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| Fans Accuse Refs Of Blatant Cheating For Georgia In Tense Sugar Bowl Clash Vs Ol |
| Posted on Friday, January 02 @ 00:00:43 PST (18 reads) | |
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The 2026 allstate sugar bowl between no. 6 ole miss and no. 3 georgia was a high-scoring affair, but much of the online conversation has shifted from the players to the officials.
as the game progressed on january 1, 2026, at the caesars superdome, frustrated fans—particularly ole miss supporters—took to social media to vent about perceived referee bias toward the bulldogs, with one blatant no-call stealing the spotlight.
the flashpoint: blatant face-mask no-call sparks outrage
the 2026 allstate sugar bowl delivered a college football playoff classic, with no. 6 ole miss rebels stunning no. 3 georgia bulldogs 37-34 on a last-second field goal. But amid the drama, a late-game missed face mask penalty became the talking point, fueling accusations that officials handed georgia a lifeline in a crucial moment.
deep in the fourth quarter, with ole miss nursing a three-point lead and driving to run out the clock, running back kewan lacy took a handoff on second down. Georgia defensive lineman joseph jonah-ajonye grabbed lacy’s facemask while tackling him behind the line—a clear 15-yard personal foul that would have granted an automatic first down.
awful call:
the refs just screwed ole miss.
this was a clear face-mask penalty on georgia right in front of multiple refs.
no call. Forces ole miss to punt the ball to uga the next play.
— mlfootball (@mlfootball)
[january 2, 2026]
replays showed the infraction plainly, yet no flag was thrown, and the whistle never blew. The drive stalled, forcing a punt. Georgia capitalized, marching downfield (aided by ole miss pass interference calls) to tie the game with a field goal. Espn broadcasters sean mcdonough and greg mcelroy immediately criticized the oversight, calling it a pivotal miss.
as dan treacy wrote for the sporting news: “with ole miss looking for a long drive to deplete the clock and potentially bury georgia by taking a two-possession lead, it appeared kewan lacy was the victim of an illegal facemask grab… a penalty would have given ole miss an automatic first down.”
fan outrage: claims of bias toward georgia
social media erupted, with ole miss fans and neutrals accusing refs of favoring the bulldogs. “The refs just screwed ole miss,” one viral post declared, echoing sentiments that the no-call “changed the cfp game.” Others labeled it “disgusting” and proof of sec bias, with replies demanding investigations.
georgia supporters pointed to earlier calls, like a targeting ejection, but the face mask dominated discourse. On3 noted: “referees miss clear face mask against georgia, stunt ole miss drive in crucial sugar bowl moment.”
ole miss overcomes adversity for historic win
despite the controversy, ole miss prevailed. After georgia tied it late, quarterback trinidad chambliss connected on a deep pass to de’zhaun stribling, setting up lucas carneiro’s game-winning 47-yard field goal with six seconds left. The rebels advanced to the semifinals against miami, marking the program’s biggest victory.
chambliss threw for over 360 yards, while lacy powered the ground game despite the earlier fumble. Georgia’s gunner stockton kept it close, but the defense couldn’t seal it.
debunking the bias narrative
claims of deliberate favoritism lack evidence—officiating crews are conference-mixed, and errors occur in high-pressure games. The missed call was egregious, but ole miss’ resilience shone through. As one analyst noted, it “threatened to alter the outcome” but ultimately didn’t.
in a playoff thriller full of momentum swings, the no-call added spice but couldn’t overshadow ole miss’ upset. Fans debating refs? Par for the course in college football’s biggest stages.
for more football content:
follow me on x (formerly twitter) at @mcquadewarnold. Also, do not forget to follow us at on twitter for even more great football content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in the world of football – especially with all the trade rumors swirling around and free agency news – football, and more, click here! |
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| Mike Elko to Promote Two Offensive Staffers to Position Coaches |
| Posted on Friday, January 02 @ 00:00:43 PST (10 reads) | |
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Mike elko to promote two offensive staffers to position coaches
in this story:
the next chapter of texas a&m football is already in the works, as head coach mike elko heads into year 3 with a squad that is hungry to compete for the southeastern conference and the national championship.
while firing off 11 straight wins, the aggies fell short in their final two games but just two years into a new coaching regime, there is plenty of room for improvement heading into 2026. Offensive and defensive coordinators collin klein and jay bateman have gone off to coach elsewhere, and with it comes the loss of key position coaches.
therefore, elko took careful consideration in building next years coaching staff, having promoted former houston texans assistant john perry as the aggies next wide receivers coach and former vanderbilt assistant joey lynch will be promoted to quarterbacks coach.
choosin texas (a&m)
lynchs promotion to quarterbacks coach is the latest in a handful of internal promotions that elko has orchestrated in the roughly months worth of time since klein and bateman announced their new positions at the close of the 2025 season.
recently, elko promoted defensive assistant lyle hemphill to take batemans place as the aggies defensive coordinator, where he work in league with elko to create the best possible defensive game plan.
on the flip side of the ball, wide receivers coach holmon wiggins was promoted to fill kleins spot as the next a&m offensive coordinator. Wiggins, a former alabama assistant, has coached at the highest level of college football as he aided philadelphia eagles wide receiver devonta smith win the heisman trophy.
perrys promotion to full-time wide receivers coach comes after helping wiggins coach one of the strongest wide receiver corps in recent a&m history. Both kc concepcion and mario craver eclipsed 800 yards, while young pass-catcher ashton bethel-roman has emerged as one of the best offensive weapons for the aggies heading into 2026.
the aggies and perry will likely dive into the portal for a big-body receiver to complement the talents of bethel-roman and craver, while lynch will have quarterback marcel reed in what could be his final year in college station to develop further as a passer.
the 2026 season will look plenty different with a rebuilt coaching staff, shuffled roster and now texas-sized expectations following an appearance in the college football playoff. But with elkos blue-collar mentality slowly materializing, theres hope that the aggies can find their way back to the big dance once again.
noah ruiz
noah ruiz is a journalist for texas a&m aggies on si from new braunfels, texas. He is a senior sport management major with minors in business and spanish at texas a&m, where his lifelong passion for a&m football has been taken to new heights. He is also a writer for a&m’s student newspaper, the battalion, where he has experience covering football, baseball, men’s and women’s basketball and soccer.
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| Financial Aid - Yale Architecture |
| Posted on Friday, January 02 @ 00:00:43 PST (12 reads) | |
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Financial assistance for the master’s programs
the school of architecture is committed to being financially accessible to students of all backgrounds and geographical origins worldwide. Financial aid, consisting of need-based scholarship and/or loans, is offered to the school’s students with demonstrated need. The yale school of architecture practices need-blind admissions. The financial aid application deadline for prospective students & new students is january 2, 2026. Current students must reapply for financial aid annually by april 30, 2026.
in order to determine a student’s need-based financial aid eligibility, the yale school of architecture requires all financial aid applicants to submit parental information. Parental information must be submitted on the css profile. If you feel you have extenuating circumstances for which parental information should be waived, please contact the financial aid office. It is important to note that unwillingness to provide parental information, age, marital status, or other standards of dependency are not conditions for which the school of architecture waives the requirement of parental data.
barring any significant changes in a student’s financial circumstances (including spousal and parental circumstances), need-based scholarship recipients can generally expect their need-based scholarship to be renewed in subsequent years.
u.S. Citizens and permanent residents are eligible for a federal direct unsubsidized loan. Non-u.S. Citizens and non-permanent residents are eligible for the yale student loan. Private loans are also available to qualified student borrowers through private lenders, such as banks, online lenders, and credit unions. Creditworthy u.S. Citizens may apply for private loans without a co-signer, and international students typically need a creditworthy u.S. Citizen/permanent resident co-signer to apply. For private loan options, visit our loan comparison tool.
the application process for financial aid
the application for financial aid is a separate process from the application for admission to the school, and applying for financial aid does not impact admission decisions. We encourage you to apply for financial aid at the same time you apply for admission.
application deadlines
when your financial aid application is due depends on whether you are a prospective student or current student:
prospective students & new students: the application deadline is january 2, 2026.
- because scholarship money and some loan funds are limited, applicants who miss the january 2 application deadline may jeopardize their eligibility for financial aid. Prospective & new student applicants who are accepted for admission and who have correctly completed their financial aid application by the january 2 deadline will receive a financial aid determination shortly after the online notification of admission.
current students: the application deadline is april 30, 2026.
required forms for prospective and new students
u.S. Citizens and permanent residents:
- fafsa (free application for federal student aid - yale’s fafsa federal school code is 001426)
- css profile (ysoa’s css code is 3975)
- income and asset verification documentation: due may 15 for admitted, matriculated students. Refer to our general financial aid policies for more information.
non-u.S. Citizens and non-permanent residents:
- css profile (ysoa’s css code is 3975)
- income and asset verification documentation: due may 15 for admitted, matriculated students. Refer to our general financial aid policies for more information.
required forms for current students
u.S. Citizens and permanent residents:
- fafsa (free application for federal student aid - yale’s fafsa federal school code is 001426)
- css profile (ysoa’s css code is 3975)
- student’s 2024 federal tax return and current bank statement
- parent 2024 federal tax return and current bank statement
- if tax returns were not filed by the parent and/or student, please submit the non-tax filer form in the additional forms section.
all tax and bank statements can be uploaded to our secure income and asset documentation upload website, linked below.
non-u.S. Citizens and non-permanent residents:
- css profile (ysoa’s css code is 3975)
- certified and translated student and parent 2024 tax documents from their home country
- student and parent current bank statements
- if tax returns were not filed by the parent and/or student, please submit the non-tax filer form in the additional forms section.
additional forms
general financial aid policies
after admission to the yale school of architecture, students who have been awarded financial aid are required to submit documents for verification to our secure document upload tool.
for u.S. Citizens or permanent residents, this process includes submission of the student’s 2024 federal tax return and current bank statement, and the parent 2024 federal tax return and current bank statement.
for international students, this process includes the submission of certified and translated student and parent 2024 tax documents from their home country, and student and parent current bank statements.
if tax returns were not filed by the parent and/or student, please submit corresponding non-tax filer form in the forms section.
the school reserves the right to adjust a student’s financial aid award if the actual income or asset information of the parent, student, or spouse is different from the original information included on the financial aid application(s). In addition, for u.S. Citizens and permanent residents, all awards are contingent on the student meeting the general eligibility requirements specified by the u.S. Department of education, including satisfactory academic progress (sap) requirements (below).
applicants in default on a student loan will not be eligible for any financial aid until the default status has been cleared and documentation provided to the financial aid office.
students on financial aid are required to reapply for financial aid each spring for the following academic year. Financial aid does not extend longer than the normal equivalent length of time required to complete the program of study to which the student was admitted.
outside aid
all students are encouraged to seek additional funding beyond what is available from the school of architecture. In order to comply with federal regulations as well as university policy, students must advise the financial aid office of any additional awards received (scholarships, grants, loans, va benefits, teaching assistantships, teaching fellowships, etc.). As a general rule, outside awards up to $10,000 can be received without affecting the student’s need-based scholarship from the school of architecture, although it may be necessary to reduce the student’s loan(s). Outside assistance in excess of $10,000 will likely affect a student’s need-based scholarship from the school of architecture.
if a third party (employer or other sponsor) is to pay all or part of your cost of education and they require a bill in their name, you must provide documentation from the sponsor detailing the terms of the sponsorship to include: what charges are covered, the duration of the sponsorship, and the billing requirements and contact information. In addition, you must submit written authorization allowing the university to communicate with and release your student account billing information to the sponsoring third party as necessary. This information and authorization are needed by june 1 and october 1 for the fall and spring terms, respectively. Please e-mail a copy of the award letter or scholarship notice, along with your authorization to yalepay@yale.Edu.
admitted/matriculated and current students can find more information on sources for outside aid on the student affairs website.
employment opportunities
student employment within the school
the school of architecture offers students job opportunities within the school that cover a wide variety of needs. Current positions include woodshop or computer monitors, receptionists, exhibition installers, archivists, clerical workers, and urban design workshop employees. It is not necessary to qualify for financial aid in order to hold any of the positions, although the earnings from these positions may be included in determining financial aid awards. First-year students can begin working within the school beginning in the spring semester of their first year.
teaching and research opportunities
the school offers teaching fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships. Students appointed as teaching fellows and assistants help faculty in their graduate and undergraduate courses. Research assistants aid faculty in their research. The teaching fellowship program offers stipends (fixed payments); the teaching assistantship and research assistantship programs offer financial support to students according to the level of teaching or research involvement, and the nature of the course or research in which the student is assisting.
fellowships and assistantships are one-term appointments made by the dean’s office at the request of the faculty. These appointments are usually made at the end of a term for the following term.
in addition, several departments in yale college, including history of art and several foreign languages, often offer teaching fellowships to students in the school who may have an appropriate expertise.
it is not necessary to qualify for financial aid in order to hold any of these appointments, although the earnings from these appointments may be included in determining financial aid awards.
student employment within the university
the student employment office, 246 church street, is maintained to give assistance to self-supporting students in obtaining employment outside of the school but within the university during termtime. Student job listings at yale can be found online at https://yalestudentjobs.Org/.
employment opportunities outside of the university
the school is often advised of various employment opportunities outside the university that may interest architectural students, including work in local architectural offices, small architectural jobs, etc. These opportunities are posted for the convenience of students who may be seeking outside work.
office of international students & scholars (oiss)
please visit the oiss website.
