 Parents need to have paid leave so that they can spend time and connect with their children and get paid. But if you live in America, you most likely won't be able to take time off to take care of your child.
NPR and New York Times talk about how out of 193 countries, only a small handful do not have a national paid parental leave law: New Guinea, Suriname, a few South Pacific island nations and the United States. In other words, America is the only developed country In the world that doesn't have paid leave. This means a lot of men & women have to go back to work much sooner than they expected after the birth of a baby than they would prefer since they can't afford much unpaid time off. If you live in Europe this is probably not as much of a problem if not a problem at all. E.U. employers must offer at least 4 months (16 weeks) of parental leave during the first 8 years of a child's life. Unfair For Men The ACLU filed charges with the EEOC against J.P. Morgan Chase for discrimination because it wouldn’t consider Derek Rotondo, to be his newborn child’s primary caregiver. According to the complaint, the bank told him he could get only two weeks of leave, not the 16 weeks it usually provides to mothers. To qualify, he would have had to show that the mother had returned to work or was medically incapable to care for the baby. But his wife was in good health and couldn’t return to work because she was a teacher on summer break. The bank declined to comment on the complaint. Story by Sophia Planicka SOURCE FOR PICTURE: CNN  Growing up at a time where social media and advertising is influenced heavily it is easy to compare yourself to the pictures portrayed as the “perfect body”. Often ads use models that are skinny, tall, and beautiful to make you want the product even more. When girls compare themselves to advertisements and magazines they will most likely start a “diet” diets that are too harsh can lead to anorexia. According to Dictionary.com anorexia is the loss of appetite and inability to eat. HUFFPOST states that 1.3 million adolescent girls have anorexia, and that If negative body image alone caused eating disorders then every woman on the planet would develop them. Anorexia is one of the bigger causes of suicide as well. So this means that these standards can actually cause depression and disorders.
The models According to PBS 83 percent of advertisements that featured women portrayed them as sexual objects. This is a major problem as well. Treating women like objects is not uncommon in today’s society. Models are as young as young as 10 YEARS OLD in some fashion magazines and are posing likes grown models wearing loads of makeup. This leads me to the next subjects; artificial beauty in ways like plastic surgery and makeup. 89.2 percent of models get some type of plastic surgery either on their face or body to make themselves look better. Inclusivity and using models that are different ethnicities and different body shapes. Some brands are trying to make a change and start incorporating inclusivity into their brand. By using plus-sized models with all skin tones and body shapes. Brands like Arie, Nyx, Old Navy are making a change by influencing other brands to use different sized models to end up influencing young girls to be happy with their bodies. Doing things like this is also proving wrong that you cannot be beautiful without being skinny. In conclusion, beauty standards can do many things for young girls and women. Story by VZ Menzies  The Grammys are coming up in about a week which is a much anticipated (by artists and fans of the artists) musical event similar to the Academy Awards or the Tonys except for music. The awards that the artists get are in the shape of a gramophone which is just an old fashioned radio used for playing music invented by Thomas Edison. You might be wondering how to vote for one or get one. To be eligible to vote for multiple categories you must have 6 credentials such as producing an album, kind of like a resume. To be nominated you have to have your piece of music whether it be a song or album released in the appropriate time period (in the case of this years it would be October 1,2017-September 30,2018) and for the music to already be popular by some margin and then the eligible judges pick the nominees then reveal them at the Grammys along with some performances from the artists. Last year Bruno Mars cleaned up with all the major categories with 7 awards including Best Song and Best Album.
