K-pop: The Music Phenomenon on The Rise · who have broken records by being the first Korean pop group to win a Billboard award and perform at the American Music Awards, but this

Bria Moten’s Writing Portfolio

K-pop: The Music Phenomenon on The Rise It’s called “Hallyu, the Korean Wave” which is the idea that South Korean culture has grown to become a major influence on global culture. It’s affects can be seen in everything from Korean Dramas, called K-Dramas, to Korean skincare claiming it’s place in the global market. At the very center of the Hallyu wave is Korean Pop music, known as K-pop. Recently there has been a spike in interest in K-pop, specifically in BigHit Entertainment’s BTS who have broken records by being the first Korean pop group to win a Billboard award and perform at the American Music Awards, but this is not the first time K-pop acts have broken into the American music scene. In 2009 the Wonder Girls became the first Korean group to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 with their song “Nobody,” which was released in four different languages. Later, in 2012, PSY became an overnight sensation with his song “Gangnam Style,” which became the first YouTube video to reach one billion views and has heavily influenced popular culture since then. “Gangnam Style” has even been recognized by Guinness World Records as the most “liked” video on YouTube and it won Best Video as the MTV Europe Music Awards. K-pop is made up of high-quality performances, complete with synchronized singing and dancing, a refined aesthetic, and an “in house” method of production that pushes out hit after hit. To be a K-pop star, however, you must endure years of training. Beginning with auditions, that take place between the ages of 10 and 12, attendance at special schools that specialize in singing and dancing and even class that teach them how to control their public behavior. They spend hours in daily rehearsals and perform in weekend music shows and when they are old enough, and lucky enough, they will either be placed in a group or debut as a solo artist. Once the training period ends, these groups are given pop songs to perform as well as a thematic concept, which changes from one album to the next. Tumblr user Yen describes appeal as admiration, “Not to downplay western artists but [K-pop artists] train for years… you can see that they really want to be where they are. They provide us with content every week to show their appreciation.” There is an extreme emphasis on live performance which make the fans an active part or the experience. The “Fan Chant” has been perfected by K-pop fans. In live performances fans shout over the intros and as a counterpoint to the chorus to show support for their favorite group. Aside from live performances, fans are also encouraged to buy K-pop goods. From concert merch and DVD’s of their live performances to “Official Light Sticks” that the fans can collect and wave at performances. There are also physical albums. As the sale of physical albums has decreased everywhere else in the world, they are booming in Korea. K-pop is not the only genre of Korean music that is emerging into the global music scene. South Koreas indie music scene is also on the rise. This includes independent rappers and R7B singers as well, most notably Dean and Heize.


The world of K-pop is gradually evolving to include more diversity not only in the styles of music but also in the kind of artist that are making their way mainstream, moving away from heavily manufactured sound that comes from the major companies towards independent artists that do not conform to the rigid standards set by the Korean music industry. As history has shown, the Hallyu wave swells and subsides the future looks, as Big Bang would say, fantastic, baby.


Ron Shane

Ron Shane, 69, was raised in Beachview to alcoholic parents. He “went through all you have to go through in an alcoholic family.” Shane classified his father as a “good alcoholic.” Bills were paid, food was on the table, however, Shane learned to take care of himself from a young age. He did odd jobs around the neighborhood to earn a couple dollars. “I always had a high IQ, but I never learned to use it in school. I learned to use it on the street. I grew up a street kid.” In high school Shane started dealing marijuana. “I’d go to the Hill District and buy, go to Beechview to sell. I was always looking to hustle.”

Later in life, when Shane was on river boat patrols in the Vietnam war, he started to use heroin. “People that I knew were dying. I killed people… You’d come back after a firefight and the first thing ’d I’d go for was drugs. The escape from the nightmare … I even started drinking over there.” Shane recalls that he was “always getting into some kind of trouble.” As he was preparing to leave Vietnam, he was sent to “the brig” for a couple months for firing “a few M-16 rounds into the ceiling.” When he returned stateside in 1970, Shane could not find a job. “You know there’s a better way, but the doors always seem closed. I wanted to get a job on river barges and then they started questioning me about Vietnam… ‘You’re a vet’, they said. You could snap out at people.” Shane continued to use heroin and began selling drugs.

