Black America Suffering from Two Pandemics ------Protestors Oftheblmmovement

June 2020 Volume 33 June 2020 Volume New England High School Journalism Collaborative | Regis College nehsjc.org/Vanguard Black America suffering from two pandemics BY SARA ZAKARIA A step in the right direction would be to he killing of George Floyd by a “re-energize” the Environmental Protection Minneapolis police officer and the Agency, according to Jackson. Punishing Tdisproportionately high death rates polluters would decrease fine particle mat- among Black Americans from COVID-19 ters that exist in high amounts in Black have left many in the Black community griev- communities. The government should also ing, angry and asking hard questions. Those prioritize the concerns of Blacks when ad- questions focus on environmental issues, ac- dressing the pandemic. cess to health care, immigration, defunding “Perhaps people can raise their voice to a police departments and civic involvement. level that the administration will have to do Derrick Z. Jackson, journalist and mem- something,” Jackson said. “But the racism that ber of the Union of Concerned Scientists, is rampant throughout this administration will said the U.S. government needs to hold fac- make it very tough to really take the concerns tories that pollute accountable to address of African-Americans and Latinx seriously.” the higher rates of health issues among Racial bias in health care is another Blacks. Environmental and governmental contributor to COVID-19’s impact on Black factors are also causing the higher rates of PHOTO CREDIT: PIXABAY.COM COVID-19 cases and deaths among Black Protestors take to the streets in support of the BLM movement. BLACK AMERICA Americans, he said. continued on page 5 Rhythmic Gymnastics: MILES AWAY BUT A Global Exchange WORLDS APART BY JASMINE WONG espite the coronavirus sweeping BY ADWAY WADEKAR away its normal competition season, tructural inequities already Da rhythmic gymnastics team from exist in public schools and the Needham has found the silver lining through SCovid-19 pandemic appear to SUBMITTED PHOTOS a massive “global experience exchange.” have increased the disparity in the Left to right: Mary Provost, Emma Chisholm, and Raymond Howard Since March, gymnasts from 22 coun- education that students who live in tries such as Nigeria, Singapore, and different demographic areas receive. “They had to cut down, I know think maybe even sixth graders get Turkey have participated in master classes Mary Provost and Emma Chisholm for our history class they cut down them now.” by Ionela Bobrischew, Head Coach of are both rising seniors at Bedford High the curriculum a bit just because we BHS also took the initiative to help Rhythmic Dreams, over Zoom. School (BHS) in New Hampshire. Both couldn't get to all of it,” Provost said. the few students with unreliable wire- Although it is often considered a niche students take a rigorous course load “My teachers were still really acces- less connections at home. sport in the United States compared to its ar- in the International Baccalaureate sible by email and Google Meet.” “I saw an email and it was some- tistic gymnastics counterpart, rhythmic gym- program at the school. Bedford, a Technology wise, BHS was thing through Verizon. It was if you nastics was added to the Olympics in 1984 suburb of Manchester, has a median equipped to handle the challenges needed better WiFi in your home, and has since grown in popularity worldwide. household income of about $131,000. posed by the pandemic. With a one-to- they had something set up through In rhythmic gymnastics, gymnasts are Both agreed that the quality of in- one technology program put in place, the school that you could get it.” judged on their artistry and the difficulty struction at BHS was still high, but most students had a device to conduct Provost said. that the overall level of instruction was their online work. RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS diminished compared to what it was “We’ve all had Chromebooks since TWO SCHOOLS continued on page 11 before the pandemic. the eighth grade,” Chisholm said. “I continued on page 11 PHOTO CREDIT: MACKENZIE URBANO Students make their case for more jobs at a rally in Boston. hough there were a range of ages through the conduct organizer with the City Rhode Island. at a recent Defund and Invest of the Boston Police School, began to cry as In the middle of preparing for her vir- TRally at City Hall Plaza one thing Department. YOUNG she spoke about creating tual eighth grade graduation, Thiam and was clear: The rally was entirely orga- The two organiza- safety and transforming a few peers arranged for a peaceful, arts- nized and led by youth. tions that hosted the her streets. focused protest called Silence Is Violence The gathering was similar to ones hap- rally, The City School VOICES After comforting her in Woonsocket. pening around the country as a younger and Youth Justice friend, another girl began, It was the murder of her friend that generation champions change as part of and Power Union, are “Young