benefits from the u.S. Department of veterans affairs
eligible students are strongly encouraged to seek specific information about gi bill education benefits from the department of veterans affairs at 888.442.4551 or http://benefits.Va.Gov/gibill. The registrar’s office will be happy to assist students with claims once they are enrolled.
for more information on veterans’ benefits, please visit our university financial aid website.
satisfactory academic progress (sap) and financial aid
federal regulations require that in order to receive assistance under title iv of the higher education act, students must be making satisfactory academic progress (sap), which is measurable academic progress toward completion of their degree requirements within published time limits. The following sap policy applies to all enrolled students.
guidelines for academic progress
the academic year at the yale school of architecture consists of fall, spring, and summer terms. Sap is calculated three times per year, at the end of each term. A student’s sap status at the beginning of a term is effective until the completion of that enrolled term. Students must maintain sap in both qualitative and quantitative standards.
qualitative standards:
at the end of each term, the dean responsible for student matters will review the academic standing of each enrolled student and notify in writing any student who is not considered in good academic standing. A student is in good academic standing so long as the student is not on academic warning, academic probation, or has been required to withdraw. Students must maintain a cumulative minimum of a pass at each evaluation point.
the following chart indicates the resulting academic standing for students who may receive grades of pass with concern, low pass, or fail:
| studio courses | first occurrence | second occurrence | third occurrence | outcome/comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pass with concern | warning | probation | probation and design committee review | three pwc in studio will be flagged for the design committee for their review of whether the student has met the competency criterion for graduation |
| fail | probation, repeat studio in extra term | withdrawal | two studio failures requires mandatory withdrawal |
| non-studio courses | first occurrence | second occurrence | third occurrence | outcome/comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| low pass | warning, unless paired with pass with concern or fail in studio, in which case, probation | probation | probation continues until grades in all courses are high pass or pass | |
| fail | warning, unless paired with pass with concern or fail in studio, in which case, probation | probation | probation or withdrawal | note that should this occur in the final term, withdrawal may be necessary if credits cannot be achieved |
| foundations | first occurrence | outcome/comment |
|---|---|---|
| pass with concern | probation | |
| fail | withdrawal | failure to pass foundations requires withdrawal from the school |
students who are placed on either academic warning or academic probation for the next term due to their grades during the prior term are not considered to be in good academic standing and accordingly fail to meet the qualitative sap standard (refer to section ii.G of the school of architecture handbook for the definition of “good academic standing”). All other students meet the qualitative sap standard.
quantitative standards: a student meets the quantitative sap standard if cumulative a pace is maintained of earning at least 67 percent of the total credits attempted. Incompletes do not count as credits attempted (refer to section ii.H.1 of the school of architecture handbook for information on “incompletes”). “Withdrawals” count as credits attempted (refer to section ii.B. Of the school of architecture handbook for information on “withdrawals”). Credits for completed repeated courses count as both credits attempted and earned. Transfer credits are not accepted. The maximum time frame in which a student must complete degree requirements cannot exceed more than 200 percent of the minimum time for fulfilling degree requirements (refer to section ii.D. Of the school of architecture handbook).
maximum time frame
the maximum time frame in which a student must complete degree requirements cannot exceed more than the specified minimum time by program for fulfilling degree requirements (refer to section ii.D. Of the school of architecture handbook). For the m.Arch. I (three-year professional) program, students must complete the degree requirements within five years. Any approved leave of absence cannot exceed two years. For the m.Arch. Ii and m.E.D. (Two-year) programs, students must complete the degree requirements within three years and any approved leave of absence cannot exceed one year.
financial aid warning
at the conclusion of each term, the dean responsible for academic matters will provide the financial aid office with a list of students who are not in good academic standing and therefore are failing to meet sap. The financial aid office will then notify these students that they have been placed on financial-aid warning until the end of the next term. During the financial-aid-warning term, the student may receive financial aid, despite the determination of not meeting sap. Students on financial-aid warning who fail to return to sap by the end of the term will lose their future financial aid eligibility, unless they successfully appeal and are placed on financial-aid probation.
financial aid probation and appeals
a student who has not successfully met sap by the end of the financial-aid-warning term has the right to appeal the loss of financial-aid eligibility. Appeals must be submitted to the dean’s office in writing within two weeks of receiving notice that the student did not meet sap after a term on financial-aid warning. The appeal must include information about why the student failed to meet sap, and what has changed, or is expected to change, that will allow the student to meet sap in the future. The written appeal should be accompanied by documentation that verifies the extenuating circumstances (e.G., Death of a relative, an injury or illness of the student, or other special circumstances). The dean’s office shall notify the student of the outcome of the appeal within ten business days of receiving it. If the appeal is approved, the student is placed on financial-aid probation until the end of the next term and may receive financial aid during that term. Students on financial-aid probation are required to meet with the chair of the rules committee and the dean responsible for academic matters to establish an individual academic plan to enable the student to meet sap at some point in the future, according to specific benchmarks established by the plan. Students on financial-aid probation who fail to meet sap by the end of the financial-aid probation term, or fail to meet the benchmarks of their individual plans on time, will not be eligible for financial aid for the subsequent academic term. Students who are ineligible for financial aid may reestablish eligibility in future terms by meeting sap.
contact
students who have additional questions regarding financial aid should contact the financial aid office:
email:
archfinancialaid@yale.Edumailing adddress:
yale school of architecture
po box 208242
new haven ct 06520-8242 |
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| Man hospitalized in critical condition after Central Fresno stabbing |
| Posted on Friday, January 02 @ 00:00:43 PST (11 reads) | |
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Man hospitalized in critical condition after central fresno stabbing
fresno, calif. (Fox26) — a man is in the hospital after being stabbed in central fresno thursday night.
police say they received reports of a disturbance at 7:37 p.M., Thursday night in the area of clinton avenue and college avenue.
when officers arrived, they found a 34-year-old man inside a home with multiple stab wounds.
officers provided first aid until emergency medical services and fire crews arrived, then transported the man to a local hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
police say the stabbing appears to have occurred during a family gathering, though officials are still investigating the circumstances.
it is unclear whether the man knew the suspect.
detectives are working to gather witness statements.
police ask anyone with information about the stabbing to contact them at (559) 621-7000. |
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| Top Covers of 2025 |
| Posted on Friday, January 02 @ 00:00:43 PST (10 reads) | |
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Dr. Martin luther king’s birthday
january 15, 2025
by gregg reese
ow contributor
in 2025 martin luther king jr. Day was specifically poignant for some, as it fell on inauguration day (47th and 45th) of president-elect donald j. Trump. Trump has appropriated elements of king’s legacy to further his own maga agenda while undermining the core principles of equality and humanity that king sought to embed within american society.
“i just never understood. How a man who died for good could not have a day that would be set aside for his recognition” —from “happy birthday,” a song released in june 1981 by stevie wonder.
the song became a rallying point in the campaign to approve the national holiday and by 1983 president ronald reagan signed it into existence. President jimmy carter died on dec. 29, 2024. The american flags were displayed at half-staff for 30 days. This formality, an honor bestowed on all former presidents, raised the ire of the incoming president. “The democrats are all ‘giddy’ about our magnificent american flag potentially being at ‘half-mast’ during my inauguration. Nobody wants to see this, and no american can be happy about it,” trump said.
meanwhile, a former army staff sergeant, shamsud-din jabbar, plowed his truck into a crowd, killing 14 people in new orleans on new year’s day. He died in a shoot-out with police. On the same day, an active-duty army master sergeant, matthew alan livelsberger, a decorated army careerist and trump supporter, parked a tesla cybertruck at the trump international hotel las vegas and shot himself just before pre-set explosives in the truck detonated causing seven casualties. Trump seized upon fox news reporting that jabbar was a foreign national. “When i said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by democrats and the fake news media, but it turned out to be true,” he said. However, he was an american from beaumont, texas.
political flip-flopping
“those at the lowest economic level, the poor white and negro, the aged and chronically ill, are traditionally unorganized and therefore have little ability to force the necessary growth in their income.
more than a half century later, the same conditions exist and likely are a reason behind the embrace of trump by marginalized whites.
in 2017 trump presented a first-edition set of writings from martin luther king jr. To an audience at the vatican. After, martin luther king lll stated, “what i would implore the president to do is to get those books for himself and to read them, and then he can begin to understand who martin luther king jr. Was.” “They stagnate or become even poorer in relations to the larger society,” king wrote in his final book, “where do we go from here: chaos or community.” Another excerpt from his book noted” …there are twice as many white poor as negro poor in the united states.”
eaton fire destroys prospering black community
january 29, 2025
by caleb pugh
staff writer
wildfires ravaged communities in los angeles and burned 14,000 acres of land. Many were left homeless, in shock, distraught, and desperate to get their lives back on track. One of the communities destroyed by the wildfire is altadena.
altadena’s history can be viewed as progressive for black homeowners over time, as redlining played a major part in the evolving racial change of the city. In 1960, altadena was overwhelmingly (95 percent) white, and the majority of the city had (currently defunct) racial covenants. In 1968, the fair housing act was passed and shifted the racial identity of the community’s residents, with 42,000 african americans moving in by the 1970s and swelling their just under 4 percent count to 27 percent. By 1980 african american residents were 49 percent. White residents in 1970, 95 percent; 1980, 43 percent; 1990, 39 percent; and 31 percent in 2000.
“it’s a lot of green life, and that was the main beauty of altadena on top of the prospering black community,” said jess willard, a previous resident of altadena and a victim of the wildfires. “My family has been living there since the ‘60s, and that same home was occupied by my kids and grandkids until the wildfire burned it.”
“i was at work in la and my friend called and told me about the altadena fire; it caught me off guard.” Willard called his kids. “They already knew and were skeptical about how far the fire would spread, but i told them to start preparing anyway.”
over 10,000 homes were lost to the la wildfires; a staggering 7,000 were in altadena. Willard was worried about how his insurance would handle the damages, as most insurance companies in california canceled their fire cover policy. “Yeah, i was worried, but after a few days, my insurance called me and set me and my family up in a hotel and told me everything is covered, so now we are just finishing up paperwork and waiting for the insurance to let us know how much we have before we start rebuilding our home,” he said.
the waters family, related to the willards, were also affected by the eaton canyon fire. A sibling singing group, the waters are composed of luther, julia, oren, and lorna waters. They have recorded and toured as background vocalists with many top artists from the “1970’s-“1990’s.
including: bobby womack, pharaoh sanders, herbie hancock, alphonse mouzon, neil diamond, patti la belle, paul simon, john fogerty, janet and michael jackson, and others.
dogon astronomy: african people’s connection to the stars
february 19, 2025
by william covington
ow contributor
the astronomical achievements of the dogon people of mali, west africa have often been dismissed. Scholars such as pbs astronomer carl sagan, speculated that the dogons’ knowledge of celestial bodies, such as the sirius star system, must have come from european or extraterrestrial influence, rather than recognizing their independent intellectual achievements.
british south african astronomer brian warner, in his 1996 book “traditional astronomical knowledge in africa,” sheds light on the vast astronomical understanding held by african cultures. The chapter “astronomy before the telescope” explores how various african societies tracked seasons, navigated using the stars, and developed their own constellations. Warner noted that despite africa being the birthplace of humanity, its rich astronomical traditions have been largely neglected by historians of astronomy.
the san people of south africa were among the first mathematicians. These two scientific disciplines—astronomy and mathematics—are fundamental to understanding the universe. The third essential field is physics, the study of matter, motion, and energy. Ancient egyptians, applied principles of motion and energy to construct the pyramids. Thus, the three sciences necessary to comprehend the cosmos have deep roots in africa.
historical evidence suggests that the earliest forms of mathematics, including basic counting and measuring, originated in south africa. One of the oldest mathematical artifacts, the lebombo bone, dates back over 35,000 years. This tally stick, made from a baboon fibula, contains twenty-nine distinct notches, indicating early mathematical practices.
the dogon possess extensive knowledge of the sirius star system, particularly sirius b, a white dwarf star invisible to the naked eye. Remarkably, their oral traditions also describe jupiter’s moons and saturn’s rings, long before western astronomers documented them. They described sirius b’s orbital period with surprising accuracy and attributed their knowledge to celestial beings known as the “nommo.” These mythological figures are said to have imparted wisdom about the stars to the dogon people. Their oral traditions also refer to the rings of saturn and the moons of jupiter.
renowned astrophysicist, neil degrasse tyson, addressed biases regarding reluctance of acknowledging africa’s role in human evolution. He notes that when discussing africa, many envision a monolithic group rather than recognizing the continent’s vast diversity. Africa is home to the tallest people (the watusi), the shortest (the pygmies), the fastest sprinters, and some of the greatest athletes in the world.
given africa’s evolutionary diversity and long history of intellectual achievement, it is illogical to dismiss african contributions to astronomy. When africans predict unseen stars, describe the rings of saturn, or reveal that certain celestial bodies are composed of heavy metals, some claimed that european influence was the basis of their information.
this dismissal is not only absurd but also diminishes the rich scientific heritage of african civilizations even though it was a hub of scientific discovery long before western colonization. It is time to recognize and celebrate africa’s role in the advancement of astronomy, mathematics, and physics. By doing so, we honor the intellectual legacy of the continent and ensure that future generations appreciate the scientific contributions of african civilizations.
dr. Allissa richardson’s answer to media reparations
february 26, 2025
by caleb pugh
staff writer
some high-powered media executives use the news to sway and influence the public to adopt certain ideologies that have led to massacres, genocide, slavery, the creation of false stereotypes, and validation for people to be racist and prejudiced against certain groups of people. Dr. Allissa richardson, a world-renowned author and journalist wants media reparations for the black community for the biased coverage of victims of american propaganda.
