit,” to the New York Mag, nineteen ninety-two.

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STICKY NOTE (1975)

by Julianna Ritzu

I offer a nod of recognition, a wide smile that hopes to

heaping portion of Instagram-worthy photo opportunities

mask the timid “cảm ơn” I have been unable to master

paired with a generous side of enlightening, albeit

in interactions thus far. Ascending the stairs quickly

abrasive, observations. A million stranger’s musings each

and hoping my over-enthusiasm will be dismissed as

condensed into a colorful square with a pithy sentiment.

the hallmark of “rich Americans,” the term I now

I wish people were actually like this.

reluctantly answer to when addressed by Vietnamese women occupying shop stalls and street corners,

We settle at a corner table adorned with a faded reminder

selling banh mi, handi- crafts, Yeezy trainers—which

to “carpe diem” from Ian in Australia, whilst I pass the

one fellow backpacker assured me were “100% the

time guessing at the ages of a few un-dated notes,

real deal—at half the price.”

counting their worn spots, grease marks and tears as one would the rings of an oak tree.

I look down to discover a pen and a once crisp pink sticky note gently pressed into my calloused palm. The note

The languid breeze provides a soothing affirmation, an

feels limp round the edges. Not quite sticky, but with

ample vessel carrying conversations both ostentatious

a moisture reminiscent of the anticipation one feels at

and intimate. My ear catches one particular voice within

their first school dance. First fuck, maybe, or first fight.

a cluster of women two tables over, reflecting upon her

Whatever suits. A reminder of the solemn, lazy heat that

good fortune in choosing Vietnam for gap year travels,

fills the air, swelling and spreading around me until my

“No, honestly it’s basically budget Thailand.” I stifle a

words too, come slow, thick and flowing, like molasses.

laugh, then snap my eyes to the ground intently as if

Sweet even—the filling of a bourbon creme, my voice

I’ve just discovered floorboards for the first time.

without its characteristic hard edges, honeyed by the

Counting 4, 3, 2, 1...She loses interest and returns to

change of scenery, and adopting the same weight which

her friends. I sigh. A time-honored technique of devoted

carries the humidity enveloping Hanoi.

eavesdroppers everywhere. Works every time.

The walls are glazed with remnants of notes identical to

I take a sip of water. Natalya had assured me it was the

mine, a papier-mâché chronology of previous visitors; a

only suitable remedy for such a steady, insistent heat,

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before scribbling “H2O” on my arm, a visual reminder

Invade a country in the name of protecting democracy

that has since taken on a life of its own. The individual

and stemming the flow of “foreign evils.” (Communism

letters having smeared since this morning into a

by any other name would smell as...). Return 40 years

confused line drawing that could perhaps be labeled

later for the “culture.” At least now you’ve got keychains

“postmodern art” but that in the present moment seems

to commemorate your trip instead of PTSD. Polaroids

decidedly closer to “drunk girl paints at 4am.”

of rice paddies to show your mum, tinged red from overexposure. A red tinge which hasn’t left since then,

Frenetic energy charges through the city grid below, the

although the color has faded. Blood stains over time too.

open window staging a perfect tableau of motorbikes,

French Indochina. One war. Two wars. The Socialist

push-carts, and oblivious pedestrians. Tourists. Their lack

Republic. A command economy to a mixed economy to

of motorbike is the calling card for otherness. And those

a “Socialist Oriented Market Economy.” Labels are

hats. The unmistakable conical hats which seem to have

evidently helpful. Although for whom, I’m unsure.

become an unspoken uniform here. Their eyes remain

“Developing Country.” “The Global South.” “Capitalism

shrouded by this imposing headgear but fixed skyward,

Saves.” Take your pick. And it’s true, everyone assures

examining the communist architecture with a mix of

me. Vietnam has never felt richer. Fastest growing

Western disapproval and sincere curiosity.

worldwide economy. 5.1% GDP growth per year.

Each jockey for position within the congested

Budget Thailand, the Comeback Kid.

lanes, creating an activity that emanates a literal buzz.

The tenacious hum of transition.

That explains the t-shirts, which I have thus far been unable to shake. Part of the 5.1% GDP growth I suppose.

A sense of transition that seems all consuming and

I glance down at “carpe diem” smiling up at me. I wonder

inescapable. A transition that travels from the lips of

if it would look good on a t-shirt. In a playful font. Worn

each individual I encounter. From the hopeful tour guide

with nice trousers or shorts; t-shirts are so versatile. No.

assuring me that Vietnam has the best food in the world,

Not quite the right phrase. “Gap year,” maybe, or

to the insistent calls of shopkeepers, eager to sell t-shirts

“White Saviour.” Platitudes and Promises. Sold back to

emblazoned with such sentiments as “Good Morning,

those responsible for creating them.

Vietnam” and “I Love the Smell of Napalm in the Morning.” I remember the man who called to me

Sell it to me. Aren’t I part of the problem? One of the

yesterday as I walked past asking for spare change; as I

foreboding “them” pitted against the enviable us. Moaning

placed a few dong in his hand I noticed that he was not

about it in my writing. Sharing that writing with other

sitting, as I’d perceived, but standing on stunted legs.

people. I get it, this is self indulgent. Whiney. Frivolous. Is

A physical deformity I was told is relatively common

that what my t-shirt would say?

here as the visual effects of Agent Orange still reveal themselves in the births of the now fourth wave of

The note sits crumpled in my fingers. I was unaware I was

Vietnamese children born after 1975 — the close of what

squeezing it. Eventually, I scribble something down. Stick

the Vietnamese term the “American” war.

it to the wall, above the open bay window. Notably, I do not take a photo. A pretty pink phrase. Something I can’t

These shirts seem a strange method of capitalist

remember. Still better than “carpe diem.”

reparations: each sale a loaded reminder to the eager

I don’t think I’d write anything now.

participants on this strange pilgrimage. A “woke” safari.

