Our Story

our story is one that our story is one that using media to ex-
is never told is held close to our press exactly how we
heart feeling in a way that
that’s your story in that beats when our only we can
the media not ours heart beats
that bleeds when we telling our story like
that is your story bleed its never been told
that’s depicted in our story is one
movies that can only be ex- the best quality the
pressed in the words best sound the truth
that’s the story you of young teen grow- all the way around
want to see when ing up in a senior and aint nothing you
you look at it society can do to stop it
 YOU LOOK IT UP!!!
Credits
Executive Editors
Matthew Arnett
Cicely McClennon

Layout Design
Myesha Vance
Christian Fernandez

Staff Writers
Tionna Gause
Myesha Vance
Shawanna Taylor
Tashayla Baker
Christian Fernandez
Naquita Patton

Guest Writers
real teens self portraits page 5 Andre Fisher
Tiarika Baymon

Departments
Darren Crowder
Breshay
Brittany Dockery
Kellie Robinson
Digital Media Features John Jackson
Digital Media Rituals 4 Prom Dos and Don’ts 16 Theo Harney
Self Portraits 5 Music Review: 20 Maurisha Smith
What Is Digital Media? 6 Live Your Life Aleshia Smith
Renard Chambers
Digital Media Poem 7 Weather and People 22
Darius Davis
Teira Sanders
Domestic Abuse Words From Cordairo Tolbert
The Youth
Never Take A Smile Artists
For Granted 8 Intro 23 Antoine Lukes
A Goodbye Letter To Mom 10 Monkey Mania 24 Renard Chambers
Poem by Tashayla 11 Stat Tuesdays 25 Theo Harney
What’s Going On In 12 HOTT Blog Topics 28 John Jackson
Art By Theo Tiarika Baymon
The Village?
Child Abuse 14
 Digital Media Rituals
The World and media do
not make me

I am an individual with
my own thoughts and
ideas

Media is what I make it

I am media

- Tionna Gause
I will do my best
The Practice of Rituals and Ceremony
is and Ancient and established way to
Until my best is my best
reaffirm goals and objectives. Observe
an Ancient Libation Ceremony being
performed below.
Media is what makes me
me

Media is all I can be

I will not rest until

my best is my best

- Christian Fernandez

4
 SELF -PORTRAITS

5
 What Is Digital Media?
“This Program is an opportunity for change,
an opportunity to make a difference in your
life and the lives of others. It is like the peb-
ble being dropped in the pond, sending ripples
throughout the very outlying regions of the
pond, all because of one pebble. You are that
pebble. The pond is this world. And “I Can” is
your vehicle.”

In Order to make change we have to change Digital Media to me deals with a lot of tech-
ourselves. Then from there we can help others nology and equipment. It deals with team
with changes they need. A Change isn’t much, work and trust among your co-workers. Digi-
but in order to have change in the program tal Media can be base on fiction or fact, it’s
we have to work as a team and not as an indi- up to what you make it and how you make it.
vidual. If we can do this anything is possible. To be in digital media, you have to have more
We should think positive and not negative. thoughts in your head. So basically it’s all
about how to develop your ideas with others.
- Christian Fernandez
I think we can put a positive
influence on digital media just by showing the
world not fictions but facts. Show the world
the reality of what we have to go through.
What everybody has to go through in their
lives. The way I look at it, we are not only the
future but we are the truth too. So like I said
digital media is what u make it, how positively
you can bring it out.

- Darren Crowder

Every day, I see negative things on the news

or in the paper. I plan on showing the world
through my eyes. I don’t believe that the
world is all bad. There is some good in this
world and I plan on showing it through my
work.

- Tionna Gause 6
I want to affect the world through digital media
by writing positive and inspirational stories for
people to read. I want to become a professional
writer and a role model for those who don’t Digital media
believe that they can achieve their dreams. I
This is a story of my life and how it’s been being a
want to be living proof that no matter what
freshman and now a sophomore.
people say, you can always do whatever it is you
set your mind to. Just as long as you believe in
I’ve went thought a lot I’ve been strong I’ve been
yourself, things are always possible.I want the hurt and I’ve cried.
world to know that Crane High School isn’t all
about bad kids, gangs and violence. I want the I’ve been happy loving life and joyful,
world to know that Crane also helps us achieve
our long life goals and they are positive goals I’ve had my bad days and good, I’ve song my song
that others should try to achieve too. and did what I could,

- Shawanna Taylor I’ve did my thing and shot for a dream,

I still show my light and sing

I get angry and blow up and I’m a calm person

I’ve got into argument and my agreements and I’ve

said something’s I didn’t mean

I’ve seen my share of death and heard my share of

gossip

I’ve heard my share of “oh she’ll get pregnant”

To “you need a man”