“they took the george floyd murder and played it online like it was sports highlights, and i couldn’t stand it anymore,” richardson said as she explained what led her to take a more prominent role in being an activist. “I went on msnbc and wrote articles in the atlantic telling my peers to stop supporting this nonsense. All i thought about was how his family and daughter were taking everything in, and i knew that an apology wasn’t enough.”
richardson is an associate professor of journalism at the university of southern california’s annenberg school. She is the author of “bearing witness while black: african americans, smartphones, and the new protest #journalism”.
richardson started the charlotta bass justice and journalism lab, simply known as charlotta bass lab in 2022. “I wanted to create a curriculum to teach students not to make the same mistakes i’m seeing other journalists make,” richardson said.
charlotta spears bass, editor of the african american newspaper, the california eagle (formally known as the eagle), was a journalist, activist, and politician who fought for the civil rights of african americans. The first black woman to run for vice president of the u.S. (1952), she worked to combat what she called ‘the two-headed monster,’ segregation and discrimination. Bass became the first african american woman to run a newspaper in the u.S. (1912.)
the charlotta bass lab, a partnership between usc, richardson, and media 2070 is dedicated to preserving the rich legacy of black media makers while empowering the next generation of imaginative storytellers. The lab covers nearly 175 years of black history.
two understudy classes, the second draft project’ and ‘reporting on race and justice,’ where black history can be remembered and rewritten are offered. “Journalism is described as the first draft of history, and we know for marginalized communities and people that their first draft is at best incomplete and at worst inaccurate,” “the black community deserves a second draft; we deserve our humanity, and these students are the beginning towards our final copy,” she said.
reporting on race and justice is a graduate-level course to guide students through the intersections of race, justice, and media. The course enables students to “correct the record” for those misrepresented by the press.
how black beauty brands have evolved
april 2, 2025
by tatiana dublin
ow contributor
for decades, mainstream beauty brands largely ignored the needs of black consumers. Lancôme, revlon, and neutrogena dominate major retail shelves, yet they rarely catered to black women. Black women found creative ways to make mainstream products work, but these workarounds were never as effective as products designed specifically for their needs.
over the past three decades dozens of black-owned beauty brands have reshaped the industry. This shift represents cultural recognition, economic empowerment, and the fight for inclusiveness in a billion-dollar industry.
black americans wield $1.7 trillion to $2 trillion in purchasing power annually, according to the naacp and black beauty brands are capitalizing on its purchasing power. Black culture is a driving force behind trends in fashion, music, and beauty. Brands that embrace digital marketing strategies infused with hip-hop culture, celebrity endorsements, and viral challenges have seen massive success. Celebrities like rihanna (fenty beauty), beyoncé (cécred), tracee ellis ross (pattern beauty), and issa rae (sienna naturals) have leveraged their influence to create and promote black-owned brands.
the increased interest in diverse beauty products has led to a more inclusive retail landscape. Unfortunately, it often takes tragedies, such as the murder of george floyd, to push major corporations into supporting black-owned businesses and brands. Some retailers have made sincere commitments to diversity, equity, & inclusion (dei), others engage in performative activism, supporting black brands only when convenient.
while black women represent the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the u.S., They receive disproportionately low venture capital funding. In 2023, black-founded startups received less than 0.5 percent of the $140.4 billion in venture funding. The average black female founder secures just $42,000 in total, compared to an industry average of $1.1 million for all startups. In 2021, only 43 percent of black-owned firms received the full amount of ppp funding they applied for, compared to 79 percent of white-owned firms.
the federal reserve reports that 80.2 percent of white business owners receive at least partial bank funding, compared to just 66.4 percent of bipoc entrepreneurs.
black-owned brands that revolutionized the industry:
• madam c.J. Walker and annie turnbo pioneered black haircare in the early 20th century.
• fashion fair, launched in 1973 by the johnson family was the first national makeup brand for women of color.
• fenty beauty, launched by rihanna in 2017, introduced an unprecedented range of foundation shades.
• pat mcgrath labs, launched in 2015, quickly gained prominence for its innovative and high-quality products.
• danessa myricks beauty, founded in 2015, offers high-performance products.
the above brands represent only a fraction of the black entrepreneurs transforming the beauty industry. Political anti-dei initiatives threaten the progress made.
african american sleep crisis: unpacking the silent health threat
april 9, 2025
by william covington
ow contributor
john cresfield typically gets around six hours of sleep each night. Most mornings, he’s up by 3 a.M., Tossing and turning before drifting off again. His fragmented sleep may be a direct contributor to his heart disease.
research from the national sleep foundation (nsf) highlights a sobering reality: african americans consistently get less sleep than any other ethnic group in the u.S. While some causes of sleep deprivation can be managed through lifestyle changes—what experts call “sleep hygiene”—others, like poverty, racism, and chronic stress, are harder to control. “The only way to understand sleep is to study animals,” says dr. Jerome siegel, professor of psychiatry at ucla’s center for sleep research.
according to the nsf’s “2025 sleep in america” poll, african americans reported the shortest sleep duration on weeknights—just 6 hours and 14 minutes, on average. The nsf recommends 7–9 hours of sleep per night for adults aged 18–64. The poll also revealed that african americans are more likely to engage in stimulating activities before bed. Nearly 75 percent watch tv in bed, 71 percent pray or participate in religious rituals, and 17 percent perform job-related work. These pre-bedtime routines interfere with the body’s natural circadian rhythm and delay the onset of sleep.
dr. Thomas j. Balkin, past chairman of the nsf recommends, “establishing consistent bed and wake times, avoiding caffeine and electronics before bed, and using the bedroom only for sleep and sex.”
chronic psychosocial stressors—unemployment, systemic racism, financial strain—negatively affect sleep.
though not mentioned in the nsf poll, sleep paralysis (sp) is a temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up, often accompanied by vivid hallucinations and a sensation of pressure on the chest. African americans suffer disproportionately from sleep-related health conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
howard university opened its sleep center in 2007, one of the first facilities in the u.S. Focused on sleep disorders in the black community.
nsf’s 2025 poll findings:
• sleep duration: african americans sleep 34–38 minutes less than whites and asians
on average.
• pre-bed routines: 75 percent of black respondents watch tv before bed, and
71 percent engage in prayer.
• sexual activity: 10 percent of african americans report having sex nightly—more than double the rate of whites (4 percent) and ten times higher than asians (1 percent).
• financial and job stress: 12 percent lose sleep nightly over financial worries, and
10 percent over job concerns.
• sleep disorders: african americans have the highest rate of diagnosed sleep apnea
(14 percent), while whites report the highest rate of diagnosed insomnia (10 percent).
african-american population shifts in the city of los angeles
april 23, 2025
by gregg reese
ow contributor
as the 31st of 50 states in the union, california has cast a shadow of uniqueness, notable since the dawn of the 20th century with advancements in politics, social mobility, and technology. For los angeles (la) this is even more true, as its reputation for glitz and glamour has been buttressed by lucrative possibilities in agriculture, entertainment, tourism, and others.
during and following the great depression hordes of indigent white people from the dust belt migrated to the coast with african-americans following shortly thereafter. There was a booming defense industry initiated by the war’s military buildup that echoed an earlier, prewar migration of six million blacks from 1890 to 1910 to escape the inhuman bigotry of the post-civil war south.
the unglamourous but decent paying blue-collar jobs that attracted them deserted the southland. Their disappearance was replaced by jobs in the food and hospitality industry, a staple of the millennium.
upon their arrival these transplants found that the path to the good life was hampered by an oppressive civic infrastructure manifested by abusive law enforcement, and insidious real estate restrictions meant to exclude them from specific areas.
over the span of a half century, compton has morphed from an integration resistant white suburb to a comfortable middle class black enclave. As the barriers of segregation came down in the “hub city, inner city strife brought with it a curious spin on white flight, this time by the black middle class. They left behind a crime-ridden metropolis that has become a cultural touchstone for the thug life. How much of this is real or exaggerated hype by the media is up for grabs. The latino community is now a majority, as the us census shows latino people represented 71.3 percent of compton’s 90,986 inhabitants in 2020.
inglewood experienced its own racial metamorphosis from 1960, when less than 50 residents lived within its borders. Fast forward a few decades and the city has darkened to the point where it became known as “inglewatts.” Like compton, it endured an influx of crack cocaine and warring street gangs, along with immigrants fleeing from political instability in mexico and central america.
inglewood in some respects remains the center of black la, a legacy inherited from watts and compton.
perhaps no other neighborhood epitomized the sepia version of the american dream than the upscale trifecta of baldwin hills, ladera heights, and view park, collectively known as the “black beverly hills.”
mushrooming housing prices along the coast and the west side have influenced white professionals to move into these upper-class black neighborhoods.
the asian population in la was 364,850 in 2000 and as of 2020, 504,261. This demographic often benefits from migrating into the state with substantial education or technical skills, compared to their counterparts of other ethnicities.
the latino percentage of la’s population grew from 40 percent in 2000, to 47 percent of the city’s populace in 2020. In 2020 360,000 blacks lived in the city (or 8.27 percent), opposed to just over 400,000 in 2000.
la’ total population in 2000 was 3,694,820, by 2020 it swelled to 3,900,000. However, the numbers likely don’t include: the undocumented, multiple ethnicities, or those giving false information or not participating in the count.
la and california ceased to be a white majority, and such is likely in the future for the us in its entirety.
sola food co-op seeks food justice
april 30, 2025
by lisa olivia fitch
ow contributor
according to harvard medical school’s health blog, a growing body of scientific evidence supports that doctors who teach patients how to cook meals at home are giving their patients effective medical intervention for improving diet quality, weight loss, and diabetes prevention. Michelle obama acknowledged the need for the nation to eat healthy food when she created a vegetable garden at the white house. “Most of what we knew about food had come through food-industry advertising of everything boxed, frozen, or otherwise processed for convenience,” obama wrote in “becoming.”
food desert areas are characterized by poor access to healthy and affordable food in south la and they contribute to disparities in diet-related health issues, such as diabetes, obesity and digestive disorders.
grocery store development in food-insecure areas can work toward the elimination of food deserts. That’s where the south los angeles (sola) food co-op comes in.
south la resident bahni turpin, founder of sola and members of sola are in the midst of securing a site to create a cooperative grocery store venture owned by and operated for the benefit of south la residents who want to find fresh produce and special dietary locally. Food co-ops focus on their community and are totally independent and owned by the community members who shop there.
a number of locals visit the saturday farmer’s market events near slauson avenue and crenshaw boulevard to patronize local fresh produce growers. Sola co-op has a booth at the site every first and third saturday. Sola needs support for the proposed store: volunteer, financial, and political support. “Membership entails a voting share. A co-op is a democratically- run organization. We elected a board of directors, and we promote it as a store model where shoppers can have more of a say in what the store does.”
“once the store opens and is profitable, the owners share in the profits,” turpin said. Sola received a small grant from the collective courage fund, which gets its name from the 2014 book “collective courage: a history of african american cooperative economic thought and practice.”
the national black food & justice alliance (nbfja), based in atlanta, works on food systems & food justice across the country. A large group of black co-ops is forming across the nation and they hold a yearly conference. Sola is affiliated with the alliance.
since 2015, nbfja has worked to convene partners with expertise in black food security and land work in addition to legal, financial, organizing, and community-building expertise. They have collectively strategized interventions around the urgency to protect and recover black land and build a strong, sustainable food system. Visit www.Solafoodcoop.Com.
saints, signs, and south central: catholicism among the forgotten
may 7, 2025
by william covington
ow contributor
in the 1960s in predominantly black, baptist, working-class south central la, a curious ritual began appearing. Black boys playing outside would suddenly stop what they were doing when a funeral procession passed. They’d face the cars solemnly and perform the sign of the cross—what catholics call the “trinity formula” and say, “in the name of the father, and the son, and the holy spirit. Amen.”
according to marvin clay, a resident, during that time some kids learned the trinity formula at home from relatives during mealtime prayers. Others attended catholic schools and intermingled with public school kids, ultimately merging sacred gestures with street style.
pearl jemerson, an xavier university graduate and former administrator for a catholic nonprofit, recalls how the expression became a kind of performance. “It was fashionable,” she said. “You’d do the trinity formula and just wait for someone to ask, ‘why’d you do that?’ Another ritual began occurring, pouring out a few drops of liquor “for the dead homies,” often accompanied by a short, silent pause. According to jemerson, “the impulse was the same—honoring the dead, reaching for something greater.”
“catholic rituals became spiritual armor,” she said. “They offered black people a way to assert dignity in a world built on their dehumanization.” Still, she admits that african american catholics often stood out, even among other black christians. “Within the black community, catholicism has been associated with elitism, classism and colorism.”
dr. Paul murray, a retired professor of sociology, believes that prior to the 1950s, the american catholic church was deeply segregated. “Black catholics were a tiny minority,” he explained. “In the north, they weren’t formally excluded, but they often felt unwelcome. In the south, segregation was strictly enforced—even in the church.” That began to change in the late 1970s.
interesting facts regarding the conclave and process:
• first conclave held january 1276 at the sistine chapel.
• cardinals take an oath of secrecy.
• the sistine chapel is swept to clear listening devices.
• windows are tainted black and have electronic window jammers.
• the longest conclave was held for three years.
• outside communication is not allowed.
• food that could hide messages is banned.
• ballots are burned following each vote.
• 2/3 majority vote means there is a new pope.
• black smoke from burned ballots means 2/3 vote not met.
• white smoke means there is a new pope.