The History The first Grammys were in 1959 when there were 26 major categories. Over the 59 years that the awards have been around they have added categories and taken them away at one point having more than 100. Though the Grammys were created and held in 1959-current they were not taken seriously enough to be broadcast on the ABC network until the late 1960s. The first show was hosted by Mort Sahl. The winners for this show include big names such as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Most of the Grammy shows have been in big cities such as Los Angeles and New York City. A not very well known name who is George Solti has won the most Grammys in history with an astounding 31. My opinions on this year's major category nominees Album of the Year I think Post Malones ‘Beerpongs and Bentleys’ should win because this is the album he really blew up on with every song being memorable but with his debut album ‘Stoney’ the only song people really remembered was ‘Congatulations’. But I think ‘Black Panther’ will win with its diverse score with many songs from Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar. Song of the Year I think that God’s Plan by Drake from his album Scorpion should win. This song is clearly something Drake was experimenting with but it worked out with him also putting out a music video where he gave money to people quickly amassing to over 1 billion views on Youtube. Although I think either All the Stars by Kendrick Lamar and SZA or This is America by Childish Gambino will win with just plain vocals. Best Music Video In my opinion, Childish Gambino’s This is America will easily win and is my favorite to win this category. With heavy references to segregation, slavery, racism, and Confederacy this will be an easy win from Childish Gambino who has come out of the dark and had quite a few songs on the global top 50. Record of the Year I hope that Cardi.B’s I Like It should win record of the year with references to an Egyptian party combined with Cardi low key flexing on everyone listening, but the only thing that brings the song down is the mumble rapping from Bad Bunny and J Balvin. I think the winner will be All the Stars by Kendrick Lamar and SZA will win just because both of them being great artists while I Like It only has one. Story by Colton Kelischek  Whether you enjoy it with buttered toast at breakfast or drink it as a passed down remedy, tea has become a drink that took the world by storm. With its humble beginnings starting in 2700 BCE, it has since been used as a trading tool, a medicinal beverage, and for overall enjoyment.
According to National Geographic, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world, excluding water with 6 billion cups consumed around the world every day. The legacy of tea started around 2750 BCE in China. Emperor Shen Nung was boiling drinking water when the leaves of a wild tea tree flew into his water. The leaves gave the water an amazing flavor and the Emperor urged his people to start cultivating the plant. The first Europeans to drink tea were Dutch in 1610. It then spread to the British in 1650, where it quickly took over wine and coffee as the drink of choice. Due to the loss of taxes with the decrease of liquor sales, Britain started taxing tea in the 13 colonies. Due to the several taxes the colonies faced, the Sons of Liberty organized the Boston Tea Party, in which they threw 342 boxes of tea into the Boston Harbor. Tea assisted the colonists with the revolution against the British. With the several types of tea, comes the several types of health benefits. According to The Tea Spot, tea can help with restoring bone density, prevent osteoporosis, and prevent fractures. Researchers have found that compared to non-drinkers, those who regularly drank tea had stronger bones, regardless of age, weight, exercise, smoking, and other risk factors. Tea also benefits your brain health. The compound Catechins, found in tea, helps prevent the buildup of a protein that reduces cognitive function. Like coffee, tea also contains caffeine but in addition to the caffeine, it also contains theanine, a compound the contradicts the harsh side effects of caffeine. In additon, tea prevents cancer. A study at the Mayo Clinic showed that components in green tea may help kill cancer cells in common forms of leukemia by cutting off the communication signals of the cells. Another way tea helps fight cancer is the prevention of cell mutation. The polyphenols in tea have antioxidative actions that prevent the mutation of healthy DNA. In Japan, there is a special ritual dedicated to the serving and the enjoyment of tea, known as the Japanese Tea Ceremony. Here at Asheville Middle, Ms. Robert, a seventh teacher, had the opportunity to host this ceremony in her class. I was able to interview her about this unique experience. What is the history of the Japanese Tea Ceremony? 1. There is a very long history of the Japanese Tea Ceremony. Here's my favorite website for all the details. It dates back over a 1000 years so there's much history How do you think your students benefitted from it? 2. Yes! And they enjoyed the matcha (ceremonial tea) we just had in class Why did you decide to host this event in your classroom? 