Category: Articles

Backlash

by Rhobie Toussaint, posted in Articles, Editorial

Social Media Plus Gen Z Equals Continuous Backlash

In an era in which social media is prevalent and every move made is monitored by other users, it is almost impossible to always remain perfect in the eyes of the public. One misstep can cause backlash not even twenty four hours later or come back to haunt someone for years. Second chances, it seems, are rarely given in today’s society.

The sensitivity of Generation Z (Gen Z) is constantly debated, some saying that Gen Z gets offended by just about everything. Yet, others believe that growing up witnessing a great deal of violence, such as the influx of school shootings and suicides, has desensitized them.

While the sensitivity levels of Gen Z seem to be in a weird paradox, one thing’s for certain: they never seem to give anyone a break on social media.

If someone were to record themselves simply saying their thoughts in a manner people may not like, the post would go viral, comments would be filled with backlash, and following that would be mockery by other users.

Just in April, Justin Bieber pulled an April Fool’s prank, in which he made it seem like his wife, Hailey Bieber, was pregnant and bearing his child. The prank resulted in controversy and was claimed to be insensitive to women with infertility issues.

Other celebrities have received backlash for resurfaced statements that were made years ago.

Artist Cardi B has faced criticism for saying she used to drug and rob men during her days as a stripper. She responded saying on an Instagram post, “I made the choices I did at the time because I had very limited options. I have a past that I can’t change we all do.”

Whether an incident happened recently, or fifteen years ago, it won’t go unnoticed, appearing in retweets and joked about in memes. Sometimes an individual will receive hate and criticism for a statement they’ve apologized profusely and faced consequences for twenty years later.

“For them it might have been a lifetime ago and they might have changed. But when it resurfaces, it doesn’t seem that way to us,” said Abigaelle Barreauny, a sophomore at MLEC.

This doesn’t go to say that the person doesn’t deserve part of the backlash. However, for one to hear a comment he or she made at age sixteen, and be held accountable for it the rest of their lives  is simply unfair and unnecessary.

Not giving second chances ultimately limits growth within society. When the media is always reminding one of a mistake they’ve made, it becomes increasingly difficult to move on.

A society that is unforgiving and stuck on the past doesn’t leave room for improvement. It’s time that after criticizing someone for their wrongdoings, people either move on or let it go. Everyone needs room to grow.

Image source: Getty Images

 

In Touch

by Rhobie Toussaint, posted in Articles, Feature

Going the Extra Mile to Keep A Friendship

Originally published in the Harbinger

As the school year comes to a close, a great fear approaches for seniors: separating from friends. It may feel like graduation will hold the last memories of hugs, conversations, and friendship; however, this doesn’t have to be the case. If both parties put in effort to keep the treasured bond, distance will no longer be a determining factor within the friendship.

Social media is becoming an integral part of the lives for many, and friendships can both be initiated and maintained through it. You can send snaps to your best friend and vice versa, showing how one another’s day is going or laughing at memes sent through the DMs of Instagram.

“We have a streak on snapchat and send each other posts on Instagram and Twitter,” said Alexandra Roberdeo, a MLEC alumnus and freshmen at Hamilton College, about her ongoing friendship with Daylin Delgado, a MLEC alumnus and freshman at Amherst College.

When you’re miles apart from each other with different schedules, talking to your best friend everyday is nearly impossible. But catching up once a week or every other week ensures that you keep in touch.

“We don’t call often but we’ve also never been the type to call all the time. We do update each other or ask each other questions like once a week,” said Daylin.

If you and your best friend are in different states, or even just different schools, there is always something new to talk about, ranging from teachers to mini adventures to relationships.

In trying to keep your bond, it is important to take advantage of every opportunity and never hesitate taking the time to tell your best friend about all the mishaps and exciting things that happened throughout the week.

And although busy schedules and distance may make it difficult to see each other often, try and make room for a visit or two. Perhaps this can be done spontaneously, on a weekend when you both are free or for special occasions such as birthdays.

“It’s not like the distance can get in the way. Last semester, I felt myself missing home a lot, so I took a train to Massachusetts and surprised Daylin,” said Alexandra.

