Author Archives: Adora

In the Era of Trump, Anything Goes

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When did the news become fake? In the Era of Trump, anything goes. For news watchers, that means our news is anything Trump declares it is. And we can expect for the next four years, that in the era of Trump, fake news is one of them. There used to be a time in society, when our politicians were head to the highest standard of truth and morality. That simply isn’t the case anymore and we are a time when even the most simple truths are up for debate. While many people are discouraged by this new normal, others are looking for ways to seek the truth.

Like most millennials watching the news has become a struggle. We crave authenticity and news anchors and commentators haven’t always provided the hard hitting answers that we long for. In a world filled with “fake news” who is telling the truth? The short answer is Angela Rye. Unlike most political pundits, she is unapologetic in her nature of truth. In an age of political correctness, many people fear shaming others for their clearly offensive comments, Angela Rye isn’t. Racism, sexism, misogyny and misogynoir, whatever it may be Angela Rye is ready to make sure our news is not only factually correct but  for what it is.

One thing Angela Rye is clear on is that Trump is fake news. In the video posted above, Rye discusses how she finds Donald Trump’s words to have no authority. This is an issue. How can we live in a society, where we can’t trust the words of the leader of the free world. However, Trump shouldn’t be surprised. It seems like a case of boy who cried wolf….

13 Reasons Too Many…

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This past weekend, I had the opportunity to join a group of young students middle and high school aged at the south side community center. Working with the organization LFDS, I hoped to listen to these girls and hear what type of mentorship and support they could offer. However the he business talk quickly became a discussion of culture and how a simple 10 years has managed to make my understanding of culture vastly different.

The new Netflix drama 13 Reasons Why came up. And every young girl in that room had watch the series in entirety. Part of me wasn’t surprised. In my opinion, parents today have little to no control over the type of content their children consume. Today, youth have incredible access to information, but extremely crude content. From an endless streaming for R rated movies to violent and misogynist porn. I grew up with little supervision over my media continent. But that was the age were the internet wasn’t at my figure tips with smart devices. It was the TV that exposed me to difficult topics, whether my parents knew it or not.

  • My first understanding of sex was some Lifetime movie…
  • My first encounter with love was in Cory and Topanga in Boy Meets World…
  • My first understanding of sarcasm was from Rory and Lorelei in  Gilmore Girls…
  • My first understanding of Black America was the Huxtables from Cosby Show…
  • And the list goes on….

While I know that my introduction to these ideas weren’t complete, they have still shaped the my interactions with the world. And to some extent, my understanding of the previous topics are disillusioned and not fully accurate.  I wonder how different my understanding of suicide would be, if I this Netflix series was “my first”?

Hidden Stories

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To be honest with you all, I’ve been holding off on watching Hidden Figures until I could go see it in theaters. I’m so proud of myself, for choosing to see this movie in person and not stream it illegally off the internet. While I typically have no qualms about doing so, something about this film demanded that I give my money. Maybe because it was a cast of black women, maybe it was because it was a beautiful story of perseverance and resilience. Or maybe it was because a movie made by black people, for black people requires my fiscal contribution*

While this movie accomplished its mission to normalize black women in stem fields, it always reminded me of the joys of sisterhood and elevated friendships. Over the course of my three years at Cornell, I’ve been privileged to surround myself with accomplished, intelligent and resourceful black women. There were too many moments, in this movie were I understood the struggle of being thought of as inadequate but thankfully I had the sisterhood to uplift me and remind me of my place at this predominately white university.

This movie should act as a call for the film industry to write more stories that highlight the hidden story of those who’ve greatly contributed to this country and to movements. I often wonder what other stories aren’t being told. I look at the movie, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. A movie like this shed enormous light on the race and class ethics of medical research.

I truly believe that great movies will always ;look to highlight the hidden life of a figure. Just recently discussing with a friend the logistics of the civil rights movement. While I know that the leaders civil rights activists and black power groups were competent to organize strategy, but who was the person drew the maps for the civil rights movement?  At a time when you couldn’t use google maps to coordinate the marches or the walkouts. Who was she or he? Who was the person that understood the city so well that they could chart a march that would bring the city to a halt, garner the most attention, and out the least amount of lives at risk.