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T

R

R A R E A T C H C HE O L OF CO

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by Leilani Styles Personality is a flippant subject that seems to cloud

concept, it is undeniable the adaptation society has

most aspects of culture right now. The idea that an

made around the premise. A judgement of value is

individual is born with a set type of attributes that are

made from the quality of your personality, and the future

definitive of their character and expression. The concept

you take is guided by a prerequisite social expectation

of personality allows us to compress the large arrays of

of you based upon this. Martin Luther King Jr.

human complexities into a digestible archetype, fronted by

famously defaced the idea of race having any

interests, ideas, passions. Yet the whole philosophy fails

conjunction with these ideas, something consciously

to mention how physical personality becomes in

accepted and yet hardly enacted on.

a social environment where archetypal segregation is fatal to those victim to it.

Do we, universally, accept that content of character is not impacted by the color of one’s skin? Beyond the

42.8 million African Americans approximately, living below

obvious denial, the disownment of racist values, do we

the poverty line. A group poverty rate higher than any

really see an accepting society? A key factor that people

other race in America, with African Americans twice as

have to acknowledge is that the racial activists before our

likely than Whites to fall into impoverished lifestyles.

generations were considered pariahs, they were detached from the mainstream culture’s doctrines - fighting for racial

To claim you know the character of each person under

justice wasn’t a matter of reputational safety. Companies

this statistic is an absurdity. It encourages the implication

issuing uncontroversial statements, a fluctuation of

that economic destitution is a reigning attribute, to

interest in racial movements in accordance to trends…

silence all humanity in a person, all love and diversity.

These are meaningless in the terms of support for

You are told personality is the equation of a person’s

those communities suffering right now.

substance within, you’ve heard it since your first kindergarten storybook, and yet the irony is clear. The

To those who cannot comprehend

people who’ve told you this since you were young are

compromising lifestyle and safety for the

the same people who hold the unspoken attitude that

racial equality movements right now,

race is the exception to this rule. This attitude is reflecting in volumes through the reactions your society

Don’t find comfort in the social persecution

takes against the disproportionate rates of which Black

of victims of racially profiled exploitation,

Americans are being incarcerated.

The silencing content of your own character If polite society held faithful to their ideologies; in

is blatantly clearer than any coloring of skin.

their resistance against generalizations, the reaction to this issue would be far from the over policing of

You cannot decide to be uneducated,

black neighborhoods, and far from the villainizing

you can only decide to be bigoted.

oversimplifications of their communities.

If you make this decision, sit down and stay seated. The show needs an audience, after all.

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Whether or not you believe personality is an existing

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ng

becomi

fo co m e u th

r ta nc ble with om fortable

Transcribed by Kiara Lewis

you have to watch, before you speak. Listen, before you respond.

Isabella Preisz enjoys spaghetti, Danish summers, and poetry in the bathtub. She explores the topics of identity, sexuality, & shame. In 2016, she self-

[UNPUBLISHED:] Tell us about your journey writing poetry.

published her first book, 7,300 days, which has sold

[ISABELLA:] I started writing poetry as soon as I had

more than 10,000 copies worldwide. As a graduate

access to a journal. I don’t know if at the time I knew

from the University of Southern California, she was

what I was doing, but I was definitely writing poetry. Emily

the recipient of the 2019 University of Edinburgh

Dickinson would write little things down and then shove

Fellowship, Jimmy Gaunt Memorial Award, and the

them away in her drawers. That’s kind of how it formed

Gene and Etta Silverman Award.

for me. I started taking it seriously when I turned 17. I was in my first year of university and I couldn’t find a way

[UNPUBLISHED:] Tell us about yourself.

to connect with myself other than when I was alone and

[ISABELLA:] My name is Isabella. I’m from Westlake

writing about the depth of what I was experiencing. I went

Village, it’s a small suburb outside of Los Angeles. I

to UCSB my first year of college and I found it extremely

studied creative writing so I consider myself a writer

difficult to relate to the people around me because it was

and a poet. I would consider myself first and foremost

such a party environment. I wasn’t interested in going to

an observer, because I think to be able to write poetry,

school for that reason. Everyone there seemed like that’s

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terms of the process being more free-flowing. For the second collection, one poem took me as long as it took me to write one section of the first book. The poems are a lot more studied and specific. The process for writing the first one was a lot more freeing and the second one was a lot more focused. My whole body would feel exhausted after writing because I was so hyper-focused. In the process for both there was an overarching feeling that was very cathartic and every time I approached the page, it would be okay to exhale and let it out.

[UNPUBLISHED:] Tell us about your new book, hours inside out.