I’ve seen it, the blood, sweat and tears and all of
the school pride

I plan to make a change through media by help- I’ve seen, I’ve heard, I came, I’ve gone………….but
ing in producing positive information. There is a I’m still their
lack of positive influences in the media. Someone
needs to take a stand and help show the younger
Waiting till the days I can walk of stage with that
diploma and a college welcome with open arms.
children that there are still some positive people
in the world.
I’m still their waiting for obama on January the 20

Also I want to evolve my writing. I want to take Still their waiting for my turn to truly shine and
it to the next step and share it with the world. waiting…..just waiting for maybe my time to fly
I want to shine a beam of good on all the things though the skies
that seem bad in the world. I want to use digital
media to help motivate optimism and creativity. Tashayla baker

- Myesha Vance 7
 NEVER TAKE A SMILE
FOR GRANTED
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT
THE STRUGGLES THAT THEY
COULD BE GOING THROUGH?
MAYBE WHEN THEY WENT HOME
LAST NIGHT THERE WAS NO
FOOD ON THE DINNER TABLE.
OR MAYBE WHEN THEY OPENED
THE DOOR THERE WAS NO ONE
THERE TO GREET THEM WITH A
HUG OR A HELLO. HAVE YOU EVER
THOUGHT THAT MAYBE, JUST
MAYBE, THEY REALLY WANT TO
By Myesha Vance
BE A SOCIAL PERSON BUT THEY
COULDN’T BECAUSE OF A FAMILY
HAVE YOU EVER PASSED SOME-
SETBACK. WHAT IF THAT WERE
ONE IN THE STREET AND THEY
YOU? WHAT IF YOU HAD NO ONE
SMILED AT YOU BUT YOU DIDN’T
SMILE BACK? DID
YOU EVER WONDER
HOW MUCH IT TOOK
FOR THAT PERSON
TO PUT A SMILE
ON THEIR FACE?
HAVE YOU EVER
BEEN OUT WITH
YOUR FRIENDS AND
ONE OF THEM WAS
LAUGHING BUT
THEIR EYES WEREN’T
SMILING?

HAVE YOU EVER

WONDER HOW
HARD IT MIGHT BE
TO LIVE ANOTHER
PERSON’S LIFE?
AT HOME TO LOVE YOU? WHAT
IF YOU HAD TO GO TO BED HUN-
GRY AT NIGHT BECAUSE THERE
IS NO FOOD IN YOUR HOUSE?
TODAY WE LIVE IN A VERY
CRUEL AND NON-UNDERSTAND-
ING SOCIETY THAT CASTS OUT
EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY
THAT THEY DON’T UNDER-
STAND. JUST BECAUSE SOME-
ONE REFUSES TO SURRENDER
TO THE BELIEFS OF THE REST
OF THE WORLD THEY HAVE TO
BE TREATED LIKE THEY ARE BE-
NEATH THE REST OF THE WORLD
AND THAT THEY DON’T DESERVE
TO HAVE THE RIGHTS THAT EV-
ERYBODY ELSE HAS. FOR IN-
STANCE, THE WHOLE GAY RIGHTS
THING. HOW DARE PEOPLE SAY
THAT BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS
A DIFFERENT SEXUAL PREFER-
ENCE THEY ARE DENIED THE
RIGHT TO LEGALIZE THEIR LOVE.
SEXUALITY DOESN’T AS-
SIST PEOPLE IN LOVING,
EMOTIONS DO. PEOPLE
FEEL THAT THEY HAVE
THE RIGHT TO MAKE TOO
MANY DECISIONS THAT
AFFECT MORE THAN JUST
THEM.
IN THE FUTURE. THEY MAY BE
IMPOVERISHED NOW BUT THEY
MIGHT BE YOUR BOSS IN THE FU-
TURE. IT IS SO EASY FOR US TO
POINT OUT THE FAULTS OF SOME-
ONE ELSE BUT WE CAN NEVER
SEEM TO FIND WHAT’S WRONG
WITH US.
YEAH THEY MIGHT BE DIRTY
TODAY BUT THEY WERE CLEAN
YESTERDAY AND YOU NEVER
NOTICED. OR THEY DIDN’T DO
THEIR HAIR TODAY BUT YOU
DIDN’T DO YOUR ALL WEEK AND
YOU NEVER CONSIDERED IT A
PROBLEM. WHEN WE CAN SIT AND
MAGNIFY EVERY FAULT, EVERY
MISTAKE, EVERY ERROR, AND EV-
ERY MISFORTUNE IN OUR OWN
LIVES AND TAKE FULL CREDIT
FOR THEM, THEN AND ONLY THEN
CAN WE EVEN FATHOM THE IDEA
OF SPEAKING ABOUT SOMEONE
ELSE.

