February is dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating the achievements of African Americans. We honor a history of excellence in literature, science, art, philosophy, activism and social justice. We commemorate those who have risen above hardships with resilience. We seek to acknowledge the unrecognized for their contributions to our societal foundation. In 1916, a Harvard doctorate […]
In celebration of Black History Month, I figured it’d be fitting to write an appreciation post about history. But, rather than focusing on specifically black history, I’m here to make a case for history as a whole.“History” gets a bad rap because of what we’re accustomed to as students (assuming like me, you’re not a […]
Marvel Studios is credited for revolutionizing the cinematic experience by acting as the first major studio to release a black superhero movie. Black Panther, directed by award-winning screenwriter Ryan Coogler, tells the story of T’Challa, the first son of the now-deceased King of the African nation, Wakanda. T’Challa, who bears the title “Black Panther,” returns to […]
Valentine’s Day is usually associated with love and feelings of gratitude toward those we cherish. However, this joyous scene was a stark contrast from the one that unfolded at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. On the afternoon of February 14, echoes of gunshots reverberated across the halls, and the high schoolers found themselves […]
It is 9 A.M. on November 29, 2017. Most high school students are in class, struggling to stay awake during second period, the unintended result of a long night of homework and studying. But down on Broadway, students representing 22 high schools from all over New York City have descended upon the Richard Rogers Theater, […]
My initial relationship with Black History Month was a fairly homogenized and extremely sanitized front. Teachers across the board would relay stories of black exceptionalism, without fully confronting the pain and anguish that our people have endured. We analyzed the stories of Madame CJ Walker, Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela without speaking to the events […]
2018 has been a strong year for films, including coming-of-age drama Call Me by Your Name and the peculiar, but beautifully crafted, The Shape of Water. This year’s Oscars are also full of firsts. We have director Jordan Peele, the first African American to be nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for […]
For years, scientists have known that Earth is something special. Its distance from the sun allows for the perfect amount of light and heat to enter the atmosphere, giving us the perfect temperature and energy to sustain life. While the debate about the origin of said life still continues, no one can deny that Earth […]
An untrained observer, upon visiting Queens College for the first time, may notice a few defining quirks: its location some ways away from mass transit, its clashing buildings (found in every style from Spanish architecture to 1980s window-less caves lined with carpet and linoleum tile), and its surprisingly green-for-a-CUNY campus. What goes unseen is the […]
As a part of the Macaulay Honors core curriculum, students participate in four special seminar courses that help them understand New York City through unique perspectives involving arts, the sciences, and unique trips. According to the Macaulay Honors website, these seminars “feature primary research, classroom learning and hands-on experiences that use New York City as […]