[ISABELLA:] My second book is everything I didn’t write about in my first book. It’s the subject matter I felt I hadn’t fully grasped and didn’t have the language for. I was trying to get at this feeling of “what hasn’t been said? What are the most uncomfortable topics I’ve been holding inside of myself that I’ve been so afraid to touch, that I’ve been so held back from exploring?” What better way to explore them than to write a book about it? This book is about my coming to terms with healing from sexual assault and how the experience of not having been empowered to use the word “no” can leave you feeling as though you have no autonomy, no agency. You are living your life as, not only two separate people, but multiple separate people. The main focus is dissociation. As you flip through the book, you can see I have a lot of spaces internally inside of the stanzas, they’re called caesuras and I use that throughout the book to show how memory and time are constantly be jumping between the two, especially for victims of sexual assault. Our reality is so shattered because we’re constantly living this private life — what we know has happened to us — but this public life that no one around us knows. When I went to university. I didn’t feel like being self-published was recognized or respected. why they were there so I used poetry as a way to connect

Some of the faculty in my program were like, “You were

with the reason I was at school which was to think and

self-published? Cool, anyone can do that.” And I was like,

ponder and work through issues and heal. The summer

“Okay, well, I’m gonna show you I can also be accepted

going into my second year of university I dropped out

into literary circles and be taken seriously because it’s

of UCSB and I went to Bali with money I was supposed

not easy to write a book.” That’s why when young writers

to use for summer school. I started writing every single

reach out to me and they say, “I don’t know what to do if

morning and finally thought “Okay, this is my future, this

I don’t get published,” I’m like, getting self-published is

is what I’m supposed to be doing.” That was about a

such a big accomplishment, regardless of who’s accepting

month or two months before I started applying to school

you and regardless of the literary circles. Put your voice

for creative writing and then I got into a program at the

and narrative out there. It’s important. That’s what we

University of Southern California, and I’ve pretty much

need, we need to be supporting narratives regardless of

been doing it ever since.

a publishing deal or not. That being said, hours inside out is published by the press Not a Cult which specializes in

[UNPUBLISHED:] Tell us about your writing process.

marginalized voices and they’re a small press.

[ISABELLA:] It’s different in each phase of my life.

[UNPUBLISHED:] We noticed from your Instagram

is the classic poetry collection size. My first book was

that you travel a lot. Has changing your surroundings

journalistic, not in terms of journalism but journalistic in

affected your writing?

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My first collection is pretty thick and the second one

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[ISABELLA:] Yes, absolutely. Ever since I was little I’ve

publishing company?

been obsessed with the feeling of being on an airplane. I

[ISABELLA:] I self-published the book 7,300 Days before

have family living in Denmark so I pay for my plane ticket

I went away to school. Literally the semester before I

and go live in my uncle’s house for however long. The

went back to learn what creative writing was, I put this

reason why I travel so much is because being at home

book out and I had no expectations. I thought, “You know

in LA, the nature of the city is so splintering, there are so

what, this is what I’ve always wanted to do so why not?”

many pockets of identities that I occupy. I am so many

It sold fairly well, I think today it’s sold over 10,000 copies

people at once. For me, it’s like a wheel, it’s a constant

worldwide. I met this girl named Rhiannon McGavin, she’s

vertigo, so when I travel, I feel like I can just settle into this

a poet, she’s so talented, an incredible poet. I met her at

singularity with myself. And with inhabiting that singularity,

a party and we just sat in the back room for two hours just

I feel like I can time travel into memories and access

talking about poetry, and we kind of just stayed connected

myself more easily. Solitude is so important and helpful

ever since. Then I had been posting, two summers after

during the writing process. But, naturally, I do feel like it’s

that, I was putting a manuscript out because I was going

hard for me to be alone. I’m a Libra so my natural state

to self publish my second book. She said “Hey, I see

is wanting people around me. Writing hours inside out,

you’re gonna write another book. Can I jump on a phone

I was grappling with my relationship with my dad. He’s

call with you?” I said “Yeah, of course.” I was walking into

from Copenhagen and connected to that, I was grappling

a lecture and she said “I’m working with a press and we

with the idea that America just takes its hand and wipes

want to publish you.” I stopped walking, and said, “Wait,

away all types of differences. I’ve never understood what

can you repeat that sentence. You want to do what with

my Danish culture meant to me and what it meant to my

my work?” I still had a full year of school left and they

dad. He talks about where he’s from but I never really

wanted to publish me. I was so scared in that moment

understood what that meant. So to understand him, I

and shocked and excited. Your last year of college is the

wanted to go back to where he grew up to then try to live

hardest year not only because the coursework is so hard

through his childhood. I talk about that in the book, how I

but also you’re having an existential crisis about what it

don’t think I would have had the access to understanding

means to be going into the world, there’s so many things

and forgiving and loving him in the nuanced way of how it

on. I told them I would have the manuscript to them in a

is to love a parent, if I didn’t understand what it was that

year. And I thought they were going to want to drop me

created him. It’s different. It’s different over there.

at that point and they said “Okay, cool. We will slate a spot for you in the next catalog.” Moral of the story is I

[UNPUBLISHED:] From the first book going into the

met someone at a party, she saw I was self-published,

second book, has growing up changed the content

she started working for a press and I got a publishing

you talk about and the topics you explore?

deal through that. The number one thing I can say to

[ISABELLA:] In my first book, I talked about my

young writers, and myself, is it always matters that you’re

relationship with my best friend, my boyfriend at the

putting your work out there and it always matters that

time, and how my identity was so tied to him. At the

you’re staying connected with people in your community

time I didn’t necessarily understand the larger societal

because she is someone I met randomly and connected

pressure of what it is to be a woman in this world. I did still

with, and she gave me that opportunity which I am so

touch on my sexuality because I do identify as a queer

forever grateful for.

woman. I was connected to that, but I was afraid, and I mean I still don’t feel fully safe expressing that in certain

[UNPUBLISHED:] How did you gain a following?

communities. I was chipping away at something, but I

[ISABELLA:] I’ve always had such a strange relationship

didn’t even know what I was chipping away at and then

with Instagram because the only way it works for me is

settling more and more into it, I thought, “Okay, these are

when I’m telling a story on there or putting my writing

the topics I’m willing to explore.” For my first book, I didn’t

up. I have been actually losing followers for a year now

even talk about it in interviews, the depth of what I had

which I think has a lot to do with what Facebook is doing

experienced as a child and how I was affected by that in

to the platform. I think they’re money driven like crazy

my later age. I still think, even in my second book, I still

and they have truly ruined the community aspect of what

have a lot more work to do and a lot more exploration

Instagram was when I first published my book because it

inside of myself and in the world, a lot more to learn. The

was a community, and I mean it still is, we’re seeing right

main themes of my writing will more than likely always

now how powerful our platforms are and it’s not a reason

explore, shame, sexuality, sex politics and feminism.