I DON’T UNDERSTAND
WHY WE AS A PEOPLE
FEEL THAT WE HAVE THE
RIGHT TO MAKE PEOPLE
FEEL LIKE THEY ARE LESS
THAN HUMANS. YOU
NEVER KNOW WHO THAT
PERSON YOU ARE TALK-
ING ABOUT WILL BECOME
 A GOODBYE LETTER TO MOM..
By Naquita Patton
abused and no one
seems to notice
anything.

Can you get me

out of this place I
no longer want to
be here. it’s un-
safe here. My little
sister don’t know
whats going on all
she knows is that
her big sister is
crying and not tell-
ing her why.

Bleeding on the inside, What if I just take

crying on the outside. my little sister and leave and
never come back?
words, punches, and scars.
But where will we go? I need
Many people ask what’s the mat- help but theres no one out there
ter and where did the bruises who can hear my cries.
come from?
I look in the mirror and I don’t
I lie so I won’t get hit just for see the little girl I once seen be-
telling. Different men come in fore.
and out the house at different
times of the night. All I see is a child who’s been
taken advantage of. Someone
What if I told her what happened who has no idea.
while she was asleep will she be- I ask myself why did this have to
lieve me? Or will she take up for happen to me.
him like I’m never able to have friends,
always? not able to play.
So many nights I cry, I’m hun-
gry. I’m a child whose been I got to listen to mama and her
new boyfriend.

I wonder do they even care

how much that they’re
hurting me and my little
sister.

I guess when they are

asleep, I will take my lit-
tle sister and we will just
leave.

Its not safe at all here for

me or my little sister.

I’m tired of the bruises, the

foul names.

I’m done.
So mommie here’s a letter
for you,

Dear mom, I know this will

be kind of hard for you to
take. But i’m tired of the
bruises and the foul name
callings. Why do we cry when love hurts us or
when others die
I’m also tired of the many nights
without food. So I decided to
take my sister and leave. We Why do we cry?
don’t have a destination yet, but
I’m pretty sure there’s a When both of them hurt so much you
family out there who doesn’t cant tell the other from the other
mind taking me and my sister in.
They won’t mind treating us like
Why do we cry when were lost and
the princesses that we are sup-
seem to never be found why do we even
posed to be treated like. So I’m
gonna end this letter with I love think that we can’t cry
you and I will truly miss you.

Love, Nicole TASHAYLA BAKER

11
Whats Going on in the Village?
By Myesha Vance

We always hear about chil-

dren being taken from their
parents on allegations of
sexual abuse. It leaves me
with the question: What’s
going on with their parents?
If the golden rule is that it
takes a village to raise a
child, what village are you
living in that it is o.k.
for an adult or any older
person to step outside of
their boundaries and touch
any
child in an inap-
propriate way? I
hope I don’t raise
my future chil-
dren in that vil-
lage.

You are al-

ways taught
that there is no
place like home,
but what hap-
pens when home
is the place that
you dread the
most?

For so many
children that’s
the case. Accord-
ing to Estey &
Bomberger, a law
firm in San Di-
ego “77% of child molesters of
12
boys and 87% of child molest-
ers of girls admitted imitat-
ing the sexual behavior they
had seen in pornography they
had watched. Roughly 33% of
girls and 14% of boys are mo-
lested before the age of 18,
according to the U.S. Justice
Department. Nearly 2/3 of all
sexual assaults reported in-
volved minors and roughly 1/3
involved children under the
age of 12. In most cases, how-
ever, child molestation goes
unreported. Estimates are
that only 35% of sexual abuse
is reported. Kids can be
frightened or embarrassed
and many times do not say
anything.”
This is ridiculous and
its time that this is magni-
fied. We as Americans have
the tendencies to stay quiet
about things that make us
uncomfortable. The longer
we keep quiet and live our
lives with eyes wide shut, the Would you want that to be on
more it’s going to happen.
I pose to you the ques-
tion ‘What if that was your
family member that was be-
ing abused?’ Wouldn’t you
want something to be done
about it? So many times we
complain about wanting to
see things improve, but the
key to that is becoming the
change that we want to see.
So if we want to see less chil-
dren being abused, we can
start by speaking when we
feel the slightest suspicion.
Like scar tissue, the ef-
fects of sexual abuse never
go away. The road to recov-
ery is one paved with humili-
ation. People often say “get
over it” but it’s not that
easy. The abused child can
grow up facing problems with
their sexuality, friends,
family, they may even have
trust issues. This is not
something you can sleep off
or take a magic pill for. They
are scarred for ever. I mean
wouldn’t you be if your trust
was violated at such a young
age?
your conscience? Every time
you don’t speak when you are
aware of a child being abused,
you are just as guilty as the
actual abuser. As a matter
of fact, you should be charged
as an accomplice.
Like I previously stated,
it takes a village to raise a
child. So tell me;
What village do you live in?
ARE YOU AN ABUSER OR
ARE YOU GOING TO HELP
HEAL THE ABUSED?
 CHILD ABUSE
1 CHILD + 1 ABUSER +1 ANTI-ABUSER = A BETTER LIFE