3. There were two reasons for the ceremony; (1) for students to see the focus and mindfulness necessary to complete 194 steps in serving a cup of tea and (2) to help students gain "cultural capital." When students are exposed to different cultures and the traditions and behaviors, students gain a greater understanding, appreciation, and comfort of other people. It's how peace between nations can be achieved. It's also a lot of fun! The students showed great self-control and respect to Emiko Suzuki by being silent during the ceremony and with their thoughtful questions. She had fun too! Are there any additional comments you would like to make? 4. We were very fortunate to have this opportunity; Emiko San traveled to Japan this week! She is a master in Ikebana (flower arrangements) and the Tea Ceremony. Many people will never have this opportunity. Need more motivation to drink tea? Try this southern sweet tea recipe courtesy of Allrecipes. You will need a pinch of baking soda, 2 cups of boiling water, 6 tea bags, ¾ cups of sugar, and 6 cups of water. Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda into a 64-ounce, heat-proof, glass pitcher. Pour in boiling water, and add tea bags. Cover, and allow to steep for 15 minutes. Remove tea bags, and discard; stir in sugar until dissolved. Pour in cool water, then refrigerate until cold. That’s it! A perfect drink on a hot summer day. If you’re feeling something hot, chai lattes are just what you need. You will need 2 tea bags, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground allspice, 1 cup of water, 1 cup of milk, ¼ cup packed brown sugar, and 2 tablespoons refrigerated French vanilla nondairy creamer. Place the tea bags, cinnamon, ginger and allspice in the coffee filter of a drip coffeemaker. Add water; brew according to manufacturer's directions. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the milk, brown sugar and creamer. Cook and stir over medium heat until heated through and sugar is dissolved. Pour milk mixture into mugs; stir in tea. Dollop with whipped topping and sprinkle with nutmeg if desired. Recipe from Taste Of Home. Story by Erin Chen Green tea. Picture credit: https://images.agoramedia.com/everydayhealth/gcms/Green-Tea-Health-Benefits-of-Green-Tea-You-Never-Knew-08-722x406.jpg?width=684  On November 24, 1991, a world-shaking phenomenon occurred. Word spread quickly that the world famous rock singer, Freddie Mercury, had died after a 4-year struggle with AIDs. The world mourned this loss and came together to heal through Freddie’s legendary and memorable music. After Mercury’s death, many remember him as a legendary man who changed the music scene forever. Even the band’s guitarist, Brian May, says “I will never grow tired of hearing (Bohemian Rhapsody,)” Queen’s most memorable musical masterpiece.
Recent movie producers decided to make a movie that takes viewers through Queen’s journey to fame, told from Freddie Mercury’s perspective. On November 2, 2018, a movie named for Queen’s chart-topping song “Bohemian Rhapsody” was released. The film won 2 Golden Globes on January 6, 2019. Bohemian Rhapsody is a mostly accurate representation of this underdog band growing in fame throughout the ’70s and ’80s. Freddie Mercury’s path to success was long and full of roadblocks, just like many other famous rock musicians. It had some interesting differences as well, which may be the reason why a biopic has Queen’s music flying up the charts to the highest ranking since the 1980s! As I mentioned earlier, the movie tells a “mostly” accurate version of Queen’s journey to success. Queen’s journey was incredibly theatrical, but some details had to be changed for the screen. The movie starts with Freddie Mercury’s morning routine before Live Aid, a 1985 charity concert, still known today as the world’s most viewed concert, with an estimated 1.9 billion viewers. The benefit raised a total of 127 million pounds, and superstars took no profit. The actual concert performance is not seen until the end of the movie, but this movie used Mercury’s entrance on to the stage as a surreal attention grabber for viewers. The first mistake that the movie made is how Freddie joined the band. After the Live Aid entrance, the movie cuts to Freddie leaving home to watch a band called “Smile” play at a local pub in London. This band did exist and included 2 future Queen members, guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. The movie shows Freddie Mercury, at the time still called Freddie Bulsara, enjoying the music and talking to the band after their performance. As Freddie walks up to the band, he receives the news that the lead singer had just quit minutes before his arrival. He auditions then and there and joins the band, which he later renamed Queen. The real story may have been cut for time, or for lack of interesting details. The real story is a lot more boring. Freddie had made friends with the lead singer of Smile, Tim Staffell, and drummer Roger Taylor. They were a very close group; they even shared a small flat in London. During this time, Freddie had been hopping from band to band in hopes of making it big. His ideas were always too outrageous for his current band, so he left to find new opportunities. Tim Staffell quit Smile for another band, with the same high hopes as Freddie. After a few years in limbo, Smile was still looking for a new band member and Freddie finally decided to audition. No surprise, he became the new frontman for Smile, and later renamed the band Queen! Queen’s rise to fame continues as the movie progresses, as any good movie continues, conflict arises. Freddie Mercury has found a way to live life to its most dangerous, full potential, while other band members choose to settle down and start a family. In the movie, Freddie signs a deal to create 2 solo albums for a total of 4 million pounds. The band has a huge falling out over this, claiming that they are a family and need to