• cardinals over 80 can’t vote.
pope leo xiv’s influence
may 14, 2025
by william covington
ow contributor
it has been 1500 years since the catholic church has been under the leadership of a pope of african descent. Robert francis prevost, now known as pope leo xiv, will direct the catholic church and the microstate in rome known as vatican city. According to catholic records the last pope of african descent was gelasius i (492-496 ad) the 49th pontiff, his papacy was preceded by only two other popes,they were victor i (189-198 ad) and miltiades (311-314 ad).
clifford a. Grammich, religious analyst, rand corp. Believes the pope has geopolitical influence, though “soft power” rather than military or legal authority. During germany’s rise toward becoming a national socialist country, the pope was the spiritual leader of over 266 million catholics, and his interventions in international politics were increasingly recognized.
during world war ii, pope pius xii wielded considerable moral and political influence. The vatican represented millions of catholics, including those in nazi-occupied europe, which made direct confrontations with the church politically complicated.
according to grammich, pope john paul ii has been widely credited with significantly contributing to the collapse of communism, particularly in central and eastern europe, due to his strong anti-communist stance and his influence on the solidarity movement in poland.
grammich describes how a pope of african heritage seated in the vatican could certainly influence catholics on the african continent and potentially enhance stabilization. He further states that the selection of a pope with african heritage could foster a sense of pride and belonging within the catholic community in africa, potentially leading to increased religious devotion and engagement.
nevertheless, the extent to which this would translate into increased stability on the continent is complex and dependent on numerous other factors—particularly given the growing influence of china, iran, and russia in africa. Grammich is clear: most of this is strictly speculative.
reese agrees, regarding the newly selected pope’s african heritage that it may have sent a symbolic message to the world, especially after donald trump’s public recommendation of cardinal timothy dolan. The election of a mixed-race pope could imply that this individual may be seen as less likely to be biased or beholden to the interests of the elite, and his presence could be perceived as a sign of the church’s commitment to addressing global inequalities.
there have been three african popes: pope victor i, pope miltiades, and pope gelasius i. All are believed to have been of north african descent. Ancient north africa was considered something of a bible belt. Many also believe that race was not a significant issue in ancient rome, determined more by loyalty and civic virtue than by skin color.
rites of passage: vietnam 50 years ago
may 28, 2025
by gregg reese
ow contributor
it’s the summer of 1967, in the vietnam’s central highlands near the cambodian/laotian border, and a u.S. Cavalry troop exited their armored vehicles to ferret out elements of the north vietnamese army from the surrounding grasslands.
sp-4 benjamin caldwell was to carry the 25-pound prc-25 radio, essential for communicating. They were hit with a “baptism of fire” as pinpricks of gunfire erupted. Caldwell was told by his lieutenant to radio for artillery/air support to tap down the flurry of bullets engulfing them.
an adrenaline rush helped caldwell’s fear to diminish as he moved directly at the muzzle flashes in the distance. Through the chaos, a contingent of snipers behind the shelter of a buried armored vehicle were spotted.
border town upbrining
the chihuahuan desert of the southwestern united states was the site of several airfields sprouting up with the onset of the second world war, especially in new mexico, where ben caldwell grew up in the military town of deming.
young “benny” was immersed in historical culture and military lore. His family was among the 150 blacks in a town of perhaps 4,000, which swelled to about 5,500 by the end of the decade as it mobilized for war. Simultaneously, his artistic sensibilities were nurtured early through his grandfather’s occupation as the town’s projectionist in the local movie theater.
adding to this was the mythos of the southwest mexican revolutionaries (emiliano) zapata and poncho villa, the conquest of the apaches by the buffalo soldiers, and the legacy of geronimo.
evacuation
caldwell suffered a non-combat-related injury when he stepped into a deep hole on the central highlands battlefield that stalled his tour in indochina. He was evacuated to the philippines and on to japan for treatment to his knee and eventually returned to duty in vietnam.
he credits the three-month break for rehabilitation for helping him emerge from southeast asia intact, emotionally and psychologically. Returning to the country and to his unit by january, he arrived in time for the tet offensive, as communist forces launched a coordinated attack across south vietnam against the american interlopers in 1968. By every quantitative metric, this campaign was a setback for the communists, but the end result was a psychological collapse from which the americans never recovered.
he left asia in the fall of 1968 and enrolled in ucla’s film school. In 2017 ben caldwell and a contingent of americans visited vietnam and were amazed at the reception they received, in light of the devastation suffered at the hands of the u.S. Military.
how the strike down of dei affects small businesses
june 4, 2025
by caleb pugh
staff writer
the overarching goal of the diversity, equity and inclusion (dei) program was to assist marginalized groups by providing them with resources for their businesses and creating an equal playing field in the employment industry. When trump took office, he signed an executive order “ending radical and wasteful government dei programs and preferencing” laid off federal dei staff and no longer required federal contractors to use affirmative action and diversity programs. The order “ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity” rescinded several past executive orders meant to curb discrimination and encouraged private sector employers to “end illegal dei discrimination and preferences.”
businesses, community organizations, and non-profits were completely altered. Government and corporate jobs, and federal funding substantially decreased.
target, meta platforms, lowe’s and others, dismantled their dei programs. 20 republican attorney generals demanded costco wholesale to abandon its dei policies.
according to the harvard business review, three percent of black women can sustain their business beyond five years, compared to seven percent of white women.
according to the national women’s business council, black women-owned businesses face higher loan rejection rates, and lower funding compared to their white counterparts. Black women receive just 0.2 percent of venture capital funding despite owning 17 percent of businesses in the u.S.
dei efforts in the 60s were a by-product of the civil rights movement. Affirmative action policies addressed the historical underrepresentation of certain ethnic groups. In the 70’s dei encompassed gender equality through the rise of the feminist movement and the equal rights amendment (era). In the 80s, dei efforts recognized and addressed the needs of various identity groups (ethnic, religious, and lgbtq+ communities.)
the u.S. Has 33.2 million small businesses, which constitute 99.9 percent of all businesses.
over 40 percent of small business owners are women, 24 percent are immigrants, and nearly one in five are racial minorities.
at the height of dei in 2020-2023, disadvantaged businesses received approximately 12 percent of contract dollars while black-owned only received 1.61 percent and black-owned firms only received 1.54 percent of $637 billion in small business-eligible federal contracting.
la is combatting this equity problem by creating the get in the game initiative accompanied by the get in the game la supplier resource hub, an online digital platform to equip regional small businesses with the tools, connections, and insights they need to compete for procurement opportunities tied to the upcoming global sporting events the city is hosting, including the 2026 fifa world cup and the 2028 olympic and paralympic games.
the get in the game initiative aims to provide tailored support to more than 1,000 small business suppliers, deploy more than $10 million in financing, and facilitate connection to more than $100 million in contracts for small and diverse businesses by 2030.
peaceful protests in los angeles following ice raids
june 11, 2025
by kaleef starks
editor in chief
in june, u.S. Immigration and customs enforcement (ice) raids launched in the greater los angeles area. “Ice is basically kidnapping hardworking people by going to their jobs. It’s our duty to stand up for them and fight back,” said janet vasquez, a protestor.
the federal government sent 1,000 national guard troops to la, overriding gov. Newsom and mayor bass’ objections.
over 2,000 ca national guard troops, 700 marines, and lapd were sent to protest sites. Mayor bass implemented a temporary 8:00pm curfew for downtown la. The following day, at least 400 people were arrested. A report, according to abc7, showed online videos of ice agents chasing farm workers through fields in oxnard, calif. According to president trump, “it can only go right by having the military; it deescalates. These people are agitators and troublemakers. I believe many of them are being paid… these are insurrectionists…”. On his truth social account, he also said, “the great people of los angeles are very lucky i made the decision to go in and help!!!”
mayor karen bass, at a press conferences said, “trump didn’t inherit a crisis—he created one. To those stoking alongside him—la will hold you accountable.”
janet vasquez said, “the real violence is families being torn apart by this regime, by trump, and all of the others who support this.”
donald morgan, a south l.A. Native fully supports the mass deportation efforts. Currently unemployed and attempting to complete his cdl license in truck driving school, morgan stands with donald trump as he believes migrants have taken resources from people like him, making it even harder for american citizens. “If they are here illegally, that is considered a crime.”
civil rights attorney, areva martin shared that law enforcement officers cannot enter a person’s home without a judge-signed search warrant, and that an administrative warrant signed by the department of homeland security is not a sufficient form of documentation to enter a person’s home.
a statement from newsom’s office read: “donald trump is creating fear and terror by failing to adhere to the u.S. Constitution and overstepping his authority. This is a manufactured crisis to allow him to take over a state militia, damaging the very foundation of our republic. Every governor, red or blue, should reject this outrageous overreach. This is beyond incompetence—this is him intentionally causing chaos, terrorizing communities, and endangering the principles of our great democracy. It is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism. We will not let this stand.”
juneteenth: evolving freedom or evolving strategy?
june 18, 2025
by william covington
ow contributor
known as emancipation day, freedom day, or the country’s second independence day, juneteenth stands as one of the most important anniversaries in our nation’s history. It commemorates the delayed announcement of emancipation to enslaved african americans. According to javon johnson phd., Professor and director of african american and african diaspora studies university of nevada las vegas, “there were several written instruments drafted regarding freedom, but none directly gave us our freedom. The civil war was fought first and foremost to save the union—not to free the slaves,” johnson states.
when lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation, it only applied to the states in rebellion—the confederacy. Maryland, delaware, kentucky, and missouri, were loyal to the union.
the proclamation functioned more as a strategic war measure than a humanitarian declaration. “It was a conditional freedom and a geopolitical maneuver as it promised freedom only if the union won the war,” according to johnson.
donald h. Boyle, mccausland professor of history emeritus at the university of south carolina, explains in his book, cause of all nations that lincoln’s proclamation was designed to discourage britain and france, which had already abolished slavery from aiding the confederacy. By reframing the civil war as a moral crusade against slavery, lincoln ensured european sentiments. Both britain and france were heavily dependent on cotton imports from the confederate south. “British and french citizens saw the union as fighting for freedom,” boyle writes.
russia supported the union and docked fleets at ports in new york and san francisco. Austria and prussia, while neutral, took interest in the conflict—prussia sent military observers.
although the emancipation proclamation had been issued in 1863, union general gordon granger arrived in galveston, texas, to issue general order no. 3, in june 1865 which declared all enslaved people free.
some texas slaveholders waited until after the harvest to announce the change. “According to johnson, “many freedmen were told to remain on plantations and work for extremely low wages.” Historian angie debo estimated that nearly 10,000 african slaves remained in bondage north of texas, in what was then known as indian territory—modern-day oklahoma. The creek tribe became the final tribe to abolish slavery on june 14, 1866.
two union-loyal states—delaware and kentucky—continued to permit slavery until the 13th amendment was ratified on december 6, 1865.
black americans faced new systems of subjugation—sharecropping, black codes, convict leasing, and later, jim crow laws—that perpetuated dependency and inequality.
juneteenth challenges us to reflect not just on what was declared, but what was truly delivered.
culture, change, and sly stone
june 25, 2025
by gregg reese
ow contributor
greek mythology holds that icarus achieved the ability to fly with a pair of wings fashioned by his father from a concoction of feathers and beeswax. Icarus became so caught up in the joy of flight that he ignored his father’s admonishment not to fly near the sun, and plummeted to his death as the wax melted from the solar heat.
this tale has passed down over the centuries as a metaphor for the dangers of brash arrogance, pride, and the seductive side effect of success thee iconic sly stone experienced. Sylvester stewart, in his stage incarnation as sly stone, enjoyed stratospheric success before he was 30 years old. His most productive era between 1968-1975. He lived to reach a respectable 82, even if he never regained the pinnacle of his prime.
community, non-conformity, and the possibility of change
the stewart family moved to california from east texas with the great migration of the 1940s, bringing with them the gospel drenched styling of the church of god in christ. Sly honed his multi-instrumentalist skills in the multi-racial, liberal environs of the bay area. He brought his eclectic sensibilities into his disc jockey gig and as a musician on the club circuit where he befriended saxophonist jerry martini. Martini remembers sly as a “…visionary man who could see beyond the limitations that were present in those days.”
martini opened the possibility of a musical union cutting across gender and racial boundaries. The then novel approach of a multi-colored, bi-gender, septet sharing instrumental and vocal duties yielded hit singles and live shows, attracting both black and white audiences. By the time of the landmark woodstock music & art fair at summer’s end, 1969, the family stone evolved into a coherent collective.
the ebb and flow of funk
“…the shows were sometimes as short as the candle i was burning at both ends.” —Sly stone on the uneven performances of his decline.
advances in pharmacology and an increase in recreational substance use arrived and sly and the family stone were poster-children for this period of excess.
“when sly moved to la from the bay area, the dynamics of the band changed.”
the recording process occurred in stages as the rhythmic “core” of a song might be established, then other parts would be added later. For the horn section of martini and trumpeter cynthia robinson (who would later bear sly a daughter), providing a cushion upon which they could improvise.
disappearance and rebirth
“…i just do not want to return to a fixed home. I cannot stand being in one place. I must keep moving.” Essence magazine interview.
sly became a recluse, operating out of a home studio in a la mansion and eventually lived in a mobile home on a side street in the la crenshaw district.
split verdict reached in diddy trial
july 2, 2025
by marcellus cole
ow contributor
the federal trial of sean “diddy” combs reached its climax as a manhattan jury delivered a split verdict in a case that gripped the nation for months. After nearly eight weeks of testimony and three days of deliberation, the jury found combs guilty on two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution, while acquitting him on the more severe charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion.
a federal investigation began in late 2023, catalyzed by a civil lawsuit filed by combs’s former partner, singer and model cassie ventura. Her complaint, which detailed years of alleged abuse and coercion, sparked a broader probe into combs’s personal and professional life. In may 2024, federal agents raided combs’s properties in los angeles and miami, seizing electronics, surveillance equipment, narcotics, and what prosecutors later described as “materials consistent with organized sex trafficking.”
the case went to trial on may 12, 2025, where prosecutors presented evidence, they claimed pointed to a long running criminal enterprise. Central to their narrative were the alleged “freak offs”, drug fueled group sex parties allegedly orchestrated by combs. Prosecutors alleged these encounters were not consensual, but rather the product of psychological coercion, substance use, and financial manipulation.
