The weather is changing. The need to wear short shorts, sundresses and crop tops is going to expire soon. School has started. Exams, projects, and lectures are now in our midst. Fall is coming. The excitement of burgundy lips, warm scarves and fun sweaters will soon be with us. Although, the seasons are changing the special impact of Summer 2015 needs to remain with us. This summer was woke!
Being “woke” is simply being aware of issues going on in society. Activism on Twitter was instrumental in putting a spotlight on issues of injustices related to body image, police brutality, cultural appropriation and feminism. Blogs, online magazines and broadcast stations generated stories from the tweets of woke individuals. Woke people in action can create change. Bree Newsome, Sandra Bland, Amandla Stanberg, Jose Antonio Vargas Serena Williams, Janelle Monae and Amy Schumer are the pillars of this woke summer.
Bree Newsome- Confederate Flag
The confederate flag is not a symbol of heritage in the United States, but a symbolic marker of racism. This flag was hoisted at the South Carolina state capitol until the day Bree Newsome decided she wanted a change. The night of June 17, 2015, nine black people were shot and killed during a prayer meeting in a historic church in Charleston, South Carolina. Dylann Roof was in support of the confederate flag and he killed those nine black people under the justification of ideals associated with that flag. On June 27, 2015, Bree Newsome scaled to the top of that flag pole and brought down the confederate flag. James Tyson supported her as an ally and they were both arrested. She recited Psalm 23 and Psalm 27 as she was being taken away. Her work did not go in vain, many big retailers and distributors such as Target, Walmart, Amazon and ebay have banned the confederate flag.
“You come against me with hatred and oppression and violence, I come against you in the name of God. This flag comes down today,” Bree Newsome said.
Good job, Bree! #StayWokeSummer
Sandra Bland-Police Brutality
Sandra Bland was arrested on July 10, 2015 during a traffic stop. Three days later, July 13, 2015, she was found dead in a Texas jail cell. Twitter started a discussion with the hashtags, #WhatHappenedToSandraBland and #IfIDieInPoliceCustody.
The police station reported her death as a suicide. Pictures surfaced of her mugshot where she was photographed dead on the ground in orange clothes with her shoulders slanted down and her eyes lifeless. Artists, Allan Andre and Kalkidan Assefa, of Ottawa, Canada painted a tribute mural to Sandra Bland.
Sandra Bland was an inspiration. She did video blogs urging people to be active in the movement for change. She greeted her viewers with, “Good morning, beautiful kings and queens”. This was devastating and her death shook the community. The way the police department handled her death showed that injustice still exists. According to the toxicology report and pathologist Dr. Brian Burgess, Sandra Bland’s cause of death was due to asphyxiation which resulted from strangulation. This was not a case of suicide, but homicide.
Rest In Peace, Sandra! #StayWokeSummer
Amandla Stanberg-Cultural Appropriation
Many of you may know Amandla Stanberg as Rue from Hunger Games or even Jaden Smith’s prom date. From a simple google search, it was plain to see that many media publications didn’t choose to address her by her name. This is just the start of the later disrespect that Amandla had to face. Amandla Stanberg posted a video in April called “Don’t Cash Crop my Cornrows,” she spoke about cultural appropriation as it refers to hair and entertainment.
In July, Kylie Jenner posted a picture on instagram of herself in cornrows with the caption, “I woke up like diss”. One of Kylie’s followers commented #WhiteGirlsDoItBetter. Amandla then commented:
Justin Bieber ran to the defense of Kylie Jenner. Media outlets labeled this as a fued. Andy Cohen of Watch What Happens Live on Bravo called Amandla Stanberg the “Jackhole of the Day”. This is an offensive title to give to someone who was simply voicing a valid opinion. Amandla is more woke at 16 years old than a lot of people.
Stay woke, Amandla! #StayWokeSummer
White People Documentary- White Privilege
The MTV documentary titled White People stirred up controversy. Jose Antonio Vargas, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist/ Filmmaker, wanted to make a documentary with conversations about race involving white people because white people are usually excluded from the discussion.