stick together. Freddie lashes out at them and leaves, claiming that they would be nothing without him, and he needs a break. This creates a huge conflict to keep viewers hooked throughout the movie, but in actuality, the band never broke up. Roger Taylor was also the first to pursue a solo career and the band had no problem with it. Other members of Queen took their shot at a solo album too, so when Freddie branched off it came as no surprise. There were rumors of Queen breaking up, but these came about due to the band’s quarrels about songs and recording. No break up ever happened, Queen never even discussed it. This added fictitious detail does bring you further into the story. The last major difference that I felt was necessary to mention was the time of Freddie discovery that he had the incurable disease, AIDS. In the movie, Freddie starts noticing changes in his health, after a huge falling out with his past manager, Paul Prenter. He fires Prenter for hiding the invitation for Queen to perform in Live Aid and decides to take his life in a better direction. Freddie goes to the doctor and gets the news that he is HIV positive, just a few weeks before Live Aid. This provides the opportunity for the movie to end with the iconic Live Aid performance and explain how Freddie died. In actuality, the press has quotes from Jim Hutton, Freddie’s partner for the last 6 years of his life, confirming that Freddie didn’t take any HIV tests until the year 1987 when he tested positive. Live Aid took place in July 1985, making the movie’s ending impossible. These differences between the movie and actuality are very big, but overall, the movie did a fairly thorough job of fitting Queen’s inspiring journey to fame into a 2 ½ hour movie. This inspiring tribute movie, Bohemian Rhapsody, took information from real life and kept most facts far from fantasy. Story by Lily Crum Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-34651067 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727824/ http://ultimateclassicrock.com/queen-bohemian-rhapsody-movie-fact-vs-fiction/ https://variety.com/2018/film/news/bohemian-rhapsody-critics-reviews-roundup-rami-malek-1202990633/ https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/live-aid-concert Bohemian Rhapsody: The Definitive Biography of Freddie Mercury by Lesley-Ann Jones  The Oscars, also known as the Academy Awards, is a prestigious event, that every actor and cinematic maker look up to. It all started on May 16, 1929, when the first Oscars were first held. Ever since it has held such a high holding to earn an award.
Who are the judges you may ask? Well, there aren’t any, it is run by a democratic system of 6,300 eligible voters that are part of The Academy. The Academy of Motion pictures Arts and Sciences is a group of people who have been nominated for an Oscar or received an endorsement from a member, who is eligible to nominate the winners for the Oscars. To become a member you have to be invited by the board of governors, of the academy. The members can only nominate in their own branch. For example, a sound editor cannot nominate someone for costume design, for the lack of expertise in that arena. First, they are sent a ballot to nominate the film or person in their branch. Then, the votes are counted by the accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers in a system called “alternative voting” which is when the voters in the voting system “rank the candidates in order of preference” according to Britannica.The films that have at least more than three votes have a secured nomination, and the ones with a low amount of votes are eliminated. Next, a second ballot is sent out with the nominated films and the members pick the preference winner in each category. It can even branch out to pick one that is not generally inside their branch, but it is discouraged since they don't have the eligible expertise of that branch. Whoever has the highest votes overall, they win and are presented with an award in a ceremony. How to be eligible for a nomination The Academy members inside each branch of categories choose the best out of the rest of potential nominees. This is an inside look on how they judge the eligibility from the following categories: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Supporting Actress, Directing, Original Screenplay, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Production Design, Editing, Original Score, Costume Design, Makeup, Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Foreign Language Film, Short Film, Scientific and Technical awards. For example, for in these two categories you can see the requirements, they have to have to be eligible. Film:
Story by Doni Palma Works Cited Garofalo, Alex. “Oscars 2016: Who Votes For The Academy Awards? How The Winners Are Chosen.” International Business Times, 27 Feb. 2016, www.ibtimes.com/oscars-2016-who-votes-academy-awards-how-winners-are-chosen-2325441. “How Oscar Winners Are Decided.” The Economist, The Economist Newspaper, 21 Jan. 2015, www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2015/01/21/how-oscar-winners-are-decided. “How the Oscars Work.” HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 10 Jan. 2018, entertainment.howstuffworks.com/oscar3.htm. “What Makes a ‘Best Picture’?” The Economist, The Economist Newspaper, 26 F  Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, this game has an average score of 9.2 which, right there, you would instantly think the game is amazing. While you’re not wrong, let’s sill look at some pros and cons of this ultimate crossover.