In the years following his tour in Vietnam, Shane struggled with addiction. “I didn’t realize I was addicted. Then one day I realized it had control of me. I didn’t want to live like this anymore. But didn’t know how to do it.” It wasn’t until he encountered the pastor that had been converting his customers, that his life changed.


“Some of the people that were working for me started going to church, telling me about Jesus. I thought they were nuts,” Shane said. Shane confronted the minister, baseball bat in tow, and tried to start a fight with him. “He kept telling me Jesus loves me and that began to melt my heart… Something in me changed.” That same night Shane went home, cried for the first time in his life, and got rid of all his drugs.

Now, Ron Shane conducts “Life and Addiction Recovery” programs in Carrick and Homestead that aim to help people recover from addictions to drugs, alcohol, and overeating.


The following stories are fictional and were written for academic purposes. School Board Debates Eliminating Arts Programs The Brentwood Borough School Board met Monday for a general purpose meeting in the Brentwood High School auditorium. The board consists of Randall Johnson, the board president, Jonathan Wright, Nancy Hamilton, Lee DiNardo, Larry Davies, Gary Bumford, Denise Burgstien, Vince Glenway and Alex Gregory. Joseph Korchnak, the district’s superintendent, was also in attendance. The most controversial issue on the floor was the elimination of the fine arts programs. Dissolving this program would result in two ceramics classes, two graphic design classes, a photography class and a painting class being cut. Before the voting took place, Nancy Hamilton raised the question of what happens to the teachers and the kids. The Brentwood fine arts teachers are the best in the state and they “will not stick around to teach general science now,” said Hamilton. Hamilton also brought up the fact that the students have made some amazing things in these programs and they “made the school district look better.” Edgar Matthews, of 23 Alexander Drive, believes his “kids are better students because of the arts classes.” If we stop encouraging students to express themselves through fine arts, where are they going to express themselves? Matthews said. When put to a vote, this motion failed 5-4 with Larry Davies, Gary Bumford, Randall Johnson and Alex Gregory voting in favor. Those in the audience responded with applause. When asked if he was surprised with the decision regarding the programs, Superintendent Joseph Korchnak said that he was surprised. “Funding from the state level is too sparse” to offer something to everyone, Korchnak said. New hires for the Brentwood School District A motion to hire Cathleen Williams as a full-time administrative assistant in the Brentwood High School guidance office passed unanimously, but the hiring of Bill Taylor as Elroy Elementary’s full-time custodian with a salary of $25,000 a year came with more debate. Larry Davies said the salary is too high. “We shouldn’t be paying our custodians as much as we pay office personnel,” Davies said. It’s worth mentioning that the salary was set by the union and in the contract. The motion passes 7-2 with Larry Davies and Alex Gregory voting no. Generous Donations From Brentwood Alumni A motion to accept a $1,000 donation for a pole vault runway from Tom and Denise Kelly, class of 1964, passed unanimously. “Donations like this keep our track team competitive and give our students opportunities that they might not otherwise get,” Larry Davies said.


Jazmine Roberts, Profile Piece We see them everywhere. They are scattered throughout the world. Ramps, button