to not use them. The times I’m being the most honest, open, and transparent are the times I’m growing, and that

[UNPUBLISHED:] How did you go from being a

was really hard to do for a segment of time when I was

self-published author to being represented by a

writing this manuscript because I wasn’t being that with

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myself because of the depth of what I was going through

fictional in a way?

and how hard it was to even exist in a physical space

[ISABELLA:] I have written fiction before. I love it after

with other people. The growing also happens when you’re

I’m done. I love editing, but writing fiction itself, I think

putting projects out. Talking to people and connecting with

it’s so hard. I have so much respect for fiction writers,

people as much as you physically can is really important,

just because of how intricate and detailed it is. Writing

that’s what the platform is for, it’s for conversations and

fiction has influenced my poetry so much because

talking in any possible way.

before I thought it had to be so literal and so true to what had happened. Having that level of imagination fiction

[UNPUBLISHED:] Has having a large following on

empowers you with has really influenced my work. I would

Instagram brought new readers to your work who

say all writing in some capacity comes from experience or

might not have known you are a writer?

observation. I don’t want to limit myself and say I’ll always

[ISABELLA:] I would say yes, especially when I am

write from experience, but I do think in some capacity

facilitating conversations around the themes and the

all writing is autobiographical. I don’t want that to be

topics that are being explored in my books. That’s when

the centralized focus, but I definitely want the reader to

you bring new people in because, for me, it’s not about

grapple with that.

the capitalistic side of what it means to sell a book. It’s about holding conversations about what consent means

[UNPUBLISHED:] A lot of your poems revolve around

and what “no” means and why we’re not empowered

assault, sex, and what it’s like growing up being

to say those things to each other. I want to hold

a woman. How have your family and your friends

conversations around that and I also want people to read

reacted to you exploring those topics?

it so they feel connected to what the story means.

[ISABELLA:] For my first book, I wanted my parents to see what I could be in this world. That I could be a writer

[UNPUBLISHED:] How has the experience differed

and that my words would be received by other people. I

from you being self-published and now being

tied this really neat bow at the end of my book because

represented by Not A Cult?

I thought that to be seen, I had to be soft and light. But

[ISABELLA:] As a new writer I really love self-publishing.

that’s not the ending my second book because I think

I love having full control over the entire project. For

dealing with the aftermath of sexual assault, it’s not,

my first book, I designed the cover with an illustrator,

“Okay, I’m healed.” It’s something you live with every

I told him exactly what I wanted. I didn’t feel like I had

single day. Hours inside out gets into the hornet’s nest,

to negotiate. I just did it. When you’re working with a

sits there, and says, “This is what I’ve been dealing with.”

publisher – and this isn’t saying it was a negative aspect,

Giving that to my parents was definitely the scariest part

it’s just different – you have to negotiate at times.

of the collection. Once I had it in my hand, that was when

Every single step of the cover of my second book was a

I showed it to my dad. I pointed out the poems that were

negotiation because it had to represent the press and it

about him and our relationship and he started crying and

also had to represent me. As a new writer, I recommend

he said that it wasn’t about him, it was about what I had

self-publishing because you experience every aspect of

to come to terms with and heal. In that moment, I was so

making a book. The other thing that was very different

grateful I had a father who believed in my art that way

and was also very valuable was working with an editor. I

because I truly think if he reacted any other way it would

worked with this incredible editor named Safia. She gave

have had the capacity to really hurt me. I know that’s

really great insight and that was incredible because for

also just my experience and it’s not any other writer’s

my first book, I didn’t have a writing community yet. I was

experience but I don’t think that should hold people back

the editor. Also, a big difference is marketing. It’s helpful

because if I were to allow myself to not say what I needed

to have a press because, to be completely fair, setting up

to say and not tell my story for fear of what my parents

readings by yourself, setting up anything and everything is

would think or what my community would think, I would

fairly time consuming and hard. I just love the community

be so far from myself. That’s denial, it’s silence, and it’s

aspect of being signed with a press. I do recommend

choosing fear. That fear is what manifests and controls

self-publishing, for the first time. Don’t think just because

you. That was, without a doubt, the hardest thing about

you don’t have a publishing deal, you can’t write. All of

this second book, being able to share it with the people

the ways of sharing are important and valid and you’re

who birthed me.

doing the world a disservice by not putting it out there and allowing the community to connect to it and feel it.