It’s time we re-evaluate those who are writing the history of the world and why they highlight some stories over others. I hope that going forward we begin to take a critical eye to the histories we’ve come to accept as true.

*Rose actually paid for this movie. But regardless, money was going towards this movie compared to a free streaming.

Let’s Talk about Stress

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As the school year comes to a close, it seems as if I am balancing – rather juggling – more than ever.  From persistent friend drama, inter-organization conflict, separation anxiety (from family and senior friends who are graduating) and hopelessness. So I was very thankful for the opportunity to join a group of Rose Scholars to discuss the Cornell’s favorite buzzword: stress management. But part of me is always skeptical to ask other stressed students for relaxation advice…

At this dinner, many students expressed the lack of resources available on this campus for combatting stress and hopelessness. Since I walked onto Cornell’s campus nearly three years ago, I heard from upperclassmen that CAPS lacked the ability to provide all students with adequate counseling services. So I find it ironic to see the university build a new health center. I, along with many other Cornell students, are curious to know who will be utilizing the space, since there are little to no CAPS professionals to compensate the students on this campus. A student should never wait for over two weeks to find an appointment.

However, the bulk of the conversation was dedicated to how Cornell University should look to improve their services to prevent the high rate of suicide and hopelessness on this campus. So together a group of Rose Scholars and I drafted a list of concerns and demands we hope the university and Rose House will listen to:

  • Free gym membership for all students. Or at least a small gym unit in resident halls.
  • Free bus pass for all students
  • A weekly large campus event – from movie on the quad, to concerts, to recess, to free ice cream
  • Free merchandise and  Cornell Swag
  • The Cornell mascot should be more present on campus (walking around giving people high fives, etc)
  • There needs to be more university traditions for students to partake in.
  • Also, there should be a more coordinated effort to ensure students are engaged. I think the university should publish a monthly booklet with opportunities and events to attend (similar to the orientation packet).

While theses are just a small list of actions. I look forward to working with the Rose community and the University to address and tackle these issues.

Why I need to start dating my recruiters….

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Interviews are an opportunity to reveal who you are, but also a space for companies to reveal who they are and what they value. I think you should approach an interview like a first date. While I don’t date, I would imagine that the same principles such as: leave a lasting remark, never address controversial topics, leave things to be desired, be authentic. You want to show that you can add value, for some that by showing you can an analytical side and by showing that you  add cultural and workplace value.

I love interviews. For me interviews have always been a way for me to test my emotional intelligence. Interviews are my chance to challenge myself is tailoring my skills and experiences to organizations or missions that I find intriguing.

I think the key to doing well at interviews is knowing what interviewees want you to say/think. If you know that your interviewer wants excitement, then look for ways to incorporate that. If your future employer or organization values creativity and innovation, look to highlight stories and experiences that speak to those experiences.

Similarly, if you know the guy or girl you are seeing for dinner appreciates a love for arts, then you should cater your conversation to topics of creativity, reflection and artistic qualities. And the best interviewees will look for ways to connect the arts or artistic skills into the passions they do. For example, someone could easily make the case the football is an art that takes training and practice but at the end of the day requires you to see the field as a canvas with many “plays” display for an audience to enjoy.

In the discussion, I think that there were varying points on how to prepare for interviews. It’s a time to be reflective and for me, the reflective piece comes prior. And an interview is a time to preform. Its about striking the right balance between prepared and authentic. I spend a remarkable amount of time prepping for interviews (unfortunately, its typically the night of). But because of the amount of time I’ve spent prepping for interviews, I know how easy it is to fall into a script. That’s why its important to leave room for spontaneity and authenticity. I agreed with the majority of the people in the room that you don’t want to come off as formulaic, and over preparation and memorization can contribute to that. But for me that has never been the case.  A technique I use are to prevent this from happening is recording my elevator pitch and responses to typically asked questions and building excited into my pre-scripted remarks. This is what makes the difference between a quality and a mediocre interviewer.

Like I mentioned before, I don’t really date. I don’t think Cornell dating culture encourages typically dates but if I ever do I hope that I can incorporate so of these interviewing techniques to stimulate conversation and learn more about the other person.