operated doors, and handicap only parking. All the things that would, in theory, make the life of a disabled person easier. I do not think many able-bodied people have ever thought about what it would be like to be put in a position where they would actually have to use these amenities. Instead of using them for convenience, it would become using them for necessity. Just commuting up and down the various hills and staircases of Duquesne University’s campus can be a struggle for some. This is a struggle Jazmine Roberts lives daily. Meet Jazmine Roberts, known by her friends as Jaz, is a 22-year-old education major at Duquesne University. She is also a Resident Assistant in Saint Ann’s living center. Roberts was born with the nerves of her spine exposed. Because of a softball pitch gone awry, Roberts had to take time off from school to get a spinal surgery that resulted in her developing a condition called drop ankle, which is when the leg is not able to lift the ankle, losing the majority of feeling in her right leg and having to wear a brace or walk with a cane to assist her with walking. The Day That Changed Everything Jazmine had a pretty normal childhood. She was born to mixed race parents in Dallas, Pennsylvania. She attended Dallas Senior High School where she played Volleyball, Softball, and also ran track. This is where it happened. “It was a hot day,” Roberts recalls. “Just a normal softball practice. Ya know, with running and everything else that’s involved.” Practice was nearing an end, people were tired and “a little all over the place.” Roberts was at second base preparing to take third. The pitcher was preparing to throw the ball. Roberts started to run. She was nearing third base when she felt it. The pitcher had reared around and thrown the ball in the direction of third base. Instead of landing in the hands of the third baseman, the ball found itself flying at, what felt like, full speed towards Roberts. The ball hit her in the back, effectively ending her career in softball. Damage was Done This is when Roberts, and her family, found out about her preexisting spinal condition. Roberts was now wheelchair bound facing a surgery that could paralyze her. “It was the only option,” Roberts says. Coming out of surgery, Roberts was optimistic. “I had to keep looking forward. That was the only way I would have made it through.” She did her best to keep a smile on her face. Through the physical therapy and the check-ins with her doctor. Roberts remembers the moment she lost all traces of optimism. It was the day everyone realized “there was no way to save” her right leg. The amount of muscle in her leg had decreased significantly. “The doctors said I would never run again,” Roberts recalls. Moral was low. Getting up to go to physical therapy became a chore. Roberts was in a “funk that couldn’t be shaken.” Overcoming all Odds Roberts doesn’t remember the exact moment, but there came a day when she decided to “stop feeling sorry” for herself. “I have never been the type of person to allow bad situations to


get me down and I wasn’t about to start.” She was no longer in physical therapy but she wanted to exercise. She purchased work out tapes and started lifting. She decided her ultimate goal was to run again. “No matter what anyone else said. I was going to run again,” Roberts says. It took months of trying. Just a little bit every day. The first couple times she tried running were not good. “It hurt like hell,” Roberts says. “I considered giving up, ya know? Just accepting that running would never be my thing again. But that is quitter talk.” Roberts used this as motivation. “Every time I would think about stopping, I just pushed myself that much harder,” says Roberts. It took a very long time, six months to be exact, but that day did come. Roberts had taken a break from trying to accomplish her goal of running. It was arm day. “I never miss arm day,” Roberts says. She made the last-minute decision to try running the track in the field by her house. “I wasn’t expecting anything spectacular. It was just a progress check.” She began the process as usual. Then she took off. “It was a little painful, but it wasn’t intolerable. As I kept going it got easier,” Roberts recalls. “Before long, the pain had completely dissipated. I was running, as best I could given the situation,” She says with a laugh. “It felt amazing.” Now she runs on the regular and she still has a self-admitted “obsession with working out.” Now she feels like there is absolutely nothing she cannot do. Life Now

When asked how she felt about Duquesne University’s amenities that cater to those who are disabled, she said “I think Duquesne has done it’s best to create an environment that caters to all its students. I really like that the Duquesne Police are there to help take students to class and stuff. It really helps, given all the hills.”

Now Roberts is the life of the party. The residents that live on her floor all agree that she’s “the best RA” in the building. “She is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met… Once you get past the sarcastic and sassy exterior,” freshman Cristina Salvatore says with a laugh.

Roberts is going to be the head Resident Assistant in Saint Martin’s living center next year and when she graduates she has plans to work in a local high school while getting certified to teach special education. Roberts says she wants to be able to mold young minds. “I to teach kids with my condition. I want them to know that they can make it through anything. If they tell you that you will never run again, tell them to watch you run a marathon.”