[UNPUBLISHED:] Do you have any advice for writers who hold back because they are afraid of what their family or friends will think?

experience or are there some writings that are

[ISABELLA:] The most important thing, above all, is

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[UNPUBLISHED:] Do you always write from personal

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to honor yourself. When I say that I mean, honor your

a black writer and you want to write something other

healing. The time it takes you to heal and don’t push and

than your race, please. That’s what we should be telling

trigger yourself so you can create, that is not productive.

everyone, write what it is that’s inside of you. I don’t

It’s not fair to yourself. You might make something really

think people need to curtail and exist within this little box

beautiful, beautiful in terms of you feel it is what has been

because that is exactly what’s wrong with this system and

inside of you and you look at it and you’re like, “This is

it’s a denial of experience. It’s a denial of what it means

what I’ve been trying to create.” Not beautiful in terms of

to expand as a human, and imagine, and grow. Because

what other people are going to define that as. But that

I’m a white writer and a white woman, and this book is

being said, if you keep creating that way, triggering and

about sexual assault, I do at times feel like I have myself

not healing and shoving it all away and making art. You’ll

in a box. But then I break it down and I think, “No, this

get to a point of pure burnout. That’s a form of self denial,

is what came to me and this is what I want to express.”

self hate, it’s masochistic in a way. You’ll get to this point

That is in a way, for me, my own way of saying fuck you

where you’re just like, “Nothing is good, I can’t create

to the system. Write the narrative, write the story, write

anymore, it’s not what I want.” That is what happened to

the poem, write the speculative fiction, write the comic

me when I wrote this collection. I got home from Europe

you feel inspired to write — that’s right for you and exists

during the summer of 2019. While I was there, I wrote for

inside of you. Do not let anyone around you tell you that

three month and was writing from the darkest part inside

you have to curtail what the system of publishing wants

of me every single day. I got home and I’ve never felt so

you to be or speak in a way that’s acceptable because

removed from myself in my life. I’ve never felt more like I

there are people out there that want to hear exactly what

didn’t recognize myself. I didn’t know how to connect to

is going on inside of you. If you’re thinking about it, there’s

people. That was when I started going to therapy and I

someone else who wants to hear it.

started learning in therapy that even after publishing this book, I had not even begun to deal with what I’ve been

[UNPUBLISHED:] Do you have any advice for people

going through. I didn’t even feel it, I was numb, but I was

who want to self publish their work, but don’t know

writing about it. It was very weird for me to come to terms

where to start?

with that so I would say make sure, above all else, you

[ISABELLA:] You don’t have to have everything ready

are taking care of your mental health. Writing and creating

before you start thinking about the process. You can

in this climate in the world takes bravery, takes tenacity,

completely begin to plant seeds inside of yourself and

and you will not get the respect that you’re looking for

manifest things without having the book ready to go.

because people don’t realize the amount of weight it

Research the platforms that exist and then think about

carries. If acceptance is what you’re looking for, then

what it is about this platform you like. I published with

check in real fast. That’s what you need from yourself. It’s

Kindle Direct Publishing. Next would be to try to set

hard, it’s heavy. I remember my last day at USC, I went to

some intentions for yourself like, “What’s my purpose of

my professor’s office hours and he said, “Are you ready

publishing this?” You don’t have to have the answers right

for how expensive this work is?” And I said, “What do you

away, just maybe three or four things. What is it? What is

mean? Expensive like monetary?” He said, “No, I want

it you want to convey? Who would your audience be? If

you to think about that. How expensive this work really

you have already started writing, just compile a document

is.” I think about that every single day. Without a doubt, it

of your writing, just putting it all together so it exists in one

is expensive, but the only way to get through it is to make

place. After that I would say the number one thing would

sure you’re communicating with yourself and you are

be commitment and self deadlines. I put everything on

there checking in and you’re not putting the need of being

one document and I would look at it every single morning,

seen and accepted over your healing.

just move things around and then literally from there that’s when the book starts forming. I think another thing

[UNPUBLISHED:] What are your views on the

that’s very useful that I don’t have that I wish I did is have

importance of people of color sharing their stories

a friend who knows how to do graphic design. Maybe

through their writing, especially during times like

you want to support someone with monetary means or

these.

trade labor. If you do know how to use InDesign that’s

[ISABELLA:] I think the way they should do it is exactly

really helpful because I have friends who will write their

when they feel ready to and how they want to. Something

books and they’ll already have it formatted so they can

I actually think about a lot is the publishing industry, the

just upload it to these sites once it’s done but for me,

bigger houses, are going to want you to curtail yourself

I just use a Google Doc, I’m kind of old fashioned that

so you fit into something they can sell. That is exactly

way. I did write literally all of my poems in journals then

what the problem is that’s going on right now. If you are

I transcribed them. I’m literally a 75 year old poet but

a writer, you’re a writer, above anything else. If you’re

whatever. Don’t overwhelm yourself with a checklist, it’s a

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fluid experience. If you want to research one day for like

will they happen? I want to, tentatively, be a professor of

20 minutes but you’re not feeling it and then you want to

creative writing. I love connecting to writers and I think

start compiling and composing and transcribing, let the

there aren’t enough people in this world who are not only

experience be freeform.

working in academia but also working in the community and empowering the youth. I can imagine what it would

[UNPUBLISHED:] What is your favorite thing about

look like being a professor but I know my purpose in my

being an author?

life is to just be a resource for people who are looking to

[ISABELLA:] I would say the number one thing I like is

write, or be artists of any sort.

the people I meet. It’s very weird because I don’t even like thinking about what it is that I do. I don’t think about

[UNPUBLISHED:] What do you want people to take

it like I am an author, I just think about it in terms of what

away from your work after they finish a book of

I like to do. I really like the feeling of holding something

yours?