34 witnesses testified for the government. Among them was ventura, who spent four days on the stand detailing what she described as a pattern of manipulation, violence, and sexual exploitation. Another key witness, known by pseudonym, “jane,” described being pressured into sex acts while intoxicated. Other testimonies came from former employees, including brendan paul, combs’s personal assistant. Paul admitted to procuring cocaine, lsd, mdma, ketamine, and marijuana as directed by combs.
homeland security investigations agent joseph cerciello, presented hotel reservations, wire transfers, and surveillance videos, meant to tie combs to the broader structure of trafficking and coercion. Prosecutors argued that combs used his power, wealth, and reputation to control women’s movements and exploit them sexually, often across state lines.
the defense rested after just 23 minutes, calling no witnesses and relying solely on submitted text messages between combs and ventura, which they argued showed warmth and mutual affection.
the jury’s verdict was not guilty on racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, but guilty on two counts of transportation for prostitution. Each conviction carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison sparring combs a life sentence under federal racketeering statutes.
“racketeering and sex trafficking require very specific legal thresholds,” said former federal prosecutor reema patel.”
beyond criminal penalties, combs faces a mounting wave of civil litigation. Almost 80 civil suits have been filed against him across multiple jurisdictions, alleging misconduct. Plaintiffs allege physical assault, sexual violence, and labor violations.
the tsa and the dismantling of democracy
july 16, 2025
by cynthia gibson
ow contributor
as government jobs are eliminated, the influence of unions diluted, federal agencies unraveled, and democratic checks and balances are evaporating, power is coalescing under one branch of government – the executive branch. Lawyer and former georgia state representative stacy abrams gave an overview of a ten-step system to create an autocracy as original developed by kim scheppele, a foremost expert on how legal and constitutional instruments can be used to destroy democracies.
dismantling democracy
abram contends that after exceeding the boundaries of power, neutralizing or eliminating checks and balances on power, such as the supreme court and congress, and demonizing the media, democracy is being diminished.
“you fire the center for disease control so that vaccine rates drop and the disease rises. You fire fema so that when there’s a natural disaster, the only way you get what you need is by begging for it. You gut the civil service so that no one can do the work the democracy is supposed to protect.”
she continued, “other steps include firing anyone that disagrees with you and hire only those who pledge loyalty; suing anyone expressing independent thought; deflecting blame for society’s ills onto groups you deem have less power – women; children, people of color, immigrants; and incentivizing violence by kidnapping people off the street.” Lastly, she said. “You make sure no one ever votes again.”
the evaporating american dream
american workers whose goal is to land a ‘good government and unionized job, will be disappointed as democracy diminishes.
trump issued an executive order (eo) to establish the department of government efficiency. Thus far, it is estimated that doge has eliminated over 280,000 jobs.
eliminating safety public nets
the transportation security administration (tsa) is part of the u.S. Department of homeland security (dhs), established after 911. Dhs ended the collective bargaining agreement with thousands of frontline tsa employees. Collective bargaining rights were stripped from roughly 47,000 transportation security officers (tsos) responsible for staffing airports and blocking weapons or explosives from airplanes.
project 2025 (p25):
a blueprint for centralized power
both de-unionizing and privatizing tsa come directly out of p25, a political initiative to reshape the federal government and consolidate eo. P25 was published by the heritage foundation, a conservative think tank. The 900 page document contains four major pillars: restore the family, dismantle the administrative state, defend national sovereignty and secure individual rights as defined by conservative christian values.
— restoring the family by eliminating the department of education and banning abortions nationwide.
— dismantle the administrative state giving the president full control of all departments under the executive branch i.E., The justice department should report to the president or be eliminated.
— defend the nation’s sovereignty by closing the borders and reducing legal and illegal immigration.
secure individual rights by not separating church and state and government should operate using christian principles.
black women’s unemployment is rising dangerously high
july 30, 2025
by caleb pugh
staff writer
since the pandemic, the job market has yet to recover from the massive closure of small businesses and corporate jobs. While many pivot to become entrepreneurs, start new careers, or go back to school, the majority continue to be unemployed.
approximately 300,000 black women have left the u.S. Labor force. According to the u.S. Bureau of labor data, 106,000 black women working for federal agencies were fired. And more than 518,000 are unemployed. According to the bureau’s website, unemployment skyrocketed to 15 percent in 2020. The rollback of dei policies has affected black women the hardest.
dante deantonio, labor economist for moody’s analytics, told fox business, “we estimate that about 100,000 federal workers have already been laid off or have accepted the deferred buyout offered by the trump administration. “The approximately 75,000 workers who agreed to the deferred buyout were paid through september, so we will begin to see more impact to the labor market. More layoffs are likely to follow” deantonio explained.
“total employment in the united states is 160 million with 7 million unemployed. “However, studies show that for every federal employee, there are two contractors. As a result, layoffs could potentially be closer to 1 million.” Torsten slok, a partner and chief economist at apollo global management, explained.
according to a new york times tracker of federal job cuts, the u.S. Departments of education jobs reduced by 46 percent (40% from minority communities) and health and human services (hhs) by 24 percent.
the federal aviation administration (faa) has long been criticized for its lack of diversity. According to the most recent federal data, the agency was composed of 57 percent white men compared with 4.4 percent black women.
scott michelman, an aclu of dc attorney stated, “i think a good question is who is making the decisions in terms of terminations, and how are those decisions being made, and what is the criteria for those decisions?” Brian thompson, clinical professor of economics at depaul university said “if those decisions are made based on objective information, performance data, and so forth, i think it becomes much easier to kind of digest the information.”
issues like unemployment contribute to disproportionate wealth and economic mobility for black and latino households. Data from the federal reserve system shows that between 2019 and 2022, the median wealth for white households was $285,000. It was $62,000 for latino households and $44,890 for black households—an increase from $27,970.
the beheading of ‘bojangles’
august 6, 2025
by william covington
ow contributor
according to the medical journal forensic science international, many art historians are familiar with ancient sculptures and paintings that depict beheadings—whether of real people or characters from mythological or biblical narratives. Artists across centuries have chosen to represent these images on canvas, exploring themes of power, violence, morality, and human condition.
the majority of professionals interviewed for this story, including detectives, psychologists, and coroner investigators agree that most homicidal decapitations are fueled by deep anger projected at the victim.
on june 15, james “bojangles” hollis, 75, became one of those tragic victims. A decade later, his former neighbor, william j. Fowler of youngstown ohio was charged with the inglewood murder.
a family statement read: “he was a kind and generous spirit who was a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Robert lived his life as a sign artist and gospel singer. His voice touched many, and his spirit motivated more. His voice and spirit will be deeply missed.”
bojangles the artist, urban icon, and the lamborghini espada
according to car enthusiast michael evans, hollis’s work included classic chevrolets, vans, kawasaki 900 and 1000 motorcycles and an unforgettable lamborghini espada. His signature was to place his bojangles logo on the quarter panel of each car, motorcycle and other transportation in which he applied his art.
a personality beyond the paint
view park resident, russell miles described hollis as “cantankerous, especially in his shop.” He could crack a joke, make you laugh, or set you straight.” His barber frank, shared that hollis loved to sing and was active at faithful central bible church.
an anonymous neighbor’s perspective
i met fowler when he brought some correspondence from the veterans administration (va) addressed to me that had fallen near our apartment mailbox. We exchanged some pleasantries. Right off the bat, he rubbed me the wrong way—mostly because i wasn’t a marine, just a “lowly” army vet in his eyes.
at some point, he told me he’d been part of force recon—the marine corps’ elite unit known for high-risk missions. He claimed he’d suffered injuries while deployed in the middle east and that the va wasn’t helping him.
i referred him to first sergeant jack mcdowell (retired). Jack is a member of the montford point marines, the black marines who helped integrate the corps in the 1940s.
mcdowell confirmed that fowler was a force recon member and agreed to help him.
the great shift in women’s sports
august 27, 2025
by caleb pugh
staff writer
college sports have been a gateway for culture-shifting moments not only in sports history but also in american history. Starting with usc’s football team traveling to play alabama in 1970 and changing how black athletes were viewed in the southern state, trojan legend cheryl miller winning consecutive ncaa championships in 1983 and 1984-becoming a three-time naismith award recipient, and recent retiree coach nick saban rivaling-if not besting, bear bryant as the greatest college coach of all time.
a shift impacting the landscape in college sports and the pros is the women’s national basketball association (wnba). Collegiate women’s basketball always drew attention, especially during march madness, as the 2025 championship viewership peaked at 9.9 million views, while averaging 8 million views overall. The wnba is still playing catch-up with its collegiate counterpart, as the commissioner’s cup brought in 2.7 million views for the chicago sky and indiana fever game, a 14 percent increase from last year’s.
wnba is the professional women’s basketball league in the us, created in 1996 with the support of the nba.
today, the wnba has become the global benchmark for women’s basketball. In 2024, the average attendance per game jumped 48 percent to 9,807 spectators, and over 54 million unique viewers followed the season across six national networks. This shift happened in 2021 when college sports granted athletes the ability to make money from their name, image, and likeness (nil).
the equation has changed, and not just for women’s basketball. The rise across all women’s sports has been steadily gaining momentum recently. From soccer to hockey to volleyball, women’s sports are experiencing a record-shattering surge like never before.
—national women’s soccer league (nwsl) commissioner jessica berman.
“there aren’t too many players, but for those of us who have been in the nwsl since its inception, we’ve played through a lot. We’ve played through understaffed teams, inadequate facilities, and turf so hot it melted the bottom of my cleats,”
—angel city forward christen press.
women’s flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the us. In 2023, nearly 500,000 girls aged 6 to 17 played flag football, a 63 percent increase since 2019. At the high school level, participation doubled in one year, with 42,955 girls playing on school teams in 2023-24. “This reflects the growth of women’s football around the world; it’s one of the most popular, fastest-growing forms of sport around the world.”
—ioc sports director kit mcconnell.
the human touch at risk?
september 3, 2025
by marcellus cole
ow contributor
artificial intelligence (ai) is not as a futuristic idea but a force already reshaping daily life. At the ports, the possibility of driverless trucks threatens to upend logistics. In hollywood, studios are exploring ai to generate scripts and edit films. Gig workers see algorithms dictating their routes and paychecks, while clerical staff watch chatbots take over basic office duties.
heron ziegel, a software developer and consultant at los angeles ai consulting, puts it bluntly: “i’d say around 70 percent of companies are using generated ai content right now.”
globally, ai is projected to impact between 30 and 40 percent of jobs by 2030, according to a mckinsey study. The world economic forum estimates that 83 million roles could be automated by 2027, even as 69 million new ones emerge.
la’s economic backbone rests on sectors directly in ai’s crosshairs:
• gig work: 300,000 angelenos earn income as drivers for delivery apps such as uber, lyft, and doordash.
• trucking and logistics: the la and long beach ports employ roughly 110,000 truck drivers and support staff, many of whom could be displaced by driverless freight rigs.
• media and journalism: writers, editors, and designer jobs are threatened as ai can generate articles, edit footage, and design marketing campaigns.
• clerical and admin: ai is being used as receptionists, schedulers, and office assistants.
ai is not replacing everyone overnight. But it is creeping, reshaping, and rewriting the scripts of daily life.
censorship, media repression, and the definition of free speech
september 24, 2025
by gregg reese
ow contributor
president trump’s made accused former president joe biden’s administration of colluding with university researchers and social media companies against conservative interests. Social media platforms “x” and facebook were accused anti-conservative bias–covering up the scandal involving the laptop of president biden’s son, hunter which prompted the following:
according to executive order 14149, restoring freedom of speech and ending federal censorship: “the first amendment to the united states constitution, an amendment essential to the success of our republic, enshrines the right of the american people to speak freely in the public square without government interference. Over the last 4 years, the previous administration trampled free speech rights by censoring americans’ speech on online platforms, often by exerting substantial coercive pressure on third parties, such as social media companies, to moderate, deplatform, or otherwise suppress speech that the federal government did not approve.”
mutual charges of ideological bias
civil rights attorney areva martin said, “rather than championing the bedrock ideal upon which the country was founded, evidence indicates that maga loyalists are intent on persecuting anyone with alternative viewpoints on the political forum, a position held by california state university-dominguez hills academic and political scientist dr. Anthony asadullah samad.
“the events of the day have evidenced that dissenters and others with differing world views are being targeted,” said samad.
the aclu accused trump’s administration of using its power to undermine anyone whose opinions differ from those of the republican mandate. Trump pressured the federal communications commission to revoke the broadcasting licenses of tv networks whose programming selections run afoul of the dictates of the gop.
paying the price for past glory
“there was an ideological shift towards nationalism (driven by the tea party) that was anti-race and anti-gender (the period of the angry white male)…” said samad.
