In the movie The Hate U Give, the impact of that violence and resistance up close. Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) is a Black 16-year-old whose two worlds collide after she witnesses a White police officer kill her friend, Khalil (Algee Smith). Adapted from Angie Thomas’s best-selling book the hate u give, the motion picture follows Carter as she evolves from a girl navigating the Black world of her neighborhood and the White world of her private school into an activist who is forced to find and use her voice to pursue justice for her people against the discriminative municipal police.

Who do you belong to 

    By definition social class is defined as "a division of a society based on society and economic status". More naturally social class could be viewed as "people from different backgrounds" or "walks of life". There are multiple class systems but sometimes people don't want to admit that they belong to one. In western civilization, these class systems would be categorized as upper class, middle class, working-class, and lower class. These classes also can be subdivided into smaller classes. 

It was said in the first visual that "America is a nation of tribes". 

These tribes can be defined by what people do in their lives. For example, the “working class” or “working poor” is filled with the decently paid but physically strained workers such as carpenters, plumbers, mechanics, and electricians. Whether it is looks, popularity, money, jobs, opportunity, or even just who a person is. These things could link a person’s social identity to a tribe (or social class).  The social identity that a person creates, or is given, starts in adolescents with the way parents, from different walks of life, approach parenting. More specifically how they educate and discipline their children. For example, upper-class children with upper-class values have more aggressive funding in their local schools. Giving children a greater chance of becoming upper-class citizens. As for lower-class children with lower-class values and minimal funding in schools, they wouldn't normally become upper-class citizens without special circumstances or in some way acquiring upper-class values. 

As we move through life we separate ourselves from people who don't fit in our group or social class. In most cases, this separation comes with the accumulation of money or the generational passing of money. Each social class differs from each other with their own sets of challenges. Some challenges worst than others depending on the class. More importantly, each social class could have differentiating variables that divide the class into sub-divisions. For example in the video “People like us episode #7” it was explained that wealth separates people. 

Specifically the separation between old money and new money. Old money is money that has been passed down from generation to generation making it more of a “dynastic wealth”. New money would be considered “first-generation wealth” and has a higher chance of being spent instead of saved. But some would also say that “old money is about behavior vs. actual wealth”. Unlike the people with new money, those with old money don’t normally buy flashy things. Nor do they socialize or associate themselves with people in lower classes. 

To highlight their associations let's take a look at how The Hamptons, NY consists of four places of residence. The West, South, and East Hamptons are considered the upper echelon. Full of aristocratic excellence and long lineages of old money families. But the Hampton Bays aren’t recognized by the others because of how much money and the type of money they have. This leads us to the notion that “money leads to social advancement”. But for most that isn’t exactly the fact of the matter. Even though the video “People like us episode #3”

shows that with money, a person could easily imitate the upper-class, “People like us episode #7” shows that “money doesn’t necessarily pay your way to the upper reaches of society”. So even if you make enough money to reach a higher place in social stratification, acceptance would still be out of arms reach. Especially compared to those with predetermined or prescribed social status.

To most lower-class people, this predetermined level of social status would be viewed as “being privileged”. All children in America are born with equal legal rights. But when it comes to social class they aren’t equal at all. In western civilization, this equality is based on the many different types of privilege. There is a privilege given to people, that could be based on their geographical, national, religious, and racial backgrounds. But the one thing that these privileges all have in common (in most cases) is that they are assigned at birth. For example, a child born into an upper-class family and taught upper-class values (in normal circumstances) is given prestige as well as wealth. This meritocracy puts the child five to ten steps ahead of other children. Ultimately giving them immediate access to better schools, healthcare, and job opportunities making their vertical mobility a fluent process absent of life’s struggles.  But even though the advantage is there it’s always a chance that a lower class individual may brake the ranks of the upper class giving that they work hard and never give up on their dream. Chances are Slim, but there none the less.

Duty Calls

For many years Call of Duty has been a top-ranking game across multiple gaming platforms. Throughout its evolution, it has reached so many people in so many different ways, with its stories, content, and multiple styles of play.

NCAA opposes proposed bill to pay California's student athletes

California state senate bill will allow the NCAA athletes to receive paid endorsements.

  California state Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a measure that allows players to receive endorsement deals. Though the The University of California, Stanford, usc, and California state university all Oppose the bill. In fear of losing a fair and level playing field close to half a million student athletes on about 1,100 campuses.  The NCAA claims that “it would be clear that a patchwork of different laws from different states would make fairness unattainable. 

 Unfortunately, along with the possible payment of players there is a belief that this bill would only favor the big schools like Stanford and USC. Cork Gaines writer from the Business Insider says “What you will get is a situation where the NCAA would be sanctioning yet another competitive advantage for the big schools and it would mark the end of upstart programs like Boise State.” This also means that the division 2 and division 3 athletes in California will also be pursuing endorsement deals. Making college sports more of a job than a way to further education. With his experience as a division 1 and 2  strength and conditioning coach Dr. Terrell Dorsey tells me that “there would be an uneasiness between players and coaches because of a potential pay difference.” And “also an uneasiness between teammates because of rank or potential growth.” It is possible that this is an underlying thought of the NCAA. Although there is some common knowledge of the NCAA capitalizing on the labor and efforts of student athletes. 