On the Heels of…

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It truly amazes me how much we do not know. Dr. Heather Ann Thompson, author of Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and its Legacy, expressed the hidden story of a prison riot in Attica. I was torn between feelings of gratitude and outrage. Its times like these where outrage demands transparency and answers to question. Its times like these gratitude for reporters, journalist and  authors to tell stories doesn’t come  frequent enough.

Five days into a prison takeover by its 1,300 inmates, Attica Correctional Facility’s prisoners expected to end negotiations with New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller shortly, having made significant gains at the bargaining table. Especially since this prison takeout had captured the attention of news media outlets across the country, prisoners were confident they would begin to receive humane treatment while incarcerated.

When a helicopter flew over the yard at Attica, gases were dropped. The mixture of gases created a thick cloud  in the prison compound yard, that it settled in the eyes and throats of the inmates. With oxygenated masked, armed forces executed a military style assault. Under the orders of Gov. Rockefeller, prisoners and prison officers were subjected to death, bloodshed, and torture at the hands of the government. Meanwhile, government spokesperson stood outside the prison lying to the American people and journalist. Still to this today, communities in the US believe that the prisoners were responsible for the deaths that day.

Throughout her presentation, Dr. Thompson kept emphasizing trends and patterns that lead up to a moment like Attica. At the time, there were immense challenge to the criminal justice system, yet a strong push for an increase in the police state.

One possible explanation was a response or backlash to the civil rights era. But for Dr. Thompson, that answer wasn’t enough. She wanted to know: what was stirring inside the hearts and minds of Americans that pushed them to begin a war on crime before there was a need? Why was all this occurring on the heels of protests, policy adjustments, and public debate?

As I start reflecting on the current cultural-political climate, I can’t help but think about how this moment in time is very much “on the heels of” too. Statistics will paint a picture of how black women are graduating at faster rates than any other demographic, unemployment is decreasing. Not to mention, social media is giving rise to new social movements and we have just witnessed the first black president leave office scandal-free. But, for many in the 1960s, they probably felt similarly – filled with hope and promise.

Walking away from this experience has emphasized the importance of pushing back on what the government has to say. But to watch the patterns of society. If history has taught me anything, it is that history repeats itself. I hope that my local and global contributions can shed light on injustice, in its ugliest forms.

Let’s get personal…

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This past week, I had the opportunity to sit down with a group of students to discuss writing personal statements. Very quickly, the conversation turned into a discussion about how to sell yourself. I think was a vital conversation for us as a Rose community to have. These “insider” tricks aren’t taught in the class room setting and career services isn’t always a comfortable environment for students looking for more than a job, but a competitive edge.

Geoffrey and Magdala both had a extensive background when it came to writing statements, as well as cover letters. Two things that stood out to me during this  conversation:

  1. Call-In: I think this was a very important trick that Cornell students don’t take advantage of. Calling in to check up on a pending application not only can alieve anxiety, but also show interest and initiative for the position you are applying to.
  2. Tailor: Both Magdala and Geoffrey noted how they have a variety of different copies of resumes, cover letters and personal statements that they have tailored to certain positions to highlight specific aspects and traits they exhibit.

On my journey to develop my personal statement for law school, I know this workshop will certainly be helpful. Personal statements require an immense amount of authenticity and strategy. As I begin to meditate on how I want to approach writing and determining my topic, I know that my personal statement is only a fragment but also there are countless ways in which I can help my application through.

While I wish we would’ve dived deeper into the nuances and looked at examples of strong personal statements, this workshop positively reinforce a lot of what I believed to be true about writing personal statements. I know that I would appreciate the opportunity to meet one on one with Magdala and Geoffrey to receive a more personalized approach to writing statements.

Are Republicans the Party of Stupid?

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I am not a conservative by any means whatsoever. However, I can honestly comment that a many of my beliefs and ideals fall in line with Republican ideals. Most politicians – democrat and republican alike – have very similar agendas, at least behind closed doors. While the media may create the illusion that our democracy is contingent on three issues – abortion, civil, and gun rights – that simply isn’t true.