Jose went to four cities Phoenix, AZ, Bellingham, WA, Rapid City, SD and Winston-Salem, NC to hold community discussions with white people and people of other ethnicities. The documentary highlighted topics such as the use of the word ghetto, lack of racially integrated friend groups, colorblind statements, feelings of Native Americans have toward white people, scholarship discrimination and white privilege.
Speak Out, Jose! #StayWokeSummer
Serena Williams-Body Image
Serena Williams has been a role model and icon in the world of tennis for many years. She has been consistently successful and positive in her career and lifestyle. Many women see her as an inspiration. Men also show her support and praise her for her skills and physique. On the topic of body image, people have made comments saying that Serena looks like a man. When one person tweeted the insult, J.K. Rowling came to Serena’s defense.
Williams has no time to entertain negative comments. She won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon open this year along with other matches and has spoke about body image with the Miami Herald.
“My fans are incredibly supportive. I look like a normal athlete, a normal woman walking down the street, a thicker one. I’m OK with that. I love that. You have to be OK with yourself no matter if you’re size 0 or a little bigger, like me. A lot of other people say I inspire them to be comfortable with themselves. My mom was really strong on that, on learning to love yourself,” Williams said.
Stay Strong, Serena! #StayWokeSummer
Janelle Monae- Protest Music
Janelle Monae is an innovator in the world of music. She is pioneering a movement with music as her medium of delivery. She fashions herself in black and white with hues of red. Her style has evolved from her uniform black and white suits. Now she is revealing skin with dignity and a message. In her video for Yoga she sings, “You cannot police me, so get off my areola” in reference to the #FreeTheNipple movement. Janelle also speaks for herself as a multi-faceted woman. She can be a performer, Covergirl, a singer, a leader, and an activist.
Janelle Monáe, Jidenna, Deep Cotton, St. Beauty, and Roman Gianarthur are the artists involved in Wondaland Records. They went on the Eephus Tour performing free secret shows in several cities across the nation. They engaged with the community by marching, protesting and performing with the message to uplift people and combat racial injustice. “HellYouTalmbout” is a chant with the artist of Wondaland to #SayHisName and #SayHerName.
A man tweeted to Janelle Monae saying that she should stop “being so souful and be sexy.” Janelle replied, “Sit down. I’m not for male consumption.” She is in control of her body, her clothes, her hair and her message. She is Electric Lady #1!
Power Up, Janelle! #StayWokeSummer
Amy Schumer-Feminism
Amy Schumer has been a prominent figure in the world of feminism. Anything Amy Schumer said or did made her the hashtag of trending topic this summer. She uses comedy as vessel to unapologetically be the woman she wants to be. She has a sketch comedy show on Comedy Central called Inside Amy Schumer. Amy’s show encourages dialogue about topics such as sexism, masturbation, body image, beauty standard, and sexual harassment.
Amy Schumer’s Cousin, Chuck Schumer, is a New York Senator. They collaborated to work for better gun control laws. Amy is an advocate for stricter gun control laws especially because a shooting occurred during the showing of her movie Trainwreck. In the speech, she focused on the lives of the women who were killed at the movie showing on July 23rd in Lafayette, Louisiana. This was very personal for her.
This summer, Amy starred in her breaking lead role as Amy Townsend in Trainwreck. She paid a tribute to her Alma Mater, Towson University. She graduated in 2003 with a Theater Arts degree. Amy returned to Towson in March 2014 for the “Inside Amy Schumer Back Door Comedy Tour”. She shared stories of her drinking, promiscuity in college and her experience living in Towson’s dorm, Tower D, according to The Towerlight. Her platform is breaking down double standards especially on the widespread conversation surrounding a woman with a social sex life. It’s great to know that someone so influential, walked the same campus we’re walking right now.
Be Free, Amy! #StayWokeSummer
The wokeness doesn’t end just because the summer is ending. We attend a PWI but we also have a lot of culture and diversity on campus. Make friends from all backgrounds, attend the diversity speakers series, visit a cultural organization and take advantage of the plethora of resources on our campus.
#StayWokeTowson