By Shawanna Taylor

Child abuse plays a huge role in the

lives of young children who are in foster
care. Some may wonder exactly what child
abuse is. Well, child abuse is doing some-
thing or failing to do something that results
in harm to a child or puts a child at risk of
harm. Child abuse can be physical, mental
or emotional. Neglect, or not providing for
a child’s needs, is also a form of abuse. In
short terms, abuse is a condition in which a
child’s basic needs are not met regardless of
the cause.
Some parents are just too young and dumb
to take up for their responsibilities and its
sad that one of those responsibilities include
young children. When a child is brought into
this world, they can’t ask for the best parents
in the world and they really don’t ask to be
brought into this world from the beginning.
Every now and again people see a sign of
child abuse yet they say nothing. Teens see
and know of a friend being physically, men-
tally, and sometimes emotionally abused.
Signs of a child being physically abused
will be if you start to see bite marks all over
their body. If you see that they have been
burned or they come around you and have
fractured bones and unusual bruises on
them. It’s now that you should have the feel-
ing that you need to tell somebody with the
authority to do something about it to protect
the child. Normally when you have a feeling
that a child is being abused in any sort of way
usually, your feeling is correct. Do you think
they tell someone?
On the other hand, when a child is born into
a married family it begins off nice and sweet.
Then when the parents just so happen to get
a divorce, the mental abuse just might kick
in. It’s not always that way but it’s possible.
The divorce of the parents is a prime example
of a child being mentally abused because the
parents are no longer together. Like for in-
stance, say the child is caught in between the
mother and father after a divorce. Both par-
ents might want total custody of the child and
then the child will be stuck in the middle of a
war, going back and forth, to and from court.
The parents can also talk down about the
other parent to the child, regardless if they
know that it’s right or not and at times they
might not even notice that it’s hurting the
child at the time they are doing it. They might
think that they are just talking to the child to
inform them of something that the other par-
ent does that the child might not know but at
times the child can take that in many differ-
ent ways and you never know which way they
will take it.
Mental abuse and emotional abuse kind
of tie in together and become one but they
are two different things. When it comes to
emotional abuse, it involves words, actions,
and indifference. Abusers constantly reject,
ignore, dominate, and criticize the victims.
This form of abuse may occur with or with-
out physical abuse, but they can overlap at
times.
Most people pass by the fact that some-
one that they know is being abused but they
feel and believe that its OK and that if they
confront the person that everything will be
alright, that the person will see they’re wrong they are continuing to live it - bring another
and just stop, but the fact of the matter is its life into this world just to hurt it and make
not going to be alright and they won’t stop.
If you see that someone is neglecting a child, their life?
you let it be known, you don’t just bypass it
like it’s something that happens in everyday
life or like it will just blow over and think
everything will be alright. Once you do that,
you are giving the parent the ability to con-
tinue on with what they are doing and not
really care and or know what they are doing.
The fact of the matter is that if there are no
consequences for them they will keep abus-
ing and neglecting their responsibility, which
is that child. If a child is the witness of child
abuse, there is a chance that they are afraid
to tell someone because they just might be-
lieve that the same will happen to them.
When an adult bypasses something like
that, it’s a shame. It’s a shame because
they’re adults. Shouldn’t they know better?
Yes, they really should know better because
they wouldn’t want to have been treated that
way as a child so why would they let that hap-
pen to a child
that they know
personally.
I feel that if
you are abus-
ing a child and
neglecting what
you yourself
brought into this
world then you
have a screw
loose or a men-
tal problem and
need serious
help. Honestly,
why would a
person who must
like their life -
seeing as though
them not feel that they have a reason to live
So when it comes to child abuse, learn to
speak up, not for you but the child. It takes
one person to abuse a child, one child to be a
victim of child abuse and one person to take
a stand and report that they have been a eye
Prom Dos and Don’ts
Hair Style Dos
These hair styles are simple, but are
perfect for a classy night like prom.

16
 Hair Style Don’ts
I don’t know what these people were
thinking when they let some one play
in their heads.

This would be okay if we were

back in the day, but we’re not.
This is a big ugh, NO!!! DO
NOT DO THIS!!!!!!!!!! Below: If you
were going for
a cake design

Above: Just
don’t even
think about
Below: This wouldn’t
even work at a bas- it. Just say
ketball game why try no, it’s not
prom? worth the
humility. #1
DON’T!!

Above: Be true to your-

self in others eyes, peo-
ple will actually have to
look at this.
BE RESPECTFUL.
 To the right: Its a
nice fitted dress.
Its just georgous.
This is a DO.