Last week, I sat with a group of students as we discussed the tensions looming since the election of Donald Trump to the highest of office of all the land – President of the United States (its still hard to believe…). While the majority of  the conversation was grounded in the role of judicial courts and branches in curtailing the reach of the presidency,  I posed the question: how do we begin to engage in conversations with people who respect and admire the current administration with admonishing their character and political views?

And I didn’t realize this at the moment, but this question was very hard for people to answer. It seemed to have thrown people off. Was the purpose of this conversation to sit around vent? Or was it to come together to find solutions in the current government that we have? I have been blessed in my life to have only engaged in thoughtful and compelling arguments with Republicans. To this day, I have yet to really meet a Republican who couldn’t justify or support their opinions. While this may not be the case in media, it the truth in my life.

Apparently for some, this isn’t the case. And to some extent some people don’t even want to talk with Republicans because they find them incompetent. A student in the discussion was even so bold to say that that Republicans tend to not have as high educational degrees. Implying that our intelligence is intrinsically linked to our educational degrees.This very sentient is what is driving a wedge between two parties and ideologies that should be working together. While the fact maybe true of Republicans, it is also true that many segments of the Democrat’s base is in extreme poverty and uneducated, as well. But that doesn’t mean we refrain from talking with fractions who don’t meet our Ivy League degrees.

Which brings me this final question: How can we even begin to engage in conversations with other people when we automatically assume they are stupid?

The answer: we can’t. For honest conversations to occur, for policy to change and for lives to be dignified, we must always assume the best intentions of those we are talking to. For those that struggle with this, I hope you take the time to understand that you are an impediment to public discourse and political change.

The closest thing to freedom is the struggle

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Historic. Moving. Inspirational. Unity. Those are the legacy of the Women’s March. Or so, I thought…

If you google images for women’s march, you will see that the first images are of drawings of historical all female protests that took place in 1800s. On January 20, 2017, nearly half million men and women of all different background and political beliefs gathered in Washington, DC – just one day after the Presidential Inauguration of Donald J. Trump. After a heated and divisive election, its assumed that massive crowds gathered near the nation’s capital to oppose the election. However, the purpose of the Woman’s march states:  “We stand together in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families – recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country.”

I find it interesting that an women’s march, garnered so much support from so many groups of individuals. However, I think that has less to do with people recognizing the intersectionality of women, but the lack of other outlets for people to productively express their dissatisfaction with the political climate. This march was so inclusive that it included many female Trump supports. While this may be surprising to may. This wasn’t shocking to me at all. Being a trump supporter and a feminist aren’t mutually exclusive. While many would argue otherwise, let me make this clear: your opinion of what qualifies a man or woman as a feminist has no barring on how that individual identities themselves. But for many women who voted for Trump, it wasn’t a vote for him, rather a vote against Clinton. They wanted a new political regime or a breath of fresh air in the White House. But that doesn’t disqualify them form sending a strong message to the president that they will not stand for the toxic and destructive language.

Just as inclusive as this march was, it was equally exclusive. The organizers of the Women’s March closed its doors to pro-life activist. I found it distasteful that a movement would count people out because they stand on two different sides of a position, while most likely agreeing on many other points. I found it ironic that a feminist movement rooted in anti-abortion, would disqualify women who’s message aligned with the feminist movement.

During the dinner conversation with Rose residents and GRFs, it was brought up that many people who are pro-life, are actually pro-birth, meaning they are actually for the birth or babies, rather than the care and support of children. However, I found that position to just demean the arguments of pro-life activists. I think its this type of behavior which erects walls between women activists. I brought up the point that the “patriarchy” breeds off of disenfranchisement of minorities. If women want to begin making more of an impact, they need to be united. There needs to be a dialogue. And I was surprised to hear that many people didn’t think conservative women were worthy of that. I can’t help but think this is why there was such a surprise this election. People aren’t willing to listen or talk to one another.

While the impact of women’s march is to be seen, there are a few things that I can do that will help more my own personal political agenda forward. Firstly, I will start by researching how other in oppressive times combated the oppressive force and what techniques they used. And secondly, I want to start organizing small community projects that can impact the communities who Pres. Trump ignores.

Overall, this dinner conversation sparked the question: Do you have to check every box of a the principles to be considered part of the movement or even political party or any affiliation?