To get us started, as the game constantly reminds you “Everyone Is Here!” From Mario to Bayonetta, every character from previous smash games is in this game. With a total of 79 playable characters by the end of 2019, this is literally the biggest gaming crossover of all time. Now that you know a bit about this game, let’s get into what you should know before you buy this game. Let's start off with some pros of this game, first obviously it's a new game, so everything has improved from the graphics to the gameplay. Also, the game’s menus have been updated to have a way more dynamic appearance. The game has also added a number of new features, most notably Spirits and World of Light. World of light is this game's story mode. Galeem, Lord of light has taken control over the fighters turned them into his own puppets. All but Kirby have been taken over. Spirits are all the non-playable characters that were destroyed during Galeem's attack. These Spirits can help you fight against Galeem's puppets by giving you certain buffs or giving your enemy debuffs. As for the cons, there actually aren't that many but still a few to address. First, a drawback of having so many characters unlocking all of them can become a chore. Another flaw with unlocking the characters the difficulty of the CPU you have to fight to unlock that fighter can range from completely ignorant to "I will completely annihilate you and no one will ever find a single trace of your body." It's extremely inconsistent with the difficulty levels. Another flaw in this game is that the developers didn't really put too much effort into changing the format to fit multiplayer in the Nintendo Switch's handheld mode. This game was mainly meant to be played on a TV screen. The game's brightness level can really affect gameplay with more than two people at a time. I have not mentioned every single thing great or bad about this game, but I recommend this game immensely. But the choice is up to you. Story by Juvae Mullings Sources Gamespot Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct 11.1.2018 Image link  After a long year of amazing movies, we can expect even more for 2019. From Frozen 2 to The Avengers: Endgame, the number of anticipated movies for 2019 are endless. With this list, you can be sure to be caught up with what is to come.
Captain Marvel Captain Marvel directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, is a Fantasy/Adventure film according to google. In this film, we will explore the anticipated heroine Captain Marvel and her fight for earth against two alien races. According to Imdb.com. Us Us directed by Jordan Peel is a mystery/thriller film about the struggle for survival a family faces in their beach home when intruders with masks invade their home and at last, when the people take off their masks they realize they’re their doppelgängers. Dumbo Dumbo a fantasy/Animation directed by Tim Burton is a live-action remake of the 1941 film Dumbo. The storyline is about a flying elephant who brings a circus back to life when it was struggling but when knowing that the circus wants to exploit the animal, Dumbo the elephant strikes out. According to the Hollywood reporter. The curse of La Llorona The Curse of la Llorona directed by Michael Chaves is a Thriller/Horror film, that revolves around the famously South American legend of La Llorona. This movie takes place in 1970s Los Angeles, where a family struggles to get rid of the curse, and the only way to get rid of it is to get help from a “disillusioned priest”, as expressed on Rotten Tomatoes. Rocket Man Rocket Man directed by Dexter Fletcher is a biography/fantasy that depicts the story of Sir Elton John throughout his breakthrough years. “An epic musical fantasy” as said on Rotten Tomatoes. Aladdin Aladdin a fantasy/romance film directed by Guy Ritchie is a live-action remake of the 1992 film Aladdin. The storyline is about a poor guy named Aladdin who encountered a magic lamp that has a genie and grants him three wishes. With Jafar after him and his lamp. The Lion King The Lion King 2019 directed by Rob Minkoff, Roger Allers is a live-action remake of the 1994 film The Lion King. The storyline is about a young cub that faces the real world as a king when his dad tragically dies. Once Upon a Time In Hollywood Once Upon a Time In Hollywood directed by Quentin Tarantino a drama/thriller, is an upcoming film about a former star and his stunt double try to find success in Hollywood. Avengers: Endgame Avengers: Endgame directed by Andy Russo and Joe Russo a fantasy/science fiction film, is about the return of the Avengers who fight the battle against Thanos. Story by Doni Palma Works Cited “Hollywood Reporter | Entertainment News.” The Hollywood Reporter, The Hollywood Reporter, www.hollywoodreporter.com/. “Movies | TV Shows | Movie Trailers | Reviews.” Safe Haven (2013) - Rotten Tomatoes, www.rottentomatoes.com/. “Movies, TV and Celebrities.” IMDb, IMDb.com, m.imdb.com/.  The Greek Freaks Freak Season