Now this is a
DO!

Above: Not too

much not too
little. This will
always be a
DO.

Above: This dress is hot if you DON’T do the oppo-

can’t do better get close to this. site of what you see
19 here. This is a DO.
LIVE YOUR LIFE Amazing they ungrateful after all the game I
gave away.
Safe to say I paved the way, for you cats to
By Andre Fisher
get paid today.
You still be wasting
Lyrics by the living
days away now had I
King T.I. “The hoo-
never saved the day”
tin’ and the holler-
This is another well
in’, back and forth
known bar in this song
with the arguing.
about living your life. I
Where you from,
see that this tells you
who you know, what
that its not always
you make and what
bad to have a hater. I
kind of car you in.”
say he means that its
This quote means
a good thing to have
that people are al-
a hater because they
ways worried about
let you know that they
how other people
are watching you.
are doing. People in
Also ignore them un-
general need to wor-
til the can’t hate no
ry about their own
more or their is no
lives, and where it
reason to hate you.
would lead them in
This is also an act of
the future. The fu-
T.I saying he made a
ture is not about
bad choice that he did
where you’re from,
but still wants people
positively speak-
to see how he made it through a rough situa-
ing, the phrase “where you from,” to other
tion. Now he says that the people that didn’t
people is how you adapt to an environment,
listen to how you can change their life due to
how you adapt to or what your value is to the
the situation he had are very ungrateful.
enrollment to that neighborhood. The second
quote “what you make” is about the way peo-
“Some move away to make a way not move
ple would want to know how much you make
away cause they afraid
to see if they need to rob you or cause you
I brought back to the hood and all you ever
bodily harm. The phrase “who you know”
did was take away”
is about the way a person wants to know if
T.I meant that even if he moved away it
you know a top rank person. Mainly its other
doesn’t mean that he forgot where he came
people worried about material things. Lots of
from. This means that majority of the people
people think it is so good to laugh or bring
shouldn’t forget where they come from. This
down another person when that person is in a
is why he said “I brought back to the hood
time of need. That is not the positive way to
and all you ever did was take away” because
settle thing, this is what The King, aka T.I was
lots of people got famous then got away from
saying in them bars.
their hood but too big headed with not giving
back.
“Never mind what haters say, ignore them
‘til they fade away.
Live Your Life
 PA U S E ! !
A FEW OF
TO D AY ’ S . . .
HOTTEST!!!!
 WEATHER around.

AND PEOPLE I live in Chicago, the

“Windy City,” and I’ve
seen it all. You never on
By Tionna Gause what to expect out of the
weather and I can say the
same about the people.
Why is it that every On a bright and sunny
time there is bad weather, day you can speak to com-
people have bad attitudes? plete strangers and they
Does the weather have will speak back, but on a
any thing to do with the rainy and or windy day
way people act? When it’s you would probably catch
dark and gloomy outside a dirty look or some bad
most people are lazy and words if you’re just trying
depressed. Rainy weather to be polite.
can lead
to depres- Even
sion. A though
windy some peo-
day can ple might
lead to think they
tiredness have a
and irri- good rea-
tability. son for
A hot and being im-
humid polite be-
day can cause of
lead to bad weath-
easy an- er or just
noyance, because
sleepless- they’re
ness, de- having a
crease in bad day,
every day that doesn’t mean that it’s
activity, and lethargy. A right to be impolite. You
sunny day fills you would never know who you will
energy and makes you feel run into on any given day.
good all day. So even if you’re having
a bad day, always look to-
Its amazing how wards something positive
one day the weather is and smile. Try not to get
good and a person is nice so upset over little things.
and the next day comes Try to act like you do on
around with terrible any other day. Always
weather and that same smile because one can
person who was all nice brighten up your or some
turns into the worst per- one else’s day.
son in the world to be
 Words From the Minds
and Hearts of Our Youth
Our Youth are marginalized, so often lumped into categories and steriotypes. Rarely
are we priviledged to get a glimpse into their minds, into the essence of how they
understand the world. Here is a small insight into their world, read on...

The Book of Wisdom

STOP!! lOOK!! THINK!!THEN FEEL!!
The word of caring/love is like a book written by a narrator with strong words. The book is al-
ways passed to another person, this is what you call a “none reader.” A reader feels the vibe in
that book, encourages someone to read that book but keeps that book close to their heart. The word
love/care is always mistaken for an act of play. Until they read that book twice or more than
once, then only they will see they really made a mistake that can’t be changed. This book is like a
house, it gives you warmth and comfort untill you misuse it then you end up homeless. I was that
book. The first time I read it, I said, “Whatever love/care is nothing to me.” Couple years ago, I
looked to read that book when I felt it could help me and now that book is long gone. The point
is you never know when you’ll need that book. Sometimes it will be too late to read it. This book is
now changed from wisdom to a strong word.
KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN READ THIS BOOK MORE THAN ONCE
SO THAT YOU DONT MISS A GOOD STORY.