“…the current political climate is clearly a backlash to the progress made by african americans, women, and other marginalized groups. Gains in civil rights, representation, and equity have triggered resistance from those who feel threatened by this shift,” said martin.
this majority resentment and efforts to reverse the progress of the marginalized were sown as far back as the 1980s, as a phrase called “reverse discrimination” emerged in the wake of affirmative action.
“diversity and equity always drive public sentiment, that’s because others are finally getting access to rights denied in the past…,” samad said.
“rather than protecting first amendment rights, the trump administration has used the rhetoric of “free speech” to consolidate ideological control and target dissenting voices…” martin said.
washington’s stalemate hits south l.A.’S safety net
october 15, 2025
by william covington
ow contributor
the federal government shutdown began oct. 1, 2025. The fallout has reached far beyond washington. In south la, many families already live on the financial edge, the impact of the shutdown is visible at food banks, health clinics, housing programs and storefronts.
“when washington goes dark, south la feels it first,” said shelia coe, an administrator at the la regional food bank. “For wealthier neighborhoods, it’s an inconvenience. For south l.A., It’s a full-scale emergency.”
a white house council of economic advisers memo released oct. 3 estimated the u.S. Economy will lose roughly $15 billion in gross domestic product each week as hundreds of thousands of workers remain furloughed or unpaid.
food and nutrition programs under strain
coe said the food bank’s south l.A. Partner sites are already seeing longer lines. “Families depend on wic, snap and school meals,” according to coe.”
to keep the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children (wic) running, the u.S. Department of agriculture released $300 million in emergency “temporary” funds at the start of the shutdown. “These are stopgaps, not solutions,” coe said.
health clinics on the brink
community health centers throughout south la serve as lifelines for low-income residents, offering vaccinations, prenatal care and chronic disease management. Many rely on federal health resources and services administration grants and medicaid which are now paused.
thurston reese, an administrator with the la county department of health services, said “about a third of california’s community clinics depend on federal funding. When those cycles stop, we risk layoffs, reduced hours and the closure of specialty programs like dental or mental health.”
at the vernon-florence community health clinic, director maria torres said her team is operating at the limits. “We don’t have a margin for error,” she said. “When federal funding freezes, clinics like ours feel it right away.”
housing and homelessness programs
section 8 housing and homelessness-prevention grants rely on steady federal dollars. Delays in processing or renewals create eviction risks.
“federal slowdowns mean fewer vouchers, longer waits and more people sleeping in cars,” said jackie harrison, a housing advocate and counselor with the homeless outreach program integrated care system.
the la homeless services authority reported 72,195 people experiencing homelessness countywide in 2025.
ripple effects for small businesses
small businesses that rely on steady working-class traffic are feeling the pinch too.
“our customers are bus drivers, janitors, city workers and other working class. “When they’re not getting paid, they’re not coming in,” said kenneth robinson, barber on western avenue. |
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| Open Essay Contest for All Graduating High School Seniors - Including Home?Schoo |
| Posted on Friday, January 02 @ 00:00:43 PST (11 reads) | |
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Breaking: nationwide essay contest opens to all high school seniors, homeschoolers included
table of contents
1. Breaking: nationwide essay contest opens to all high school seniors, homeschoolers included2. What we certainly no so far3. Rapid facts4. Why this matters for young writers5. Engage with us6. Nd place$3,000certificate of achievement, inclusion in the “top 10 essays” e?Magazine.3rd place$1,500access to a free online writing workshop (valued at $250).Honorable mentions (4–10)$250 eachdigital badge for linkedin and school portfolios.All cash awards are payable via direct deposit or check within 30 days of the winners announcement.7. What is the open essay contest for graduating seniors?8. Eligibility requirements9. Contest theme & prompt10. How to register & submit11. Prize structure & award details12. Judging process & criteria13. Benefits of participating14. Practical tips for a winning essay15. Real?World example: 2024 archyde contest highlight16. Frequently asked questions (faq)17. Next steps for interested seniors
today, organizers announced a nationwide essay contest that welcomes every graduating high school senior, including homeschooled students. The event promises prize money in multiple amounts for qualifying submissions.
the initial briefing stresses accessibility and opportunity for emerging writers. The contest positions itself as a platform for young voices to showcase writing talent and critical thinking,with scholarships anticipated for top entries.
what we certainly no so far
- eligibility: open to all graduating high school seniors, including homeschooled students.
- prizes: awards will be presented in varying amounts.
- deadline and submissions: information on deadlines and submission procedures is forthcoming from organizers.
- purpose: the contest aims to recognize and reward strong writing among new graduates.
rapid facts
| aspect | details |
|---|---|
| eligibility | all graduating high school seniors, including homeschooled students |
| prizes | awards will be presented in various amounts |
| submission window | details to be announced by organizers |
| entry topic | not specified in initial briefing |
why this matters for young writers
scholarship contests like this can provide early validation for students pursuing higher education, journalism, or creative writing. Experts say early readiness improves performance in scholarship applications, and portfolios built for such competitions can aid in college admissions and financial aid decisions.
practical tips to maximize your chances include starting early, reading prompts carefully, crafting a clear narrative or argument, and seeking feedback from teachers or mentors. For official guidance and writing resources, explore reputable sources from education authorities and scholarship portals.
for additional guidance on writing scholarships and contests,consider resources from established organizations like the college board and reputable scholarship portals.
engage with us
what would you write about if you entered this contest? Do you plan to participate, and why?
share your thoughts in the comments and tag classmates who might benefit from this opportunity.
nd place
$3,000
certificate of achievement, inclusion in the “top 10 essays” e?Magazine.
3rd place
$1,500
access to a free online writing workshop (valued at $250).
honorable mentions (4–10)
$250 each
digital badge for linkedin and school portfolios.
all cash awards are payable via direct deposit or check within 30 days of the winners announcement.
what is the open essay contest for graduating seniors?
- target audience: all high?School seniors who will graduate in 2026 – public, private, charter, and homeschool students.
- purpose: recognize academic excellence, promote critical thinking, and award cash prizes that can be used for college expenses, travel, or personal projects.
- organizer:
archydeeducation initiative, a non?Profit dedicated to equal?Prospect academic competitions.
eligibility requirements
| requirement | details |
|---|---|
| graduation status | must be officially listed as a graduating senior for the 2025?2026 school year. |
| age range | 17 – 19 years old at the contest deadline. |
| residency | open to u.S. Residents; international seniors may apply if enrolled in a u.S.Accredited program or recognized homeschooling association. |
| previous wins | no limit on past contest participation, but winners of the same year’s archyde cash prize are ineligible for repeat cash awards. |
| submission format | word document (.Doc/.Docx) or pdf, 1,200–2,500 words, double?Spaced, 12?Pt times new roman or arial. |
contest theme & prompt
“the role of youth voices in shaping tomorrow’s society.”
participants may explore topics such as climate activism, digital citizenship, education reform, or any issue where young people can drive change.
tip: align your argument with current events (e.G., 2025 u.S. Climate bill, global ai ethics debate) to demonstrate relevance and depth.
how to register & submit
- create an account on the archyde portal (archyde.Com/essay?Contest).
- verify your senior status by uploading a copy of your graduation confirmation letter or homeschool transcript.
- complete the entry form (name, school/home?School name, contact details, short bio).
- upload your essay (max 5 mb).
- pay the nominal fee of $10 (waivers available for low?Income applicants).
- confirm submission – you’ll recieve an automated email with a receipt and reference number.
deadline: 2026?03?31 23:59 pt. Late entries are not accepted.
prize structure & award details
| rank | cash prize | additional benefits |
|---|---|---|
| 1st place | $5,000 | featured on archyde blog,interview with the chronicle of higher education,and a mentorship session with a college admissions expert. |
| 2nd place | $3,000 | certificate of achievement,inclusion in the “top 10 essays” e?Magazine. |
| 3rd place | $1,500 | access to a free online writing workshop (valued at $250). |
| honorable mentions (4–10) | $250 each | digital badge for linkedin and school portfolios. |
all cash awards are payable via direct deposit or check within 30 days of the winners announcement.
judging process & criteria
- panel composition: three educators (high?School english teachers), one university professor in communication studies, and one youth?Rights activist.
- scoring rubric (100 points total):
- relevance to prompt – 25 pts
- originality & insight – 20 pts
- evidence & research – 20 pts
- institution & flow – 15 pts
- mechanics (grammar, style) – 10 pts
- impact & persuasiveness – 10 pts
clarity: after the contest, archyde will publish anonymized scoring sheets for each winning entry.
benefits of participating
- college?Submission boost: essays recognized by a national contest strengthen personal statements and scholarship essays.
- financial support: cash prizes can directly offset tuition, textbooks, or living expenses.
- skill progress: structured feedback from professional judges sharpens critical thinking and research abilities.
- networking: winners join an alumni community of past archyde participants, gaining access to internships and mentorships.
- recognition for homeschoolers: provides a widely?Recognized platform to showcase academic rigor outside traditional classrooms.
practical tips for a winning essay
- start early: allocate at least three weeks for brainstorming, drafting, and revising.
- create a thesis roadmap: your opening paragraph should state a clear, arguable claim that guides the entire essay.
- use credible sources: cite at least three reputable references (e.G.,Government reports,peer?Reviewed articles) and include a bibliography in apa format.
- show, don’t tell: incorporate personal anecdotes that illustrate how you’ve engaged with the chosen issue.
- edit ruthlessly:
- run a spell?Check and grammar scan (grammarly,hemingway).
- read aloud to catch awkward phrasing.
- ask a teacher, peer, or parent for a second review.
- adhere to word count: essays under 1,200 words risk being under?Developed; over 2,500 words may be truncated during evaluation.
- format exactly as required: improper file type or formatting can lead to disqualification.
real?World example: 2024 archyde contest highlight
- winner: maya patel, a graduating senior from a california homeschooling cooperative.
- essay title: “digital literacy as the new civic duty.”
- key success factors:
- integrated recent fcc broadband initiatives and statistical data from pew research.
- combined personal experience leading a community coding club with policy analysis.
- demonstrated clear solutions (youth?Led digital workshops) and a compelling call to action.
maya’s essay was later featured in the huffington post as a model for “youth?Centered policy writing,” illustrating the contest’s potential for media exposure.
frequently asked questions (faq)
q: can i submit multiple essays?
a: only one entry per senior is allowed. Though, you may submit a revised version before the deadline if you withdraw the previous file.
q: what if i’m homeschooled but not part of an association?
a: provide a notarized statement from a parent or tutor confirming your enrollment and graduation plans.
q: are ther any tax implications for the cash prizes?
a: prizes exceeding $600 are reported to the irs; recipients will receive a form 1099?Misc.
q: how are disputes handled?
a: an independent arbitration panel reviews any appeals within 14 days of the winners announcement.
next steps for interested seniors
- mark the calendar: submission deadline – 31 march 2026.
- gather documents: graduation proof, research sources, and a draft outline.
- visit the portal: begin registration now to secure a spot and claim any fee waiver you qualify for.
- start writing: follow the tips section to craft a compelling, well?Researched essay that stands out. |
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| Pritzkers Pretzels |
| Posted on Friday, January 02 @ 00:00:43 PST (9 reads) | |
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The brother and sister team have found a way to destroy a great state and a formerly premier university.
jb and penny pritzker are scions of the hyatt family dynasty. Each has, on paper, had an impressive career of public and private service. Both are destroyers. While they are not twins, they both seem to employ the same techniques to ruin whatever they can get their hands on.
jb famously removed five toilets from a chicago gold coast mansion so as to avoid paying $330,000 in tax. This ploy is reminiscent of john kerry parking his yacht in a lower-tax state or bruce springsteen and others selling their hugely valuable music catalogs before democratic-inspired taxes kicked in. Democrats are thrilled when you pay more taxes; they themselves always seem to find new ways to avoid paying their own. As elon musk paid $10 billion in taxes last year, he should be their favorite american. But like with larry elder, jr., Credentials end when your worldview does not comport with their rigid thinking. They hate musk for doge, his association with maga and donald trump, and for his generally conservative views. Musk related that the irs had to fix its program as it was never made to accept a payment with 10 figures.
jb will be celebrating seven years as governor of illinois, and he is apparently thinking about a white house run. Wonder if he would remove the toilets there as well. Poor putin or king charles. So, how is my home state, still near and dear to my heart, doing these days? Let’s take a peek:
- pension liabilities: $150 billion unfunded.
- state and local taxes: 10.2 percent. 7th highest level of taxation in the country. Ranks 38th overall for the competitiveness of its tax system. Highest property taxes, third-highest corporate taxes; second highest gas tax.
- population: since april 2020, the state has lost 418,000 residents. It was noted that in the period between july 2023 and june 2024, the state lost over 56,000 residents. Yet, the state’s population is growing: how? During the same time, over 112, 000 “international migrants” entered the state. Hmmm. Might that not be population replacement?