Edajh Fawkes, a guard on the Lane college Men’s Basketball team believes it would be a great idea. He believes players will be more motivated to get better given that the lime light comes with more advantages than the average athlete. In the interview with Mr. Fawkes, he claims that this bill “puts the power of the sport back in the players hands.” 

For most student athletes, living is hard. With completely booked class schedules, workouts and practices during the day, and also finding time to eat, a student athlete really has no time to work. Some schools have a budget set aside for student athletes, giving them a monthly stipend to use for school expenses. But if the institute or athletic program is underfunded then the athletes ultimately will suffer. Allowing the endorsement of student athletes nationwide is something that the people can not afford to let become a fable.

Impeach The Angry Orange

For most people when growing up their parents take the reins of the direction of their life. Trust and confidence is the key factor in this situation. But what if your parents pulled the reins left and put you in a bad predicament that you can't get out of?  Now switch the role of parent with President of the United States and the role of the child with the U.S. Citizens. This is the cringy truth that we are faced with. Our current president may be digging a hole for the people that he serves. Of all the various job choices and career paths to pursue, one of the most demanding is that of an elected official. Throughout the United States, there are well more than a few positions that are responsible for the welfare of the country.

From city to state, state to region, and region to the nation these people are elected to use fair and reasonable judgment to identify community needs and determining priorities. Also to serve the public good and represent the interest of all the people. For example, a “governor” heads the governments' executive branch in a safe state or territory. Depending on individual jurisdiction the governor may have considerable control over appointing judges and has a considerable role in legislation. These officials together have created a network of citizen-oriented control. With all of these positions holding a considerable amount of power and control over the wellbeing of the people and the country, there have been a few safety precautions set in place by the United States Constitution to protect the people from abuse of power.

Though they may not be perfect, they have been strategically set in place.  The highest position in this network is, of course, that of the president. And with that title comes a greater set of powers. But what protects us from the “highest” position in the office or any position for that matter? If an official has committed a violation they can be tried by their peers. This “safety precaution” is called “impeachment”. Impeachment is “the action of calling into question the integrity or validity of something. Or in the case of the United States Constitution “a charge of misconduct against the holder of a public office.” In the history of the United States of America, there have only been two cases of impeachment in the presidential office. The first was in 1868 after the death of President Abraham Lincoln involving president Andrew Johnson for firing a cabinet secretary without the consent of congress. The second recorded impeachment was with President Bill Clinton who was impeached in 1998 on perjury and obstruction of justice. The basis of the case against Clinton started in the Whitewater affair and the settlement of a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by Paula Jones.

 In present-day impeachment has become a reality. President Donald J. Trump broke federal laws by asking the President of Ukraine to take actions that will benefit Trump politically.

This makes the third case of impeachment in the presidential office in U.S. history. Once again "The Angry Orange" has made history in a negative light.

A burger has a face and a heart and sometimes pants.

Some believe that the senseless slaughtering of cows isn’t necessary to enjoy a burger. Im about to expand your mind and tell you why lab grown meat is the better option in your meals. Also not to mention that lab grown meat is more efficient than traditional meat because it is made from stem cells of the animal, not the animal itself, but we’ll cover that later on. Also burgers don't actually have pants.                         
    Lab grown meat is a better alternative than natural meat. Why? Because Lab grown meat is made from cells not the animal itself, organically saving animals. According to Science Daily (2013) lab grown meat is made from cells of a cow, it does not cause harm to an animal. It has been proven that natural meat blocks arteries, causes heart attacks and the worst part about it is that the digestive process of meat leaves acid residues in the body that need to be neutralized with alkalizing minerals, and these may be taken from the bones, leading to a higher risk of osteoporosis and other conditions. While green, leafy vegetables are high in calcium, red meat has a low level and can cause excess acid to form, creating bone problems in the future. That is really a head turner. Why go through all those nonsensical problems when there is a better alternative? Lab grown meat not only saves animals it also saves the lives of human beings that are overweight. According to Science Students (2013) over 65% of the world’s populations live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more than underweight people. This is mostly because of meat in the form of hamburgers. Lab grown meat would cut down the percentage of overweight people. Lab grown meat does not contain fatty acids that are inside of natural hamburger meat. Lab grown meat is still in the process of being perfected in the tasting area but, it is being fully supported by animal protection agencies like P.E.T.A. If lab grown meat hits the market there would definitely be a war between Lab and Natural meat. According to MSN News (2013) the first Lab Grown burger was taste tested and deemed perfect and sensational. The only problem was that it needed seasoning, but besides that, this burger will be the new Whopper at Burger King. There would still be people who prefer natural meat, but the hope is that all slaughter houses will be condemned. While research proves that natural meat causes health issues, research also proves that animals are being fed 70% of antibiotics that should be used on human beings. The only reason that these animals are being given antibiotics is because they are living in inhumane environments.