It is also important to understand that while some friendships work out after high school, some simply don’t. It happens. However, it doesn’t hurt to try, especially if your friend holds great significance to you.

“Don’t worry about it. If it’s meant to last, it will. You can’t force something to work, but you should definitely work for it if it’s important to you,” said Daylin.

As the final days of high school approach, remember that with some effort, surprise visits, snap sending, and meme sharing, the bond you share with your best friend doesn’t have to end.

Habits

by Rhobie Toussaint, posted in Articles, Feature

You’re Not Alone: Things Mothers From the Caribbean and South America Tend to Do

It’s seven a.m. on a Saturday morning and you hear a voice complaining about how it is nearly 8:30 and that no one does anything in the house. Chances are that voice is your mother, and she’s either from the Caribbean or South America.

From Haiti to Nicaragua, one can find similarities in cultures, such as the dishes made. Thus, many people with parents from the Caribbean or South America can agree on different habits their mother have. One of them: Cleaning. A lot, maybe even excessively.

“My mom’s always doing chores, and she has to make it known that she’s doing them,” said Jarell Burks, a sophomore at MLEC.

Whether it is early on the weekends, or the middles of the week, many can agree that they spot their mother sweeping or mopping around the house. During this, she may [not so] subtly mention she does the most work in the household. It can get even worse – complaining after taking over the task because you’re not doing it right.

“When my mom tells me to clean, I clean. Mid-cleaning, she says, ‘you’re doing it wrong. Let me do it.’ Not even ten minutes later, I would hear her mutter, ‘I always have to do everything in this house,” said Laudith De Los Santos, a sophomore at MLEC.

Along with the great amount of cleaning, mothers from the Caribbean and South America make food that seems to last forever. A meal which only consists of rice, beans, and chicken can last from three days to an entire week.

“The food lasts for days, even more so on the holidays, added Laudith.

Laudith recalls the year her thanksgiving dinner which included turkey, rice, and potato salad, lasted for an abnormally amount of time. She said that it was New Year’s Day, and there was still Thanksgiving dinner being consumed.

“I wish I was kidding,” said Laudith.

It is as if whenever these mothers are cooking, they think “I wonder how long this food can last.” The answer, it seems, is always pretty long. And even though they tend to overcook, and the food can last a lifetime, some cook another dish before the leftovers are finished.

Mothers that are from South America and the Caribbean also tend to have a problem with time. As in over-exaggerating when they are telling you to hurry up. As in, saying you’re waking up an hour late, when it’s really ten minutes.

Junior Samendie Blanchet remembers the night she asked her mom to wake her up at 8 o’clock the next morning. “She woke me up at 6:30 telling me it was almost 8:00. I rushed for no reason.”

The cultural similarities that contribute to the similarities in habits are something the children of these parents bond over. There are posts on social media platforms, such as Twitter, in which one person posts about their mom cooking as if it was a disease, and somewhere in the comments, there is an “I’m convinced we’re all living the same lives.”

Recently, someone posted a comedic video on Instagram. In it, the male and the chef in the video was “God,” and the food he was making was the quality of Caribbean mothers. The amount of rice put in the pan represented the extent of the quality they have.

For example, the quality “best cooking” was on a sheet of paper was placed in the pan, followed by an abundance of rice being poured into it. However, when “admit when they’re wrong” was on the paper, the chef, or “God” places two grains of rice. He took one of them back.

So, if you have a parent from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Bahamas, Nicaragua, or anywhere else in the Caribbean or South America, and you experience being woken up at 7 a.m. with the sounds of cleaning and “I have to do everything here,” know that you’re not alone.

Someone not too far from you is probably being woken up the exact same way.

Friendships

by Rhobie Toussaint, posted in Articles, Feature

It Takes Two: Signs the Friendship Just Isn’t Working

Genuine friendships are golden. There’s nothing like spending quality time with someone you can share laughs with, someone you can converse with, someone you can connect with. But for some friendships, there comes a time in which the relationship is no longer genuine, no longer cherished, or no longer functioning. There are signs, and it’s important that you notice them.

A friendship can evolve overtime, or it can disintegrate. Sometimes, the one thing keeping the bond intact is the shared class, or mutual friend, and when that goes away, so does everything you have to talk about. Losing what you have in common with someone may be the beginning of the end.  