- business: the state ranked 46th in economic outlook, while chicago was ranked 42nd among cities for “the ease of doing business. Chicago itself has $40 billion in unfunded pensions.
now, let’s move over to pritzker’s older sibling, penny. She has been a “fellow” of the harvard corporation since 2018 and its head honcho since 2022. Under pritzker, harvard elevated claudine gay from copying other scholars’ research to the position of president of the university. It was under pritzker’s leadership that harvard devolved into a jew-hating campus. Jews were threatened, attacked, verbally abused, demonized and marginalized. I have to give penny pritzker credit for being as wily as her brother. When things got really bad on campus, gay was jettisoned from her position, though she conveniently returned to the faculty and kept her presidential salary. Since it was an emergency, pritzker grabbed a straight, white jewish male in the form of dr. Alan garber to be a temporary leader so as to stabilize the situation. Recently, i received consecutive emails from pritzker and garber announcing the latter’s continuation as president until at least 2027. Do you see what she did here? Under normal circumstances, such an important position would require dei approval. So she put garber in place “temporarily” and then crowned him as more than just an acting president. If she had gone to the dei apparatus, it would have blessed the university with claudine gay ii: the sequel.
as things are at harvard, garber might be the only white male to find employment at the maoist reeducation center on the charles. Professor james hankins wrote, “why i’m leaving harvard” for compact magazine. After teaching history at the university for 40 years, he is taking his skills with him to teach in florida. His criticism of harvard is brutal.
“in reviewing graduate student applicants in the fall of 2020, i came across an outstanding prospect who was a perfect fit for our program. In past years, this candidate would have risen immediately to the top of the applicant pool. In 2021, however, i was told informally by a member of the admissions committee that that (meaning admitting a white male) was not happening this year. In the same year, a certifiably brilliant undergraduate i had tutored, who was literally the best student at harvard—he won the prize for the graduating senior with the best overall academic record—was rejected from all the graduate programs to which he applied. He, too, was a white male.”
there is no such thing as “victimless” racism. It does not matter if a black man is denied entry into a restaurant or a white student is denied a position for graduate studies; somebody is going to pay. Harvard’s strength when i was there in the 1980s was that it had 50 times the number of applicants as open positions. It could take whatever it deemed was “the best”. With dei and marxist intersectionality, pritzker and her cabal at the top of america’s formerly finest institution of higher education destroyed that which others before them had built up for over 350 years. Getting into harvard was a privilege, and acceptance was a recognition of the quality of the applicant. Sure, there were sports acceptees as well as some number of legacy cases. But harvard could pick and choose from a massive applicant pool in order to make graduating classes of great students. But then color or sexual orientation trumped sat scores or high grades. The lawsuit brought by asian students against harvard showed the level of magic required to deny outstanding chinese-american students entry for the benefit of minority students whose credentials would not have made the cut in 1985. Pritzker and her coconspirators thought that they were righting wrongs and doing good. Instead, they were pushing top students to competing schools and setting the stage for the “let’s kill the jews” rallies that gay and pritzker refused to stop. They babbled on about “free speech,” yet harvard’s own rules are very clear about not creating a threatening environment for others in “the community.” They felt comfortable letting the jewish students and faculty suffer, as long as their muslim and minority students were enjoying their demands for the eradication of israel: from the river to the sea.
harvard is now out over $2 billion in federal research funding. I believe that washington should end all aid to harvard. Let it go to the capital markets as it did recently or draw down its endowment, something that has generally been considered verboten. Harvard is a cesspool of mediocrity, mental staleness, and ideological rigidity. When i was at harvard, the hasting pudding club gave sly stallone its annual prize. My friends and i had last row seats. One more row back and we would have been on the street. Today, they would never invite the rambo/rocky star as his politics are all wrong. 90 percent of the faculty in each department is lefty. Maybe they’ll accept a white guy if he has two left arms.
there are two conditions that are not the same: getting to the top and staying there. The rare individuals like ronaldo and tom brady who have done both. Harvard got to the top through outstanding leadership, faculty and students. Now at the top, penny pritzker and her buddies have decided to destroy harvard in the name of ideological purity. Good jewish students are starting to look elsewhere, where they can feel safe and enjoy their college years. When a professor leaves after 40 years, red lights should be flashing. Maybe penny removed those lights from massachusetts hall to save some money. Just like jb.
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| Woodland Charity provides aid to Poza Rica in Veracruz, Mexico |
| Posted on Friday, January 02 @ 00:00:43 PST (11 reads) | |
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By jorge coromac
woodland charity, in partnership with lenexa rotary club, the ciudad de mexico rotary club, poza rica rotary club and local community leaders, was able to provide water filter to families affected by water floods in october that affected several communities.
“this is day 68 and we are still in facing a horrible natural disaster. On oct. 10, after torrential rain from a tropical depression, a bad flood affected my community… we lost everything,” said demetria garcia from the community sector villa hermosa. “We did not have time to save something. By 5:00 a.M. On oct. 10, we were just awakened by the sirens and the bells around the community warning us of a natural disaster with a very strong water flood with rocks, cars, debris, and much much things that destroyed our homes, our school, many people died. Now, we just have our lives and we will go on.”
on dec. 17, volunteers from the ciudad de mexico rotary club, poza rica rotary club and woodland charity traveled to colonia nueva esperanza to provide portable water filters to families affected by the disastrous water floods. Colonia nueva esperanza has been identified as ground zero.
“the entire community was devastated, all homes, water services, electric services, homes, all essential services completed wipe out from the water food. Said jorge coromac from woodland charity. Cannot imagen how families were able to survive this tremendous damage.
little by little help has been getting to the families that do not have homes. No place to stay, no bed to sleep, no place to sit to eat, no stove, no bedding supplies, no cloths, no shoes, no personal identifications, no school supplies, nothing, nothing, …. But with an imaginable spirit to rebuild, to come back. Deepest admiration and respect for each member of each family that are working together to come back. Said coromac.
we had been working since october 10th to provide aid to the victims of this disaster… from warm meals, cloth, rubber boots, water bottles, blankets, cleaning supplies, mattress, medical checkups, over the counter medicine, etc., Product of the generosity from the people of poza rica as well all over mexico. We are so grateful for all the volunteers of poza rica that include the rotaract college students, families and friends that unify efforts with the members of the poza rica rotary club, said rotarian lic. Jose “pepe” badillo.
we are so happy that we were able to provide water filters to 85 families in nueva esperanza, 100% of the families received training in how to use and how to provide maintenance to the water filters, said president of the ciudad de mexico rotary club peter peterson. All families expressed deepest gratitude for these portable water filters donated by lenexa rotary club of kansas.
since the earthquake on 2017 lenexa rotary club and woodland have been supporting communities in mexico city and now, we at ciudad de mexico rotary club are so happy to coordinate and team up with lenexa rotary club, poza rica rotary club and woodland charity to help the families of poza rica, conclude president petersen. Additional to the water filters the families received toilet paper and home hygiene supplies that poza rica rotary club was able to provide. Ciudad de mexico rotary club will continue coordinating with poza rica rotary club and will be able to provide more supplies in the following weeks.
woodland charity is a no for profit organization that engages with volunteers and supporters to provide humanitarian assistance to families and communities affected by natural disasters. To learn more about woodland charity and how to support the programs or to become a volunteer contact jorgec@woodlandcharity.Org
woodland charity ofrece ayuda humanitaria a poza rica en veracruz, méxico
woodland charity, en colaboración con el club rotario de lenexa, el club rotario de ciudad de méxico, el club rotario de poza rica y líderes comunitarios locales, proporcionó filtros de agua a las familias afectadas por las inundaciones que afectaron varias comunidades el 10 de octubre.
“hoy es el día 68 y seguimos enfrentando un terrible desastre natural. El 10 de octubre, tras las lluvias torrenciales causadas por una depresión tropical, una fuerte inundación afectó mi comunidad… lo perdimos todo… no tenemos tiempo para salvar nada. A las 5:00 a. M. Del 10 de octubre, nos despertaron las sirenas y campanas de la comunidad advirtiéndonos de un desastre natural con una fuerte inundación con rocas, autos, escombros y muchas cosas que destruyeron nuestros hogares, nuestra escuela y muchas personas murieron. Ahora, solo nos queda nuestra vida y seguiremos adelante”, dijo demetria garcía, del sector villa hermosa.
el 17 de diciembre, voluntarios del club rotario de ciudad de méxico, el club rotario de poza rica y woodland charity viajaron a colonia nueva esperanza para proporcionar filtros de agua portátiles a las familias afectadas por las desastrosas inundaciones. Colonia nueva esperanza ha sido identificada como zona cero. Toda la comunidad quedó devastada… todas las casas, los servicios de agua, los servicios eléctricos, las viviendas, todos los servicios esenciales quedaron completamente destruidos. Comentó jorge coromac de woodland charity. No puedo imaginar cómo las familias lograron sobrevivir a este tremendo desastre.
poco a poco, la ayuda ha llegado a las familias que no tienen hogar. Sin lugar donde quedarse, sin cama para dormir, sin lugar para sentarse a comer, sin estufa, sin suministros de cama, sin ropa, sin zapatos, sin identificaciones personales, sin útiles escolares, nada, nada… pero con un espíritu inimaginable de reconstrucción, de regreso. Mi más profunda admiración y respeto por cada miembro de cada familia que está trabajando unida para regresar. Comentó coromac.
hemos estado trabajando desde el 10 de octubre para brindar ayuda a las víctimas de este desastre: desde comidas calientes, tela, botas de goma, botellas de agua, cobijas, artículos de limpieza, colchones, chequeos médicos, medicamentos sin receta, etc., Gracias a la generosidad de la gente de poza rica y de todo méxico. Estamos muy agradecidos con todos los voluntarios de poza rica, incluyendo a los estudiantes universitarios de rotaract, familias y amigos que unen esfuerzos con los miembros del club rotario de poza rica, dijo el rotario lic. José “pepe” badillo.
nos complace haber podido proporcionar filtros de agua a las 85 familias de nueva esperanza. El 100% de las familias recibieron capacitación sobre el uso y el mantenimiento de los filtros de agua, dijo el presidente del club rotario de ciudad de méxico, peter peterson. Todas las familias expresaron su más sincera gratitud por estos filtros de agua portátiles donados por el club rotario de lenexa de kansas.
desde el terremoto de 2017, el club rotario de lenexa y woodland han apoyado a las comunidades de la ciudad de méxico y ahora, en el club rotario ciudad de méxico, nos complace coordinar y colaborar con el club rotario de lenexa, el club rotario de poza rica y woodland charity para ayudar a las familias de poza rica, concluyó el presidente petersen. Además de los filtros de agua, las familias recibieron papel higiénico y artículos de higiene personal que el club rotario de poza rica proporcionó. El club rotario ciudad de méxico continuará coordinando con el club rotario de poza rica y podrá proporcionar más suministros en las próximas semanas.
woodland charity es una organización sin fines de lucro que colabora con voluntarios y simpatizantes para brindar asistencia humanitaria a familias y comunidades afectadas por desastres naturales. Para obtener más información sobre woodland charity y cómo apoyar sus programas o convertirse en voluntario, comuníquese con jorgec@woodlandcharity.Org |
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| Gazas Borderless Biennale Carries Palestinian Art Across the Globe |
| Posted on Friday, January 02 @ 00:00:43 PST (10 reads) | |
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Gaza’s borderless biennale carries palestinian art across the globe
the gaza biennale could not happen in gaza. Cairoscene speaks to the artists living in egypt about what it means to create in exile.
originally published on november 14th, 2025
when the world turned their back on palestine, the gaza biennale took matters into its own hands, circumventing the systems that failed them and forging their own path to global recognition.
the biennale, as a concept, popularized by the bi-annual venice exhibition that began in 1895, traditionally platforms international, political, and social dialogue through pavilions that represent individual nations.
yet, despite the name, the gaza biennale has little in common with the venice biennale. It is not an art exhibition located in the place it is named for, nor does it occur bi-annually. The gaza biennale could not happen in gaza, so it found homes across a dozen cities in the middle east, europe, the united states and counting.
in 2024, artists in gaza and abroad collaborated with the forbidden museum of jabal al risan in the occupied west bank to develop the biennale and invite local and international institutions to host and produce the exhibitions.
the exhibitions, like many of the 54 participating palestinian artists, are displaced. The artworks themselves are often not the originals, but printed reproductions or collaborations between the curators and the artists brought to life over whatsapp calls. The artwork transcends physical borders when many of its artists cannot.
the recent istanbul pavilion, “a cloud in my hand,” wrapped up in the beginning of november after hosting all 54 artists’ work in their nearly two-month long exhibition. Curators shulamit bruckstein and reine chahine discussed the process of bringing the physical artwork to life under dire conditions.
“it was very challenging because the artists don’t have internet all the time—maybe one or two hours per day, sometimes no electricity to charge their phones,” chahine said. “But this project became a window to breathe—a source of joy and connection in the midst of war.”
the gaza biennale called collaborations like these “new rules of engagement within the context of art,” the organization wrote. “We are witnessing the failure of institutional frameworks to prevent the desecration of human life,” the gaza biennale team continued in an official statement. “From these cracks and disingenuous policies, we are stepping forward on our own accord, just as each artwork exists despite the impossible reality from which it is born.”
of the 54 participating artists, the majority are still in gaza. However, eight artists currently live in egypt. Cairoscene spoke with some of the artists living here in forced displacement, who spoke about the art they created for the biennale after their arrival—artwork that is as much a representation of palestinian identity as it is a search for themselves.
motaz naim, beit hanoun
motaz naim set up a small studio in the living room of his apartment in zagazig, about two hours outside of cairo. Next to the couch, a small table holds a collection of acrylic paints and canvases. In gaza, he also worked from his home studio; he was an art professor at the college of science and technology.
but when the genocide began, he couldn’t continue painting. Beit hanoun was one of the first areas targeted—the israeli army forced naim, his wife and children to leave their home immediately—and his studio. During the first month, they never stayed anywhere for more than a week, taking shelter in schools, health centers, and then a tent for over two months.