Giannis Antetokounmpo, better known as the Greek Freak, is one of the best NBA players this year. Being considered for one of the most important trophies in all of sports this season, the MVP award. Standing at 6”11, The Greek Freak has averaged 33.5 minutes per game this season and 26.7 points. Giannis isn't only good at scoring points, he has around 12.6 rebounds per game and 5.9 assists. Giannis’s Rookie Season Giannis has been around in the NBA for 5 years, being drafted in 2013. He was drafted in the first round at pick 15 by the Milwaukee Bucks. The then 19 year old averaged 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in his rookie year. Giannis was at the top of the rookies. He was the 11th most in scoring, 4th in rebounding, and 10th in assists. Growing up in Greece Giannis was born in Athens, Greece in 1994. He has 4 brothers, who also liked basketball. Growing up, Giannis and his family were not rich. His parents struggled getting money to support their family of 8. When Giannis was a kid, people recalled him and his other brother being more entertained by football than basketball. The kids in his neighborhood claimed he wasn't very good at basketball but he had the determination and will to be good. In 2007, Giannis started practicing basketball, getting better and better by the day. His Early basketball years Giannis played in a youth basketball league from 2009-2012. He excelled, scoring 50 points in one game. His playing was impressive enough to get him onto the Greek basketball club team. In 26 games that season, Giannis averaged 9.5 points, 1.0 blocks, and 1.4 assists, and 5 rebounds. This was good enough to get him into the all-star game. The Rise Of The Greek Freak Giannis was drafted 15th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2013 draft. He played 77 games that season averaging 6.8 points and had 61 blocks that season. That made him eligible for the rising stars game. He had a very impressive performance in the game which helped him make 2nd team all rookie. In his second year in the NBA, he averaged 12.7 points and 6.7 rebounds, only missing one game that season. Awards Giannis Antetokounmpo has won 8 awards in his pro basketball career including the 2017 all star team. Giannis played with people such as DeMar DeRozan, Jimmy Butler, and even Lebron James. Giannis put up 30 points and 6 rebounds, scoring the most points on his team. The only other player close to him was Lebron James, scoring 23 points. He also won most improved player in 2017. Story by Carter Marshbanks Sources http://www.nba.com/players/giannis/antetokounmpo/203507 https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/giannis-antetokounmpo-16115.php  A crowd of protesters at March For Our Lives. In 2018, there were multiple moments that showed significance in our culture. This year we included more people of all different kinds of backgrounds in media than ever seen before. We advocated for what we believed in and protested for what was right. Here are the biggest moments this year for activism and breaking barriers.
This year, we saw the representation of different ethnicities in the entertainment industry. The Marvel movie Black Panther was released in February and has received a wide range of positive feedback. According to TIME, the movie highlights the issues of black people in America and Africa. It is also one of the first Hollywood movies to have both an African American director and a 90% black cast. We also saw an increase in Asian Americans in Hollywood films, in roles other the stereotypically nerdy overachieving student. Some of the said films include Crazy Rich Asians (featuring an all Asian cast for the first in a Hollywood film in 25 years according to Slate), Lana Condor in All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, and Hasan Minjah in Patriot Act. In addition, we have seen an increase in diversity in politics. On May 19th, 2018, the world watched as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle exchanged vows in St. George’s Chapel. According to CNN, Meghan became to first biracial person to marry into the British royal family. In February, former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama revealed, their official portraits, painted by African American artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, a first in American presidential history. The results of this year’s midterms revealed at least 100 women serving in the House of Representatives, a first in history according to the New York Times. The results also included more openly LGBT+ people than in any other previous elected. Ilhan Omar Rashida Tlaib became the first Muslim women to be elected to Congress. Following the Parkland shooting in February were the nationwide gun control protests. March for Our Lives occurred on March 24th. It is a student-led protest advocating for stricter gun control policies. Thousands participated in Washington D.C and similar marches were held across the United States. The second annual women’s march was organized on January 20th and was held worldwide. Its purpose is to advocate against discrimination of all forms according to the official website. Story by Erin Chen Image Source |