The following contains multiple headlines written for broadcast. Pirates spring training scheduled to open this week following the release of Pedro Alverez and trade of Neil Walker. Pitchers and catchers report on Wednesday with the first workout scheduled for next Tuesday. ----- After a difficult season for the league involving high-profile player misconduct, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell earned just over $34 million for 2014, according to the league’s tax filling. This is the last tax filling that is required to be released because the league has elected to change their status and file tax returns as a taxable entity. --- The playing future of Miami Heat forward, Chris Bosh, is up in the air due to a blood-clot scare for the second year in a row. Bosh will spend the next few days reviewing medical options. No determination will be made until Bosh undergoes more tests and evaluations. --- Following last month’s snowstorm that left hundreds of motorists, including Duquesne University’s men’s basketball team, stranded for almost 24-hours, Turnpike Commission Chairman Sean Logan testified before a State Senate committee on the states response to the storm claiming that the agency planned around an early forecast that predicted a “manageable” eight inches of snow; Logan claims, however, that they didn’t get their next update with predictions of one or two feet of snow until 10 that night. --- No charges will be filed against the inmate who used a shank to inflict 10 superficial cuts to a SCI-Greene guard last fall. The decision was made after a consultation with the injured guard and the Greene County district attorney. The inmate’s life sentence for murder was the leading factor in the decision to not file charges since he will not be released form prison, according to Pennsylvania State Trooper Daniel Barnhart. --- Since Act 13’s implementation in 2012, which included an impact fee levied on companies drilling in the Marceilus Shale region for natural gas, counties and municipalities affected by the drilling have received $856 million. The Independent Fiscal Office expects impact fee revenue to drop by $38 million this year. Disbursements are based on last year’s drilling and the IFO attributes the drop, in part, to lower gas prices. “The second factor is that fewer new wells have been drilled this year. The data from DEP suggests there was a 42.9 percent drop-off in new wells drilled.” The revenue drop also means less money for community improvement projects. --- Eighty-four-year-old Laotian immigrant Xia Xue Vue faces sentencing before a federal judge today for selling uninspected poultry. In the last 20 years, Vue has been cited repeatedly by local humane officials for slaughtering animals he bought from farm auctions in his Pittsburgh-area homes. Authorities say he was slaughtering chickens, pigeons, ducks, goats, and more and selling the meat to ethic food stores. Federal sentencing guidelines state that Vue could be sentenced to a maximum of six months in prison, but he could possibly receive probation. --- According to data provided by the nonpartisan Council of State Governments Justice center, over the last decade Pennsylvania’s incarceration rates of inmates in prisons has risen. About three dozen officials will spend the next year seeking out ways to cut costs and keep Pennsylvanians


from entering the criminal justice system. This group is led by Josh Shapiro, chair of the state’s Commission on Crime and Delinquency, who says the current effort focuses on preventing people from entering prison in the first place. “We will be looking extensively at pre-trial diversionary programs and practices which seek to divert offenders to alternatives to incarceration.” The directors of this study have a year to recommend changes to state law on things like sentencing and bail.


The following stories are fictional and were written for academic purposes. Anchor Intro: Following the lawsuit filed last fall in U.S District Court in Harrisburg over unconstitutional delays in treatment for defendants with severe mental illness, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania has announced that a settlement has been reached. WXYZ’s Bria Moten has details Reporter’s Script The lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Pennsylvania alleges that the Department of Human Services has violated Fourteenth Amendment due process rights and rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act by denying them timely treatment for their mental health issues. The suit requires the state to some up with a long-term strategic plan. Witold Walczak, legal director of the ACLU, says that the courts retain at least a three-year jurisdiction over the lawsuit. “I say at least, because if we get to three years and the wait times are still way over whatever we agree the maximum is, then the court’s going to continue jurisdiction and were going to pound them.” (26:42-26:52) Secretary of the Pennsylvania DHS, Ted Dallas, says that this is a good first step toward addressing a problem that has affected Pennsylvania’s for too many years. Bria Moten, WXYZ news. Anchor Intro: The first woman and the first Democrat to be elected Pennsylvania’s Attorney General announced last week that she would not be running for reelection this year following the criminal charges that were brought against her. WXYZ’s Bria Moten has details. Reporter’s Script: In August, Kathleen Kane is to go on trial for perjury and criminal conspiracy charges. As a result of these charges, Kane’s law license has been suspended and Republican members of the House and Senate are calling for her impeachment. A special house subcommittee began its formal consideration about whether to impeach Kane today. Frank Dermody, Democratic House Leader with experience with the impeachment process, told the special House Subcommittee to consider the fact that Kane is not seeking reelection. “I think you have to be careful. You have criminal trails that haven’t started yet and after November, if the attorney general doesn’t run, (She’ll) no longer be a civil officer… (if) you’re not a civil officer, you can’t be impeached.” Kane’s term is set to end in January. Bria Moten, WXYZ News.