people are leading propelled her to act along with the de- the Black Lives Matter movement. student-oriented and RISING the front. From Boston, to spair she felt when the mostly white Following the speakers, protesters youth-led. Their mis- Minneapolis, to Palestine. peers at her private school questioned then marched to the Statehouse. Seven sion statements in- BY MACKENZIE URBANO Our mission is grand, one her motivation. She said she wanted of the 10 speakers were young women clude “building youth of justice and unity. We to channel her energy into a peaceful, of color. Appearing at times emotional, it leadership for social justice” and “fight- are the only ones leading, the only ones we artistic protest that let her community was clear how personal and painful the ing for youth jobs and liberation.” can count on right now. We must remem- express themselves. topic was to their own experiences. Both organizations focus on adoles- ber the physical and emotional pressure As the protest in Boston began to wind Their voices were pleading, angry, cents from low-income communities of this is putting on our young people.” down, one student, Amanda Brown, led inspirational, fed-up, and confident, color in Boston, which they say are dis- The emotional toll upon young Black the charge with her words of advice. as they called on Mayor Marty Walsh proportionately targeted by the police. Americans is familiar to Zainabou “Let us use this moment to trans- and the Boston City Council to end The strong emotions were evident on Thiam, 14-year-old mental health and form our city and prove Black lives really the fear pervading their neighborhoods the faces of the organizers. Marianna, an racial equality activist from northern do matter,” she said. Protests Spotlight First Amendment Right to Peaceable Assembly BY ADWAY WADEKAR All occurred in a largely peaceful manner. ith public health concerns increasing Justin Silverman, executive director of over the COVID-19 pandemic and ra- the New England First Amendment Coalition Wcial tensions escalating after the killing (NEFAC), worries that while protests in sup- of George Floyd, the First Amendment has been port of the BLM movement have gained brought into the spotlight. momentum, the president doesn’t have an The First Amendment affords five rights, but understanding of the right for people to as- with recent events the one that has been called into semble peacefully. question the most is the right to peaceably assemble. “President Trump has throughout the course Demonstrations held across the country in re- of his presidency shown, to put it bluntly, a mis- sponse to the killing of George Floyd have energized understanding of what the First Amendment is old and young, Black and White, but President and what it does,” Silverman said. Trump has not supported these gatherings. Ahead of his own campaign rally in Tulsa, The president took to Twitter to denounce pro- PHOTO CREDIT: ADWAY WADEKAR tests in support of the Black Lives Matter move- FIRST AMENDMENT Protestors clash at a rally in Westborough. ment in Minneapolis, New York City, and Seattle. continued on page 9 2 THE VANGUARD | JUNE 2020 STAFF REPORTERS Paula Bouknight Kyra Ceryanek NEHSJC Board Member Wachusett Regional High Assistant Managing Editor, School, Holden The Boston Globe Rachel Fredman Mike Carraggi Westborough High School NEHSJC Board Member Reporter, Patch.com Grace Huang Newton South High School Ann Moritz NEHSJC Board Member Sofia Mendes Moritz Advisory Group Manchester Central High School GUEST SPEAKERS Nola Minogue Charles St. Amand Beverly High School Practitioner in Residence, Annalise Peterson Communication and Amherst Regional High Journalism Dept. School Suffolk University Holly Souter Justin Silverman Bedford High School Executive Director Kenzie Urbano New England First Boston University Amendment Coalition Academy Michelle Fenelon Adway Wadekar Freelance sideline reporter Saint John’s High School, Dina Rudick Shrewsbury Video producer/ Anna Wilcox photojournalist, Boston Latin School Anthem Multimedia ILLUSTRATION CREDIT: ANNALISE PETERSON Jasmine Wong Dasia Moore Boston Latin School Reporter, The Boston Globe Changing World, Changing Journalism Sara Zakaria Zoe Greenberg Reporter, The Boston Globe Malden High School BY SOFIA MENDES & ADWAY WADEKAR Emily Sweeney and nothing more. We will be there to In this ever-changing world, what is STUDENT ADVISORS Reporter, The Boston Globe e are The Vanguard, a group enable people to come to their own true at one moment, may be false the Bridget Bright President, New England of 12 students who come conclusions and decisions based on next. As young journalists who will soon Ithaca College Society of News Editors Wfrom various backgrounds accurate information. be a part of the outlets upon which peo- Thomas Coughlin Karina Cuevas across New England, but were brought While this is not a novel idea, as ple will rely, we need to hold ourselves to Emerson College Producer, together by our shared passion for the Founding Fathers were deliber- a standard of growth and honesty.

Load more