I made, that’s my favorite feeling ever. Another thing I

[ISABELLA:] It’s very interesting, I had someone reach

love is the feeling of holding a book after writing it for four

out to me about a day ago and say they didn’t understand

years. Before anything else, it would be the people I meet

the poetry in hours inside out. I’ve been thinking about

and the conversations that are held about writing a book

that a lot. What does it mean to understand this book? I

and the experience. Also what other people have lived,

think the main thing I want people to take away is sitting

learning about that and hearing it because it’s a way to

with the uncomfortability of the topics I’m exploring

connect, that’s what books are, you just start igniting fires.

because I didn’t write this book to be understood. I wrote it to represent my experience. I don’t want people to

[UNPUBLISHED:] Are there any writers who inspire

dissect every single line and make sure it has a literal

you and your work?

meaning. If anything, I want the reader to just sit with

[ISABELLA:] I love Maggie Nelson so much. She wrote

it and feel. I want you to see it in your own head and

Bluets, I read it when I went to Croatia. I was on a little

imagine your own world and feel what that language is

boat and the color blue was everywhere. I’m also crazy

conveying. I had one of my friends read this manuscript

about the poet Matthew Dickman. I looked up to him all

and his response was, “It’s very knotty, but not bad,

through university and I DMed him on Instagram and

naughty, but literally string tied in knots. It’s a knotty

said, “Would you read my manuscript and blurb me?”,

collection and I’m having a hard time getting away” and

and he did and it was crazy. I love his work, I love the

I was like, perfect. That’s exactly what I want. Just to sit

pure, honest, rancid way he just gets you. It’s kind of

and hold space for it.

nasty how cool he is. Kim Addonizio, she’s an Italian poet. She has a collection called Tell Me and another

[UNPUBLISHED:] You have recently published your

called What is This Thing Called Love. I am obsessed

second book, what’s next for you?

with her, it feels like you’re listening to a harmonica when

[ISABELLA:] I would say the number one thing I really

she’s reading poetry. Terrence Hayes, he wrote American

wanted to start doing more actively is workshopping —

Sonnets for my Past and Future Assassin. Also, Robert

holding space for young writers and young voices. Not

Stein, he has a collection called Crush. That one was

even just young voices but people who want to connect,

huge, it revolutionized how I view poetry because he’s so

share, and come together. Because of COVID-19, that is

narrative but also you really don’t know what’s happening.

being affected slightly because I was going to start doing

You don’t know what’s true and what’s not. That’s the

this in a physical sense, but we are going to take that to

biggest thing, it’s like a dream world.

an online space. My friend and I are working on a line of T-shirts and hoodies that will have the poetry on it. That’ll be out probably by the end of this year. Also, my partner is

years?

a film director so we’ve been making spoken word videos,

[ISABELLA:] I definitely want to have written another

we’ve made one and we’re going to make at least three

book. I actually would like to be living in New York, and

more so I’m going to start posting more videos that have

I’m studying for or already have my MFA. Potentially be

the poems shown through a visual way. Also, another

getting my PhD. I want to do those things but I also think,

book, in two years hopefully.

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[UNPUBLISHED:] Where do you see yourself in five

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S ez b y Jo celyn Martin

We have signs in our hands, you have weapons.

We have voices we want heard, you continue to silence us.

We walk for a change, you run us over.

We throw trash, you throw punches.

We shout, you shoot.

We play our music, you play your sirens.

We say their names, you pretend they don’t exist.

We kneeled on the ground, you kneeled on his neck.

We put our hands up, you attack.

We have no weapons, you shoot.

We tell you we can’t breathe, you make sure it’s the last time we ever could. It’s peaceful until you show up.

It’s quiet until you show up.

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We’re alive, until you show up.

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th

d a re

The red cloth seen throughout these images symbolizes the “common thread” that unites us all as a human race.

Growing up as a queer individual, I often felt out of place among my peers. It was when I finally realized that I was different but not less than others because of this aspect of my identity that I was finally able to fully accept myself.

This same sentiment is very relevant today in movements such as the Black Lives Matter movement. To address injustice, we must recognize that we are all human and therefore should all be seen as equal, and in doing so we must also address that in today’s society we are not all viewed as such. Therefore, we must let this “common thread” inspire us to look inward and find both empathy as well as the ability to address our own internalized false narratives regarding minorities and those we see as “other”. We must use these truths to inspire action and recognize in cases like George Floyd’s that while all lives do matter, right now and systematically, our society has not acted as such when black lives come into question. This theme, to me, means coming together as a community with our differences to fight to dismantle harmful structures and beliefs that have divided us and labeled oppressed groups as “less than.”

Breach

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by Lauren

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by Sydney Paolercio Oh sweet America, How could you leave your children at the mercy of devils?

You claim to be the land of the free The home of the brave But if you ask me, It’s just a glorified scam.

Your streets are not paved with gold.

You aren’t greeted with smiling faces, Waiting to accept you.

What you get is a gun in your face And a suburban mom with her Twitter fingers Telling you how you deserve to be beaten down; How you deserve to have your voice ripped from you.

Oh sweet America, How could you tell me to be grateful for what I’ve been given?

I should not have to beg you for love, Beg you for forgiveness That you so mercifully give to others Why do I have to beg you to not harm my sisters and my brothers?

Oh sweet America, How dare you look me in the eyes and tell me how to feel.

I’ve done nothing but devote my life to you, And what have you done?

Mistreated me for years, Spoon fed me lies, And taught me to hate myself.

So excuse me, Oh sweet America, If I come off as rude.

But I’m done believing your lies And living within your restraints.

Oh sweet America, I have but one more message for you.

I wish you the best And I hope you find yourself, But I will no longer stand in silence, Lapping up your intolerance and abuse

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Because my heart has awakened to who you really are.