The Following piece is fictional and was written for academic purposes. Boyce Road Reopened By Bria Moten UPDATE: The water came from a whole in the retaining wall in Chartiers Creek. The hole was caused by “a single car accident where someone caused the damage without telling anyone.” Said Police Chief Doug Burkholder. Police are asking that anyone with information on the hole in the retaining wall would please come forward. “Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime. That’s another reason we need to find out for sure what happened.” Said Burkholder. --- Flood at Ardolino’s Pizza shop caused Boyce Road to be closed from Bird Meadows Drive to Mayview Road past Chartiers Creek, according to officer Bert Macklin. The flood was caused by water that “Definitely came from creek.” Said Macklin The road has since reopened. “The road was never flooded. The water was just along side the road” around the pizza shop, according to an officer on the scene. “ It wasn’t that much water,” said Bill Chester, a witness on the scene. There is another creek behind the pizza shop and the water “from the big creek flowed into the little one eventually.” Said Chester. Eight emergency workers in three rafts rescued a white woman with black hair wearing a whit T-shirt and blue jeans, which was later identified as Lisa Ardolino the owner of Ardolino’s Pizza, from the roof of the building as water entered form broken windows. There were no injuries, according to a Tri-County South Emergency Medical Services dispatcher Tyler Bowersock. Tags: Boyce Road, Upper St. Clair, Flood, Ardolino’s Pizza, WPXI, Detours, Road closure, Road Reopened, Tri-County South Emergency Medical Services #BreakingNews #BoyceRoad reopened, water has been cleared. – http://www.duq.edu


Space Race Ever since Space Race in the 20th century, the United States has been a power player

when it comes to the exploration of space, so it would only make sense for the United States to fund a space mission to Mars, right?

Luis Hernandez, of Facebook, believes that they should. “We’ve always lead the world in space exploration,” Hernandez said. “If opposition is to the total funding, I would say that the US should be a major part of any joint venture. Anything less is a default in our responsibility.”

Hernandez brings up the issue of funding. There are people who believe that the United States should focus on the other issues plaguing the country right now. Citizens are using this to fight against new space missions.

Katherine Dessart, first year Computer Science major at Duquesne University, says “Our money is going to destroying our planet with war when we aren't even looking at other planets.” This seems to be the sentiment of most people who are against the United States getting involved in any new space endeavors.

The Netherlands is also working on sending people into space. The program will be choosing 100 candidates to travel to Mars, according to their website MarsOne. They are ordinary people who have applied and have been chosen. They will be trained and taught the skills they will need to survive.

The catch? These people will not be returning. Starting in 2024, according to the website, crews of four will depart every two years. The purpose of this mission is to set up the foundations of a colony and to see if human life could be sustained. Dora Farona and Ellen Sanin, both Duquesne University freshmen, believe that the United States should wait until the results of the Netherlands trip are known. “I think the U.S. should hold off on funding until the Netherland mission proves successful,” Said Farona. Sanin shared that sentiment and added, “If it is successful then the US should offer help to the Dutch, should they need it.” Said Sanin. Those in favor of missions to Mars are more concerned about sustaining the human race. A worry that most citizens have is how the human race will continue on if we end up killing the Earth. “If they are worried about natural resources then that’s a good back up plan to have should the earth need to be evacuated.” Said Sanin. Veronica Balko, Duquesne University freshman, believes this is grounds for further investigation. “They claimed to have found water on Mars, so they should fund a mission to investigate this further and see what else can be found.” Said Balko. Balko is referencing the news that came late last year of NASA’s Curiosity Rover finding ice on the planet’s surface. The question of further exploration of Mars is met with mixed reviews. Some believe that the United States should focus on issues that are a little closer to home. Others believe that it would be in the United States best interest to get a stake in this up and coming time of exploration. Then there are some, like Desiree Roberts, a fourth year Education major, who are indifferent but think the mission “sounds like it'd be fun.”