- Dre

Believe Half of What You See and None of What You Hear
Always remember that you are an individual with your own brain because you are to think for
your self. A wise person once to ld me that if something doesnt make sense then maybe you dont
get it or it just doesnt make sense. In other words never are you to conform your mind set to that of
this corrupt society. You were born alone so be an alone thinker. The only thing that sets you apart
from the human race is the way your mind interprets thought and if you were to give that up then
you are giving up your inalienable right to be a free thinker. Never let anyone put a price tag on
your mind...........................its yours and it shouldnt be up for grabs.

- Myesha

23
 Monkey Mania
Everyone is questioning
whether or not that this car-
toon is racist. I wouldn’t use
the term racist but I will con-
sider it a tasteless in-
nuendo. Yet again, the
media has come up
with a satirical way to
take away what little
respect we have. Racism
isn’t really the major
issue in the article. I’m
stuck on the fact that
they used a monkey! I
guess that they are firm
believers in the Darwin
theory.............L.O.L!!!
- Myesha
Are they serious? Is this what
they think of our President?
Why does he have to be a
monkey and why does he
have to be shot dead? Why is
there always a negative com-
ment used as a joke towards
an African American, even if
they’re trying to do some-
thing good. People like that
cartoonist shouldn't be able
to express their opinion be-
cause they bring other peo-
ples’ hopes and dreams down.
President Obama is just about
the only hope this jacked-up
country has left. We’ll see
Negative, subhuman how their opinions change
portrayals of Black when he fixes this economy.
People are nothing new, as
we see above and below - Tionna
I think that that those
cartoonists are wrong,
even thought people
might say that they are
not wrong because they
made fun of GEORGE
BUSH, they didnt draw
him as a monkey and
have him getting shot
as an animal used for
racism no they didnt.
- Tashayla
24
 Stat Tuesdays
Teens give their analysis of commonly discussed
statstics and the messages they send.

Statistic #1: I don't believe that there are more black men in jail than in col-
lege. I believe that in the 21st century, there are more black
1/3 of Black Men are trying to do better for themselves. I think that more peo-
in jail. There are ple are taking advantage of an education. I think that blacks
more Black Men in are trying to prove a point by owning their own businesses.
jail than in college. I also went on www.ask.com and looked it up and found out
that there are not more black men in jail than in college. I
Fact: think people make up statistics to scare people. When I hear
Out of almost 20 mil- things like this, it makes me want to do better so that the 1
lion Black Men in out of 3 would not be me.
America, over 800,000
- Tiarika
(about 1/24 or 4%)
are incarcerated. First off, I think most black men are in jail for selling drugs or
just doing nothing with their lives. I think it is true that a small
Fact: minority are going to college and they also have an idea of
what they want to do in life. And as far as people making
In 2003, according
comments, talking about how they make that choice to go
to Justice Depart-
to jail, I don’t think that’s true in most real cases because I
ment figures, 193,000 don’t think anyone makes the choice to go to jail. I think they
black college-age just do the crime then do the time. Because truthfully I don’t
men were in prison. think that the black men want to go to jail. I think they just
While 532,000 black expect to do things then get away with it but they have an-
college-age men were other thing coming. This is why I think the rest of the men
attending college. who are left are going to college and straightening their lives
up.
Let’s see what the Thank you for listening
teens have to say...
- Breshey
Statistic 1 Continued
Young black are in jail more 50% of Young Black
Women have STDs
than college because it is
hard for black to do this.
Many black can’t get the
job they want or go to the
school they want to go to. So
many black people are on the
street or they are in the big
house.
- John
Black
men aren’t the only
men that go to jail. I believe
that black men are smart
people, if we put our minds
to anything we can accom-
plish it, like Barack. But we’re
are not alone in this place we
call Earth, some people need
help and if every race works
together we can make this
world great.
- Renard
Black celebrities being
potrayed as criminals
is nothing new, as we
see with Jimi Hendrix
below. |
V with STDs seems nor-
Statistic #2: mal since apparent-
ly, almost everyone
will get HPV at some
point in their lives.
Fact: The Center
Looking for a virus
For Disease Control
on a person’s private
has found that 47%
parts is like looking
of Black Teen Girls
for a virus in some-
have STDs. However,
one’s mouth. You will
most common STDs af-
usually find something
fect about 1% or less
but usually it will
of Black Women. The
be a common as a vi-
most common STDs in
rus that causes the
for all people is the
common cold. This re-
Human Papillomavirus
cent scare about HPV
[HPV]. It’s estimated
seems lika scare tac-
that at least 80% of
tic to market the new
women will have con-
HPV vaccine, which
tracted a genital HPV
is known to have side
infection by the age
effects like faint-
of 50 and the body
ing and dizziness.
will usually cure it-
Think about it, if it
self naturally with-
was really danger-
in 2 years.
ous, then humanity
would be in serious
Conclusion:
troubled with 80% of
If this is the case,
women likely to catch
then the statistic
it. But you don’t hear
of 50% of black women
about women dropping
like flies from cer-
vical cancer. WOMEN
DON”T BE FOOLED, THIS
IS A HOAX!!!
Statistic 2 Continued To begin with I don’t think all do what they are supposed
Let’s see what the statistics that people come to do to keep themselves
teens have to say... up with are all true because safe from any sexually
we personally weren’t there transmitted diseases and
I believe that the case is when the people that made they are doing what’s right.
those who have a disease the statistics did their so
should have help with their call tests. If we weren’t - Breshey
problem. People should not there, then we can’t speak I feel that all the things the
judge people. If someone for what other people are media says are lies. I feel
has an std, they should be saying because that would like they are trying to make
treated the same no matter be like spreading rumors. black kids look bad and nas-
what the case may be. But I do believe that a big tier than others. Me myself,
personally I think that
- Kellie the numbers are made
up. Can’t no one base me
I think that on another girl because
stereotype everyone is different
that there are and we all have differ-
more black ent backgrounds. I don't
people with believe what they say
AIDS than any because they didn't test
other race is me and I don't know if
not true. All they even tested any-
people do is one else.
bring black
people down. - Tiarika