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by Keisha Wee

Pick up your signs, wave your flags, yell their names out loud Keep marching, keep moving, and stand strong and proud It’s time for change, a revolution is coming, and it’s here to stay So use your platform, and use your voice, and share what you have to say There’s a heavy power imbalance and yet so few demands for reform It’s become so unruly but we’ve somehow acquiesced to this ‘norm’ This shouldn’t be the way, this CANNOT be what we’re living for It’s time for us to kick up a fuss and chant and roar We’re not too young to fight, this battle is ours as it is any other’s And you can yell in our faces but we will stand firm for our sisters and brothers You can call us foolish, and say we’re fighting a losing and pointless war But you haven’t seen the ripples it’s been making near and far There’s a fire burning wild and a current coursing through the streets The people are furious, and they’ve got a passion none can beat Can you feel the ground shaking? The earth is turning towards the sun It’s time we take notice and correct all the wrong that has been done People are waking up, and they’re becoming more aware The protests have sparked a reform, and it’s not your place to say “NOT FAIR” This isn’t about you, this is not the time and place This is about a centuries-old inequality (or longer) about nationality and race There’s a thunder rumbling, there’s a storm brewing ahead And it’s about time we correct all the injustices, and all the mistakes that have been made Homosexuality is not a sin, you should be able to love who you want to And your skin colour is beautiful, for it is part of you Your body is not an object, and you have every right to say no Opinions do matter, so it’s important you remember to vote Climate change is real, I assure you, it’s rather clear as day And refugees and immigrants are people too, and they deserve a place to stay Women are not your toys, neither are they for you to do what you please The land of the earth is disappearing, and so are many of the trees Flora and fauna are becoming increasingly rare, and they’re slowly fading away And many people are impoverished, yet that’s not what the media portrays The list of discrimination and issues can go on, with no end in sight And yet little has been done all these years to make headway on our plight It’s time we rise and speak against all acts inhuman It’s time we begin this revolution.

This is our time. This is our movement.

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DEFUND THE POLICE WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY MIGHT WE WANT IT

by Risa Schnebly This last week, people everywhere have been waking

While these reforms may be good steps in the right

up to the myriad of injustices caused at the hands of

direction, studies have shown that they do not actually

police, the people meant to serve and protect us.Instead

reduce the rates of police violence or change the high

of protecting people, more often than not, we have seen

rates of arrests of BIPOC over white people. One

the police unnecessarily instigating and exacerbating

study done by the American Sociological Review

violence. As a result, people across the nation are calling

found that the three most common approaches to

for their cities to defund local police departments.

addressing discrimination in institutions, including diversity training, promoting inclusion, and establishing

Now, you might be asking: Wait? Defund the police?

institutional responsibility, were actually the least

Like get rid of them? Don’t we need the police to keep

effective (Kalev, Dobbin, and Kelley, 2006). So why do

us safe?

these things happen? It’s clearly because of more than just a few racist cops.

In theory, yes. However, as we hear more stories of unarmed, innocent Black Americans being discriminated

For starters, the police force and the prison system in the

against, harmed, and brutally murdered for no reason

United States have extremely racist roots. Some of the

other than the color of their skin, it is becoming

first publicly funded police departments were created as

abundantly clear that the police are not keeping people

“slave patrols” in the colonial south, dedicated to keeping

safe. This is especially true in vulnerable minority

slaves under control. In 1865, the 13th amendment was

communities that need support more than anyone.

passed banning slavery in all cases except as

According to the NAACP, Black Americans are

punishment for a crime. As a result, black southern states

incarcerated at over five times the rate of white

began passing “black codes” that criminalized conduct

Americans (Criminal Justice Fact Sheet). One PNAS

common to the newly free Black population, such as

study also reported that police use of force is one of the

walking at night. This allowed cities to arrest and

leading causes of death for young Black men, with

imprison hundreds of Black citizens in order to use them

Black men being 2.5 times more likely to be killed by

for free labor. This practice largely continues today,

police over the course of their lifetime than white men

as prisoners across the nation (which of course, are

(Edwards, Lee, and Esposito, 2018). These disparities

disproportionately Black people) are contracted cheap

point to a larger systemic problem that people are

labor and paid at rates as low as a dollar per day.

looking to change. The question, then, is how we should go about changing the system.

On top of this, there are widespread flaws in how the police force operates on a national level, from “broken-

Many people who look at the murders of George Floyd,

windows” style policing that encourages officers to

Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the countless other

aggressively target low-level misdemeanors, arming

Black people killed at the hands of police may come to

officers with military-grade weapons with little formal

the conclusion that all of this is just the result of the police

training, training that encourages responding to situations

force employing too many racist people. Maybe with anti-

with violence, and arrest quotas and for-profit prison

racist training, the employment of more people of color

systems that pressure officers to arrest as many people

as police officers, and increased accountability for police

as they can (Vitale, 2017; Delaney et al.; Childress, 2016).

officers who commit violent acts, the way that police

The result is a highly militarized group of people targeting

interact with their community will change.

everyday citizens in mostly poor minority communities with very low accountability (Hassonjee, 2018). Officers

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enter ordinary communities with what

the community the support it needs instead of attacking it

the author of The End of Policing (2017), Alex Vitale,

from the outside and expecting fear to drive crime away?

calls a “warrior-like mentality.” Rather than looking for

Maybe if we did this, we might have a better chance at

how to protect the citizens of the communities they

eradicating the need for a police force at all.

enter, police officers instead look for people in those communities that they should arrest.

Additionally, police departments are grossly overfunded compared to other community resources, often taking

Think of what you see the police doing on a daily basis.

around half of the city’s budget while the rest goes to

They write traffic tickets, arrest people for using drugs or

programs like community non-profits, city hospitals,

committing theft, find missing people or address

counseling services, and public schools who have to

situations of domestic violence. Of course these are

fight over what little money is leftover. If cities were to

situations that need external aid. But why do we want

invest in these programs that look to support and uplift

people trained to use excessive force and armed with

their citizens from the start, maybe there’s a chance

lethal weapons to be the ones responding? Why don’t

that we could reduce the need for many people to

we respond with people like social workers, EMTs,

commit crime in the first place.

addiction counselors or mental health professionals who are better equipped to de-escalate the situation and

Defunding the police is something that will happen as a

give people the help they actually need instead of

step-by-step process. No one is trying to get rid of all the

meeting the situation with violence?

police by tomorrow. Activists instead see defunding the police as a gradual, step-by-step process. Just starting

On top of that, why don’t we redirect the money that

by redirecting some of the millions––or even billions

pays violent officers into organizations that could help

in cities like Los Angeles and New York––of dollars

prevent crime in the first place? What if the money went to

that cities annually give to their police departments to

paying for mental health counselors in communities or to

community organizations could do a lot of good.