When it becomes increasingly difficult to hold a conversation that goes beyond “hi” and “how are you?” there’s a possibility that the relationship you have with a friend isn’t working anymore. Two people don’t have to speak to each other everyday to remain friends, but when the conversations you do have never have any depth, red flags are raised.   

“You know it’s over when there’s a struggle to even talk to the person and you don’t feel the same bond,” said Abigaelle Barreauny, a student at MLEC.

Sometimes the ending of a friendship occurs because one party isn’t doing their part. Maintaining a relationship is a two way street, and maintaining said friendship won’t work if one person is carrying it. Both sides are suppose benefit from the friendship, not one.

“If you become the person always reaching out, or inviting them somewhere, you’ll eventually feel like you’re bothering them. If they’re always busy or never have time, but everything else says otherwise, the friendship becomes one sided. Having a one-sided friendship is a lot of work.”  

In friendships, it may come to a point where one person outgrows the other. As you try to change for the better, and mature, it is possible that those around you won’t. The person you once called your friend can become the person inhibiting your growth, and does not result in a good, functioning friendship.  

“When someone grows or changes, they can begin to feel as though they don’t fit in or “click” with some people,” said Mariana Plata, a psychologist and mental health writer.

Friends come and go. It happens for different reasons. The only things we can truly do is enjoy the friendships while it lasts, and learn from the experiences.

Hate Groups

by Rhobie Toussaint, posted in Articles, News

Hate Groups Are On The Rise: But Why?

Originally Published on the Harbinger

 

From the very founding of the United States, there has been racism, prejudice and hate present. Even after laws were put into place to avoid discrimination and give every race and gender equal opportunity, there is one thing still evidently present: hate. As of 2018 there have been 1020 hate groups reported and, though the times have changed, different factors have contributed to the increase of hate groups. 

“There is a 30% jump in hate groups that coincides with [Trump] running for office and winning the presidency… Trump plays on fears of  immigrants to build up his base,” said Heidi Beirich, the director of the Intelligence Report, which is published quarterly by the Southern Poverty Law Center. 

Trump has made many allegations towards immigrants, calling them “rapists, criminals,” and so forth. And as a result, many have become fearful of and hateful towards immigrants, believing that they make no contributions the country, and live a life of fear. 

Just as there are people afraid of immigrants, some hate groups and white supremacists are afraid of the increasing diversity occurring in the U.S. These white supremacists believe that, because they are superior, other races shouldn’t be present and that there is no need for diversity.  

“We are now very close, maybe 20 years away from whites being a minority in the United States. And that change freaks some people out, people who are uncomfortable with cultural change and increased diversity and multiculturalism,” said Beirich. 

The response to this fear is an increasing amount of hate towards minorities, the government, and others. Throughout most of the 50 states, there are different clans, from anti-LGBT groups to neo-confederates to the racist skinheads. And since these groups are acting out of hate and anger, violence is often followed. 

“They want to kill minorities, or Jews, or whatever the case may be because they believe that white people should run this country and they’ve decided that the only way to achieve that is through weapons of war,” added Beirich. 

Another factor contributing to the rise of hate groups is social media. With social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram many of these hate groups now have the means to spread propaganda, recruit members, and organize rallies. Unlike people decades ago, users now have the ability to see all that hate groups have to say with as little as a click or a scroll. 

In Florida, there have been 75 active hate groups reported, the third highest in the United States. Not only is Florida home to a great amount of people—over twenty million—there is also divisiveness in the state, which is especially seen during the election.  

“States like California, Florida, and New York that have large populations are often at the top of the list for hate groups… California and New York, when you look at the number of hate groups per capita is actually much lower than Florida… That reflects partly that Florida, although the southern part of the state is very cosmopolitan and very multicultural, the panhandle and the northern area are more like their cousins in the deep south,” said Beirich.  

Seeing as how many social media platforms that are trying to perfect algorithms which will prevent hate groups from continuing to gain momentum and diversity in the U.S. are also increasing, it is projected that the amount of active hate groups will also continue to rise. The hate that resided in America before the 1960s is still here today, and for the time being, will continue to be evident in clans throughout the country.

 

 

Photo taken by AFP