- Brittany The people who feel

I believe that
everything
that was said
about blacks
isn't true. If they would have
tested more people from a
large place, they will see it
isn't true. They will find out
that there aren't as many
blacks that have AIDs as
they say when they test the
small place.
- John
27
majority of black females
have an std. And I’m not just
saying this because I hear
other people saying this,
I’m saying it because I think
certain people are not do-
ing what they are supposed
to do. Because if they were
then most females wouldn’t
have the std's they have
now. On the other hand,
there are the females that
that 1 in every 4 females
has a std is wrong be-
cause I can count 2000
girls that they didn’t
test. People shouldn’t
judge a book by its cover
and everyone should just
use condoms, both female
and male condoms because
most diseases are not cure-
able and if they are cureable
you will have to take like 30
pills a day and who wants to
live their life like that day af-
ter day...so a boy just needs
to cover up and a girl needs
to cover up just as well.
- Darius
HOTT Blog Topics
From wordsoundlife.ning.com
Violence. And according to recent news reports seems to affect our
youth more than ever. From relationship abuse and domestic
violence to outright gun violence --- Teens write out how they feel
about these occurences and reports.
T
HOT How do you feel about the toll gun vio-
C
TOPI
#1 lence has taken? What are you willing to
do to help quell the violence?
Myesha
The current death rate What can i do? Nothing.
doesnt evoke a feeling I am just a tiny piece of the
it stirs my emotions. fabric that is woven into
All that are humane life. My input will stop noth-
should be sickened by ing. Think of all the times
the thought of some- you have heard that violnce
one taking the life of is not the answer. That has
another, because of the done nothing, and i was
simple fact that it is our taught that repitition was
destiny is to die any- the best teacher. Until we
way, who is man to say reconize that we are puppets
that we should speed in this stage play nothing
that up? The death rate we do will ever matter and
is more of a philosophy nothing we do can change
to me. True, no human what is going on around us.
should have the right to I could preach to people un-
say til i am blue in the face about
Another should live or ho violence is inhumane but
die but everything hap- what will that do but make me
pens for a myriad of reasons. What isnt meant tired? We have to stand up and be responsible for
won’t happen, therefore, it was time for all of them ourselves and instill in ourselves a level of dignity
to go. I take it as a reminder that all can die and and pride that reminds us that that person walking
all will die. Not a fear because nothing besides past us bleeds red blood just like us so who are we
what is written will happen and nothing can hap- to say that wedeserve life and they dont?
pen without it being written. Therefore the death
rate makes me feel like a human that recognizes a Who really dies when someone is killed the
higher power. murderer or the victim?
 T
HOT
C
TOPI
#1
Every day people are coming and peo-
ple are going, but there are more going
than coming. Me as a person feel that it’s
crazy that every time you look up or look
at the news, there is someone that is dy-
ing. We have the highest rate of deaths.
Some are by accident, some are on pur-
pose. People are dying for what? I ask,
for what ?
Is It because someone is better than an-
other person? Is it because people have
nothing else to do? The truth is no one WHAT CAN I DO? Truth be told, I can’t do a damn
really knows. We are worse than wild animals kill- thing. I can't bring back the dead, I don’t have a
ing each other to survive, but is this what the world power that can make people live forever. I honestly
really needs? No one deserve to die, but is that like death, it's a release from the pains and sorrow
what others think? that we deal with every day, it is the only way to
have true peace.....unless you go to hell then you
just jagged hard I’m sorry. Death is a gift that we
What can I do? I’m not superman nor am I a hero, all should look forward to ....sikke!!!!! It really is
But you don’t have to be a hero or superman to
the only way to have eternal peace in life, well not
change a nation. I think I could get an opinion
life but you understand you know that. I also wish
of others to see what they think as a person and
that we didn’t have to die at the same time also I
find out not what we can do as individuals, but as
wish that we could go somewhere after we die that
a whole. We should really get every one to under-
wouldn’t separate us from the ones we truly love
To be perfectly serious ,there reason to be crying and care for, but the simple fact is that we can't.
and screaming that my baby gone he was taken
from me before his time, and he had so much - Theo
to live for. To be frank, I’m sick of hearing that
crap. Look, it ain’t no one's fault that yo baby
dead that he gone and screaming and crying
ain’t really gone help it none. I don't really care
for 2 reasons, one because I know no one I care
for or about is dead, and 2 because death is a
natural thing , it’s meant to happen, you can’t
stop or escape it. As much as I would like the
people i care about to live forever, I know that I
can’t stop death, I would have loved to have my
girlfriend who died in my arms to still be here
but the fact she is gone and......never coming
back.
 HOT
T Relationship Abuse. Domestic Violence.
C
TOPI Chris Brown v. State of California
#2
I feel that it was very wrong for Chris
Brown to put his hands on a woman
and I feel he is old enough and no mat-
ter what happened I feel that he should
have not have done it. He knows better
and he knows right from wrong. I feel it
was very bogus for him to do what he did
if he did it to Rihanna. I feel that Chris
Brown is very wrong for what he has
done and I feel that some people look
up to Chris Brown and that is a bogus
way to show kids and other people how
to be. So the people that call him their
role model they’re thinking man well I
should put my hands someone. I don't
care if he did go through someone beat-
ing his mom, that does not mean that u
have to go through the same thing. U
can set a better example for the men,
women and kids and I feel that he was
bold but that's my opinion.