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programs that alleviate poverty? What if we actually gave

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by Amanda Leon When I was young, I would recite the National Anthem every day before class began. The entire class stood up, and I put my right hand across my heart, feeling the steady beat of life pumping through the veins.

“Land of the free, home of the brave,” I recited those words. I would repeat it, letting its meaning wash over me, trying to understand the full meaning and history behind the phrase.

slowly roll off my tongue every morning I stood up and saluted the flag. Those words resonated with me deeply and made me stand a little bit taller.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve seen that this land is not a peaceful one. The United States is a violent nation, always has been, and we shouldn’t be surprised that this tradition carries on today. The fairy tale I’ve been told about my homeland is forever shattered, reveling in its shards of glass, a bloody finger pointing accusatory towards me.

The blood dried up under our fingernails belonging to those we slaughtered and pushed under our feet in submission while speaking the same words of freedom that led a college aged kid to place a flower at the end of a barrel of a soldier’s gun, who would not learn to stop worrying and love the bomb. From Minneapolis

to Kentucky, Georgia to D.C, Miami to Los Angeles, countless people standing defiant against bodies protected in riot gear, armed with nothing but the simple demand to let them live.

These same cries for freedom have also led our government to spy on us, weighing our fates in secret criminal courts, and allowing public servants to beat us into submission anytime we dare speak our mind.

As the childlike naïveté of America has shattered, I struggle to answer what it means to be free. Freedom for me is the ability to make your own decisions, to walk down the street in peace, to let your child walk to school without wondering if they will make it back alive, to laugh with a group of friends, to love freely and openly without condemnation or fear.

That’s what it means to be free. To stand tall when they want you to crawl. To tilt your head up at the sky when you were programmed to eat the dirt under their feet.

Freedom is standing defiant and unwavering, knowing that even if your knees shake, you won’t lose your balance. You won’t fall because you’ve tasted the dirt, you’ve conformed and contorted yourself into something more digestible until you’ve lost sight of who you are now, Wide in the open, expanding your lungs to take in the air around you, realizing that you could never make yourself that small again. iss

“Land of the free, home of the brave.” I let the words

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YOUTH IN POLITICS

by Natalie Soibatian “The need for growth, for development, for change,

crevasses of their own mind. My greatest issue for our

is fundamental to life(John Dewey).” Change is the

future isn’t that the fate of our country is in the grasp of

underlying principle to not only life, but politics as

my classmates palm, but rather which classmate I will

well. The average citizen sees politics as something

vote for-come the election of 2037.

either unchangeable by people such as themselves, or something only a select elite few people have the

I am not sure if the issue previous generations have

privilege of understanding and immersing themselves

with passing the government into our hands stems from

within. John F Kennedy once said, “The future promise

issues within their own time; that they are afraid of what

of any nation can be directly measured by the present

may come from a group of individuals who will work to

prospects of its youth.” It may seem undeniably

protect everyone’s civil liberties, a group that will use each

shocking to place the future into our unmarred, yet to

other not as opposition to silence, but as springboards

be tested hands, when old ways seem to gleam more

to political growth within both of the parties. Or maybe

like shackles than tradition.

they’re simply scared, with the future of a great nation riding on the backs of a generation that grew up differently

I have never found myself so undeniably amazed at a

from others, in a vastly different political climate than that

group of people so driven by causes that not only affect

of their predecessors.

themselves, but the livelihood of everyone else, that I have to take a moment and appreciate it all. I see adults,

There is a certain bittersweetness to the situation, I

average citizens and figureheads of politics on both

suppose. Where a seventeen year old has enough, if not

republican and democratic news channels come close

more, knowledge of the political climate and issues being

to ripping their ‘opponents’ throat out that it makes you

addressed than the forty year old sitting across from them

redefine what an adult truly is.

but is chastised for speaking their mind or attempting at being informative because it’s the adults own pride that is

However, within the confines of classrooms, respect

the trade off cost of intellectual ingenuity.

and an open mind is common ground for all. Whether a student is liberal or conservative, or simply doesn’t have

Students not taking debating extracurriculars or AP

a full grasp on politics in general, the environment is

Politics and Government classes simply for the credits or

supportive. Each and everyone in the room wants to know

the means to a polished college application, but because

others’ opinions on the latest public policy being passed

they truly believe they areeee the future. That they will

or what the media is saying about a certain issue that’s in

become our future Senate, or House, or even the next

the spotlight. There is a craving for intellectual discussions

President. Not because they are naive in their way of

and a drive to seek out a way to make a change,

thinking, but because they are undoubtedly capable of

however small, within the confines of the classroom and

these aspirations. As our senior year came to a close, my

beyond. Nobody has any qualms about sharing their own

AP U.S. Government and Politics teacher, Mrs.Mitchell,

intellectual property as opposed to keeping their ideas,

proudly told our class “The future is in your grasp. It’s

opinions, and knowledge to themselves, as if they are a

attainable. It’s all attainable.”

secret that mustn’t be shared with anyone but within the

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Founder + Editor in Chief Rebecca Bloch

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