controversies

It seems every time one racially-charged incident ends, a gender or religious controversy takes its place; Ruminate on the issues dividing our nation and world.

Remove the Confederate Flag
Whether or not to remove the confederate flag has been a debate for years, but with recent events, it has become a spotlight topic once again. This debate is touchy and controversial and those who debate seem to stand either strongly for the flag or strongly against it. Some Southerners believe that the confederate flag is part their childhood and history itself. But on the other hand, those fighting to remove the flag claim it is a symbol of oppression, slavery and hatred. In order to pick a side, we must first understand the history of the flag.
By Madeline Keys6 years ago in The Swamp
Do We Have a Problem?
I was in the store, just trying to find some candy that I may have wanted for the mini-movie night I had planned. I really didn’t have much else on my mind, and I was in deep thought about if I wanted Snickers or M&Ms. As I was doing that, from the side of my eye something caught my attention. It was a woman about to walk down the aisle, but quickly stopped and kept going straight. I still wasn’t thinking much of it, because of course we do this every day. There has been plenty of times that either I thought something was on an aisle and it wasn’t or too many people were on the aisle, and I would make an executive decision to go to another aisle and come back later. So, I continued with my candy, however, 2 seconds later, the same woman had turned her basket around and came down the very aisle I was at. I took a step back, so that she could pass in front of me. However, when she passed me, she scoffed, nearly jumped and quickly pulled her basket to the nearest wall as far from me as possible, and looked at me as if I was going to attack her or belittle her for walking down the aisle. She was an older Caucasian lady, and she made me feel like I was a monster, or something. That shocked me, considering everything that’s going on in the world, and we’re trying to come together as one to stop police brutality and racism, why would you do that? For a second, my spirit was broken, considering that no matter how hard we try we will be looked at a certain way. However, then I started to think about it, and realized Do they think we hate them?
By Aria 6 years ago in The Swamp
Moscow's problematic statues
You can still find statues of Stalin in Moscow. Despite the dictator’s abrupt fall from Soviet grace during the Khrushchev thaw, those familiar moustaches (in Russian, a moustache is invariably plural) can be spotted where the city’s latte-swilling hipsters come to play. The Muzeon complex is firmly established on the city circuit, between the fashionable ‘Red October’ district, a chocolate factory turned creative hub, and Gorky Park, refurbished to its Soviet-era heyday.
By Andy Potts6 years ago in The Swamp
The Man On The Left
I laid in my bed with tears streaming down my face. It has been an emotional week. Struck down by some seasonal bug or - shoutout to Covid19! - the plague of the moment, along with the never-ending lockdown, I found myself mostly bed-ridden this week as the fallout from the George Floyd murder gained and maintained worldwide traction.
By Q-ell Betton6 years ago in The Swamp
Let's Dismantle Racism. Together.
Racism. What is racism? The technical definition of it is: “prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.” And this definition is light, not touching on the inequality and injustices that stem from it.
By Shaley Speaks6 years ago in The Swamp
My RACIST nan.
“My Nan’s racist,” I’d say casually, dropping it into conversation if the conversation led to it. Some people’s reactions were to downplay it or avoid the topic of conversation completely because it made them feel uncomfortable or they did not understand. Others would be shocked and apologetic for such abysmal behaviour. Either way, my nonchalant attitude towards it was always a defence mechanism, a way of guarding myself against something that I would never completely come to terms with myself.
By Diary Of A Modern Mummy 6 years ago in The Swamp
Visibility for the invisible
“If something is invisible to you then you will never see or understand something that is visible to other people”... There are many personal incidents that I can recall from childhood to adulthood where I have experienced explicit and covert racism.
By Valentina Aiello6 years ago in The Swamp
The Covid Diaries
The untimely death of George Floyd has caused an eruption of protests around the country and across the globe. It has also caused the BLACK LIVES MATTER/ALL LIVES MATTER debate to resurface, as it often does when we are forced to face racism in this country. The endless conversation of "Other races deal with oppression too. Why do you have to focus on Black Lives" continues to have us all going around in circles, never getting us anywhere.
By Sonya Johnson6 years ago in The Swamp
Colston Belongs in his Watery Grave
As the Black Lives Matter Movement sweeps across the World, protests in Britain and America see the celebrations of slave traders and merchants that played their part in the building of each country torn down in protest. As with any sort of social uprising, be it Gun Control of Black Lives Matter, it awakens the ugly head of one of societies most unsubtle predators: The White Man.
By Peak Interest6 years ago in The Swamp
Social Justice Group Protests Boeing for Aiding “Terrorism”
The Boeing Company is known to be the world’s largest aerospace company. They are famous for their aid in plane production, but did you know they also build drones to aid the war on “terrorism” in the Philippines? Anakbayan is a youth and student organization working to educate, organize and mobilize the community to address important issues that affect Filipinos in the U.S. and the Philippines.
By Chantel6 years ago in The Swamp
Dear Maybelline, and L'Oreal: Black Lives Matter and "Trans" is Not A Trend.
Like many of us, in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, I've spent the last three months getting emails from Verizon, Chase Bank, and almost every company I've ever shopped with online. It's always sentiments about what a difficult time Americans are experiencing, words about how much they care, and usually very little about what they actually do.
By Andrew Sotomayor6 years ago in The Swamp
Differences Do Not Divide Us.
This is a story about one of the most incredible, inspiring humans in my life. In the interest of protecting their name, I am going to refer to them as “Nike”. I chose this name because to me it means strength, after the Greek God/Goddess of Strength and they are truly the strongest person I know. From a photographer and a best friend’s perspective, this is an experience that both broke my heart and gave me just a small insight into the experiences of BAME people. This story is so important to tell, and it is a story not only about friendship, but also the realisation of white privilege and how much of the world we are completely blind to. Nike has given me a better perception of the world, to know that I will never understand what they have and will go through in their lives but what I can do is support, love and stand by them.
By GeeGee6 years ago in The Swamp