“life itself was reduced to a struggle for food and water, “ he said. “There was no way i could work on art.”
seven months into the genocide, naim and his family crossed into egypt through rafah. As an artist, naim has long focused on the relationship between people and their homeland, through impressionistic and expressive styles that highlight the beauty of palestinian landscapes.
but when naim started painting again in egypt, he replaced his once colorful, joyful canvases with the horror he had just witnessed.
“there were martyrs, wounds, and ruins everywhere. Life became difficult, dangerous, and dark. I started portraying the painful scenes, the destruction, the gray and dark tones, using visual language to deliver a message to the viewer—to communicate our pain,” he said. “Most of my paintings now express destruction, loss, and the absence of memory.”
the forbidden museum contacted naim early on while they were still developing the idea of the gaza biennale. He was excited to participate, and had already begun working on the collection titled “what remains for us”. Now, 13 of his original works have appeared in pavilions across the world, from istanbul to greece to london.
naim felt that he had lost an integral piece of himself in those seven months in gaza when he couldn’t paint. In egypt, he returned to his craft with more energy and emotion.
“i felt it was my duty to express my people’s suffering—that’s the role of every artist, to stand with their people and contribute in their own way,” he said. “Through my art, i stay true to my craft and my people by spreading the palestinian narrative—the narrative of truth and of injustice—to show the world that we are a people who deserve life.”
ruba hassan, beit hanoun
ruba hassan, 29, has lived in cairo for the past year and a half. She and her family were displaced from beit hanoun, a city on the northeast edge of the gaza strip. They live with nine people in a single apartment.
despite her training as a dentist, hassan couldn’t find work when she arrived—the reality for many displaced palestinians in cairo who cannot obtain official residency in the country—and she wanted to do anything instead of thinking about the news coming out of gaza. Painting and drawing had been her life-long hobby, and she thought that this could be a good way to occupy her time and her mind. So, hassan bought art supplies.
but when she tried to put pen to paper, brushes to canvas, she felt guilty. Buying art supplies, let alone using them, felt like too much of a luxury as her friends and family in gaza suffered under israeli bombardment. It was a feeling she couldn’t shake no matter how hard she tried.
but when fellow cairo-based artist motaz naim encouraged hassan to apply for the gaza biennale, she thought, “why not.” This could be an opportunity to use her art to give back to her community. Doing something was better than nothing.
as hassan began to draw, she felt “renewed,” she said. Participating in the biennale eased the weight of the survivors’ guilt she carries. Her goal was to show the world survivors’ raw emotions through symbolic representations of grief.
“more than just blood, numbers, and death,” she said about her artwork. “I want the audience to imagine themselves in the survivors’ shoes. If you were watching your own daughter die in front of you, what would you expect the world to do for you?”
hassan created four pieces for the gaza biennale in a series titled ‘anemones’, which has appeared in the istanbul, athens, and sarajevo pavilions thus far, as printed reproductions, with berlin coming soon. Before the gaza biennale, she had never presented her artwork in an official exhibition.
the blood-red poppy, or hanoun flower that is native to palestine, draws a thread through the collection—a symbol of sacrifice, martyrdom, and memory. Another unifying motif is the circles that reflect time—life’s fleeting moments captured in the boundaries of its circumference. They double as clocks without hands, because time has stopped at that moment, hassan explained—the moment when you cannot help your loved ones, and you are watching them die in front of you, or the moment you realize you have lived, and your family has not.
hassan paused when she reached the painting of a boy staring down at a woman, his lips ajar. She is wrapped in a white shroud, hanoun flowers blossoming around them.
“the boy has stolen a moment in time to say goodbye to his mother,” hassan explained, “because no one can say goodbye properly in war. The wind shows that time continues and life goes on, but the boy is stuck in that moment. He doesn’t understand that his mother is dead.”
hassan’s eyes began to water.
“i lived this same moment,” she said. “My father was martyred when i was ten years old.”
she revealed that she was the boy in the painting. When her father died, she was too young and scared to understand. Hassan didn’t say goodbye; instead she climbed onto the roof of her house and, peering over the edge, only caught a glimpse of his body as they carried him away to his funeral.
“it’s been a long time,” she said of her father’s death in 2006, “but i still feel stuck in that moment.”
mosaab abusal, al-bureij camp
visual artist and graphic designer mosaab abusal flipped through the pages of his sketchbook, revealing one charcoal sketch after the next from his series on people seeking aid. Despite the black and white, abstract compositions, the theme was clear: children sleeping on the street, a makeshift “bathroom” built of a bucket and chair, a mother and daughter embracing in death.
abusal was born in saudi arabia in 1988 and raised in the gaza strip, where he taught art as a university lecturer and unrwa school teacher. In his past 16 years as an artist, he has participated in local and international exhibitions outside of gaza. Abusal arrived in egypt in may 2024 after being displaced several times at the beginning of the genocide with his elderly mother. They thought they would return to gaza, but when israeli bombardment intensified, it became impossible.
abusal has lived in egypt for over a year now. He has moved from house to house since arriving and doesn’t have the luxury of a stable art studio. But that hasn’t stopped abusal from continuing his work, he said. “War itself gives an artist energy and provocation to create,” abusal continued. “It tells you to keep working, to stay present.” He has adapted by using a digital drawing tablet and focusing on small-sized artworks that can be easily transported.
for the biennale, abusal created digital works titled “nothing survived my room,” “my remains in my arms,” and “voices beneath the rubble”—variations of which have appeared in places such as new york, turkey, italy and the uk.
abusal draws to affirm, he said, to tell the stories that wouldn’t otherwise be documented. The scenes of mangled limbs and scattered homes are the images that have embedded themselves in his mind, and taken shape on his canvases.
abusal has long focused on children in his work and used children’s toys to represent how innocence is disfigured by war. But this war—a genocide—was even more savage than previous israeli assaults on the gaza strip, he said, “with a particular focus on exterminating children.”
in one of his main pieces, “nothing survived my room”, doll heads, baby bottles, human limbs, and furniture hang in an upside-down mound—like shards glued together, forming one body. Disfiguration is a theme across his biennale work, because in the genocide, “everything became distorted, fragmented, shattered,” abusal said. “We’re narrating people’s stories under the biennale’s name, so that these stories find people at their hearts,” he said. “I didn’t want my drawings to spark a political debate. Rather, i wanted to make people think about justice and humanity.”
farah qarmout, tel al-hawa
artist farah qarmout contributed one piece for the gaza biennale. It was the first piece she was able to paint after seven months of living in gaza during the genocide. In april 2024, she arrived in cairo via the rafah border crossing with her entire family.
when people asked her, “why only one piece?” Qarmout said that she didn’t want to paint a series about continuous pain. She wanted a single painting “to convey a message directly from the heart to the viewer.”
qarmout’s piece, titled “loss,” represents “the loss we suffer in war—but not the loss of hope,” she explained—the hope that the israeli occupation tries to erase from the public consciousness.
qarmout used timeless motifs of palestinian identity and resistance to communicate this message, which she explained one by one, beginning with the diagonal that splits the scene into before and after the war. Before the war, the sea and sky are bright blue; the great omari mosque, the church of saint porphyrius, and the famous fishermen’s lighthouse stand intact. In gaza’s old city, a mosque’s minaret embraces a church tower; between them, a cluster of grapes cultivated from the land rests beside a cactus symbolizing palestinian steadfastness, while a hand extends with a healthy green olive representing peace.
after the war, the olive has dried up. The hand is no longer extended in peace, but in a plea for food and water—the trees that once provided sustenance have been uprooted and burned. In war, one cannot even survive on the fruits of their own land. The skies have turned grey with ash and fire. Gaza’s ancient landmarks have crumbled under the weight of israeli bombs; the mosque has lost its minaret, and the church its bell—echoes of a world that has lost its moral conscience. The proud, fruit-bearing cactus now bleeds, an assault on resilience itself.
yet amid the ruin, one image endures. The orange peel in the sand, qarmout continued, represents resurrection. “No matter how much they try to erase us, we remain,” she said. “Even if the orange fruit is gone, its peels remain on the ground—mixed with the red of blood and gray of earth.” Qarmout’s painting has been showcased in italy, london, sarajevo, and istanbul. Currently on display in cyprus, berlin is set to host it next.
but this is only the beginning. In addition to the berlin pavilion, the gaza biennale is heading to exhibitions in london, south africa, washington d.C., Lefko?A, padua, and toronto. They are currently ongoing in new york city and walla walla.
as the gaza biennale artists navigate forced displacement within gaza and abroad, their artwork, their stories, and their voices find homes around the world. |
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| The Problem with Machado: Assange Sues the Nobel Foundation |
| Posted on Friday, January 02 @ 00:00:43 PST (10 reads) | |
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By dr. Binoy kampmark global research, december 28, 2025 first published on december 21, 2025
the swedish police have promised it will go nowhere, but the attempt by wikileaks founder julian assange to draw attention to the inappropriateness of maría corina machado as a nobel peace prize recipient raises a few salient matters. On december 17, assange submitted a criminal complaint to the swedish economic crime authority and swedish crimes unit. The legal complaint is directed against the nobel foundation, arguing that the pending transfer of 11 million sek ($us 1.18 million) and the award of the prize medal to machado violates the terms of alfred nobel’s will of november 27, 1895.
the will, binding under the terms of swedish law, stipulates that the award of the prize and monies be given to a person who, during the preceding year, “conferred the greatest benefit to humankind” in pursuing “the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”
given that the peace prize laureates are selected by the norwegian nobel committee, seeking to hold them accountable for their poor choice of awardee might have been a better starting point. But the complaint is alert to this, noting that the swedish funds administrators have a fiduciary duty when it comes to disbursing the funds. “The norwegian committee’s selection does not grant them criminal immunity.” Indeed, it was up to the administrators to consider such a decision made “in flagrant conflict with the explicit purpose of the will, or where there is evidence that the awardee will use or is using the prize to promote or facilitate the crime of aggression, crimes against humanity, or war crimes”.
whatever the administrative minutiae, assange’s effort is worth noting. Machado has become the unsavoury alternative to the venezuelan incumbent, nicolás maduro , a figure who refused to accept the electoral returns for his opposing number, edmundo gonzález , in july 2024. González was essentially a pick by machado, who has emerged as the empurpled, plumed candidate seeking maduro’s overthrow. That she was the 2025 choice of prize recipient was galling enough for 21 norwegian peace organisations to boycott the ceremony and prompt nobel peace prize laureate adolfo pérez esquivel to remark that,
“giving the prize to someone who calls for foreign invasion is a mockery of alfred nobel’s will.”
machado has made no secret of her approval of the buildup of us military personnel (around 15,000) off the coast of venezuela since august, including a nuclear-powered attack submarine and the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the uss gerald r. Ford. She has “incited and defended the trump administration’s use of lethal military force and preparation for war.” The us military has already committed, charges assange, “undeniable war crimes, including the lethal targeting of civilian boats and survivors at sea, which has killed at least 95 people.” (President donald trump has liberally designated such individuals narco-terrorists.) The central intelligence agency has been authorised to conduct covert actions in venezuela. Parts of the venezuelan military have been classified by the trump administration as a foreign terrorist organisation (fto).
since assange submitted his complaint, trump has ordered a complete blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or exiting venezuela. The us has thus far seized two tankers, though the authorities have failed to distinguish which tankers are sanctioned or otherwise. The panama-flagged centuries, for instance, was not officially sanctioned by the us, showing that this administration is not one to be, as us secretary of war pete hegseth put it, legally tepid.
a list of incitements to war by machado are enumerated. They include the dedication of the award to president trump for having “venezuela in where it should be, in terms of a priority for united states national security”; a heartfelt endorsement of us military escalation as maybe being “the only way” in dealing with maduro; warm appreciation for israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu’s “decisions and resolute actions in the course of the [gaza] war” and the endorsement of extrajudicial killing of civilian boats in the caribbean sea as “visionary”. Hardly the résumé for a peacemaker.
assange argues that the failure of the funds administrators to stop pertinent disbursements to machado, in light of the material submitted in the complaint, “indicates ongoing criminal intent”. Such funds aided “a conspiracy to murder civilians”, violated national sovereignty through using military force and advanced resource theft (machado’s promised reward to us firms of oil and gas resources amounting to us$1.7 trillion). In doing so, nobel’s will and charitable purpose had been violated through “gross misappropriation, aiding international crimes […] and conspiracy.” They also breached sweden’s obligations under the rome statute. By way of remedy, the “immediate freezing of all remaining funds and a full criminal investigation lest the nobel peace prize be permanently converted from an instrument of peace into an instrument of war” was sought.
in an email to afp, swedish detective inspector rikard ekman showed little interest in taking the matter up. “As i have decided not to initiate a preliminary investigation, no investigation will be conducted on the basis of the complaint.”
while this complaint remains a purist’s attempt to return the peace prize to a more conventional reading (assange thinks the un secretary general antónio guterres and un human rights chief volker turk eminently more suitable candidates), the practice of awarding this inflated award to figures of ill-repute and sullied reputation will be hard to shake. The ghost of former us security advisor and secretary of state henry kissinger , a man lauded for bringing peace to indochina when he covertly indulged illegal bombing campaigns, not to mention war crimes, torture and an assortment of other blood sports, continues to loom large. It might well be time to abolish the nobel peace prize altogether, and the committee responsible for it. It was never a strong indicator of merit, even if it offers the chance for some very dark humour for the reptiles to revel in.
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dr. Binoy kampmark was a commonwealth scholar at selwyn college, cambridge. He currently lectures at rmit university. He is a research associate of the centre for research on globalization (crg). Email: bkampmark@gmail.Com
featured image: niklas elmehed © nobel prize outreach |
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Friday, January 02
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