Digital Commons Network^™

Some In Corporate America Have Followed Through On Their Commitments To The Black Lives Matter Movement, But The Black Community Has Yet To Be Convinced., Brianna M. Monsanto

Capstones

Nearly three years following George Floyd's murder back in 2020, corporations are continuing to follow up on their commitments to the Black community. However, the Black community has yet to be impressed.

Link to Project: https://briannamonsanto64.wixsite.com/cuny

In The U.S., Mena People Are Legally White. But Their Lived Experiences Say Otherwise, Youcef O. Bounab

Capstones

The U.S. Government classifies people whose origins are from the Middle East and North Africa as racially “white.” This is reflected in the decennial census, as well as in other questionnaires and forms, even as many among those groups prefer to have their own categorization. In this feature article, we explore the history of the issue, how individuals from those backgrounds would prefer to identify, and whether their lived experiences in a post-9/11 United States reflect their current categorization.

Black Cosplayers Push For Proper Dark-Skinned Character Representation In Media, Taylor K. Johnson

Capstones

As cosplay continues to rise in popularity at comic conventions, anime conventions and on social media, Black cosplayers push for media companies to invest in adding more dark-skinned characters in their shows and games.

Seeking Clemency: A Profile On Jacob Rouse, Jocelyn A. Contreras, Sarah Gabrielli

Capstones

Jacob Rouse was 18 years old when he drove the getaway car that would define the rest of his life. He sat in his blue Ford Taurus, waiting to drive his three friends away from the scene of a robbery in Rochester, New York. Jacob was parked about a block away when one of his accomplices shot and killed 22-year-old Herschel Scriven, a local youth pastor and church organist.

He is now seeking clemency.

Mixed Feelings: Growing Up Biracial In America, Alexandra Boothe

Capstones

My mom is the daughter of 2^nd generation Swedish and Danish immigrants and my dad is the son of Jamaican immigrants, who settled in the segregated city of Baltimore just months before his birth in a black-only hospital. In the eyes of Americans, they were a white woman and a black man embarking on a relationship that was less than palatable to many in this country-- including my mom’s own family.

Growing up, society was constantly forcing me to question my identity, but it was also true within the context of my mom’s side of the family. There was …

Sneaker Culture Has Given Black Men Fashion Freedom While Creating Restriction, Shaquille-Omari Bekoe

Capstones

Sneaker Culture has had a major effect commerically and has given men the freedom to explore themselves fashionably. But with that independence, African -American men have still faced restrictions and negativity from the press based on race.

The Blurred Lines Of Cultural Appropriation, Jaja Grays

Capstones

For centuries, fashion designers, music artists and other celebrities alike have borrowed elements or styles from other cultures for personal gain. In my piece, "The Blurred Lines of Cultural Appropriation," I demonstrate the countless ways celebrities have appropriated different cultures whether at high-end fashion shows or live music performances. Cultural appropriation refers to a privileged culture borrowing or stealing from a marginalized culture-- striping elements of the culture to use it as a prop or for profit. I also discuss how to avoid cultural appropriation and engage in respectful cultural appreciation.

Iggy Azalea: Cultural Appropriator Or Scapegoat For Accepted Practice?, Malorie Marshall

Capstones

Iggy Azalea isn’t the first artist to profit from a entertainment persona that differs from her “real” personality. But the fact that Azalea is a white woman profiting by employing a fake “black” sound wrought through appropriating is what seems to angers people more than the quality of Azalea’s music, or anything else about her.

Well-Born: Black Women And The Infertility Crisis No One Is Talking About, Kaara Baptiste

Capstones

Black women are twice as likely to experience infertility than white women, but are less likely to seek treatment or to have successful fertility results once treated. Despite this alarming number, this topic is not often discussed, even among the black community. My narrative piece t tells the story of a black woman confronting her infertility diagnosis and the role her race played in her fertility treatment, while exploring the role racism and sexuality have had in keeping this issue in the shadows.

Dead Women And White Men: Why Are Today’S Hit Noir Shows Still Stuck In The Gender/ Race Politics Of The ‘40s And ‘50s?, Zainab Akande

Capstones

Critically acclaimed TV noir programs such as “True Detective,” “House of Cards” and “Hannibal” provide complex narratives with compelling characters, but fail to take full advantage of gender & race diversity.