- Teira
Domestic violence is always wrong but
just like everything else, it can be justi-
fied. A man is stronger than a woman true
enough but they can be very pushy. Some-
times women take the whole domestic thing
to the head. Just because they know that
the male will go to jail, they feel that they
can do whatever they want to the man and
get away with it. That is wrong in itself. In
the event that something is life threatening,
violence might not be the intended but we
are only human and the animal in us is go-
ing to get violent.

- Myesha

30
I really don’t too much care about men
beating on women because if a woman
can hit a man, she should get hit back.
So in my opinion if a woman don’t want
to get hit... She shouldn’t hit a man

- Darius

I think abuse is not a big deal. When I

play with boys I make sure it’s a limit
but I won’t say I’m against it because I
get hit by boys all the time.

- Aleshia

I think it was all misunderstood. Since

I don't know anything about what happened.
But I did listen to what everybody said. I think
that most of the things that people were saying
were rumors and they were made up.
- Tiarika
I believe that domestic violence is a huge prob-
lem because a lot of people are going to jail for it,
both men and women. Chris Brown should have
never hit on Rihanna, regardless of if she gave
him something or not. It does seem like a good
reason to do it but now he might have messed
up his career and have a record of violence just
because of a female. I had a friend that was go-
ing thru that and she had to get beat up while she
was pregnant before she tried to get out of it. I feel
that the men shouldn’t be put in jail just because
they hit a women because of the simple fact that
women hit men all the time and have no regret
and they don’t get put in jail as quick for it. When
a man reports domestic violence everybody just
say that they a punk or something but when it’s a
girl all of a sudden it’s a life threatening big deal.
If I hit a boy, I expect to get hit back and I won’t
report something that small unless he just trying
to literally kill me or something like that.
I am a big fan of Chris Brown. So what I heard
Sunday on tv and the radio made me disappointed.
I don’t see him doing something like that, the girl
must have did something to him in order for him
to put his hands on her. No one knows the truth
but them and if he really did put his hands on her,
his career is over. Ever since I found out what he
supposedly had done, it made me think twice about
him. I know I’m his biggest fan but you don’t put
your hands on no woman. I would really love to
hear the truth about what happened cause it's so
many rumors going around, that's crazy, off the
subject.
It could be the other way around and Rihanna hit
him or said something out of pocket. That's what I
heard, she was supposedly had said something dis-
respectful to him that he didn’t like and he reacted
like any other young man. That's still besides the
point, he was supposed to handle that situation bet-
ter than that.
- Maurisha

- Shawanna