The Following is an academic paper.

Museum Paper: “Black Wall Street”

The Carnegie Museum of art has an exhibition currently called 20/20: The Studio Museum in Harlem and Carnegie Museum of Art. The exhibition asks the viewer to reflect on the history of our country and the need for art in times of social and political change. The exhibition features pieces spanning 100 years and is broken up into three parts: “Working Thought,” American Landscape,” and “Documenting Black Life.” The first two sections focus on mapping modern American experience as a product of historical occurrences and the last section is dedicated to the work of Charles “Teenie” Harris. For this paper, I’ve decided to analyze a work called “Black Wall Street” by Noah Davis. The piece was made in 2008 and was done with oil and acrylic on canvas. Upon first glance the piece looks very gloomy as there is an abundance of darker colors. This may be because oil and acrylic are thick and would make the darker tones of the piece stand out more. As I said, this piece is a part of a collection. The other pieces in the collection also feature darker tones and colors however it seemed that they were meant to be looked at individually. They each tell their own story but, when they are put together, they also make up pieces of a much larger narrative. The piece depicts was looks like a funeral home. There is a woman standing slightly off center. She draws your eye first and then the sight lines draw your eye directly to the figure laying on the ground next to her. Then our attention is draw to the two figures in the background; One is kneeling and the other seems to be lying face down on the ground, though it is hard to tell because their body is partially covered by the woman in the foreground. There are also two figured on either side of the painting, one old and one relatively young. They seem to be passive bystanders to whatever had just happened in the main portion of the painting. We are then drawn to the two red birds in the white cages. The piece is relatively large, it’s dimension are 60 x 62 in. I think the largeness of this piece is meant to help convey the gravity of this scene in relation to the current climate of America. The piece is asymmetrical and the shapes are more and equal mix of geometric and organic these elements work well together. The visual element that draws your eye first is the woman in white in the center. She draws the eye because she is featured prominently in the middle and she is also one of the figures wearing white. She is the only figure standing in the center of the piece and she is the only figure with an unmistakable face; the rest of the faces are either obstructed or unintelligible. The eye is also drawn to the two red birds in the white cages. On top of the cages are what look to be clumps of gold and a meant to represent the figures that usually sit atop pillars. With this the viewer is asked to think about the juxtaposition of the birds in the cages instead of on top where they usually sit. The composition of this work contributes to a sense of stasis. It does not look like any of the figures in the painting were moving or about to move. It reads like a snapshot from a moment in time. Almost like a tragic event just happened and the people on the scene are still processing what happened. There seems to be an air of shock, depicted by the kneeling figure in the background. This leads to the assumption that there are both active and calm moments in the piece.


The composition helps convey the mood of the piece in that is viewer is immediately aware of the gloomy situation. The colors are very dark and the lines are thick. No one in this piece is smiling and, as I said most of the faces are unintelligible. The response this piece elicits is one of belonging and relatability. I think the faces are obstructed because the viewer is being invited to imagine themselves in the places of the figures depicted here. This piece is meant to serve as a basis for reflection on the current state of the country in relation to the past. Inviting the viewer to see themselves in the position of those involve in the scene really gets the viewer to relate to the image and think about how history in the country is repeating itself. You can definitely read the artists presence in this piece. All of the brush strokes are recognizable and you can even see where some of the colors blended over and where some of the colors have been mixed together. All the figures in the piece have the same basic body shape and skin tone. As I’ve mentioned, the colors in this piece are very dark which all work together to convey the overall mood of sadness and hopelessness. There isn’t much lighting in this picture. It can be a little confusing upon first glance because the sky seems to be completely black. I think the sky can be left open to interpretation because it could represent two different things. The sky could either be complete darkness with the exception of a few clouds which let slivers of sunlight in or it could be a cloudy day and the darkness is smoke of some sort rising from the ground. These are the two interpretations I could come up with myself, but I am sure there are many more. There is not much light to be seen in the piece. The only possible light source is the sun from behind the clouds, however everything is evenly lit and there are very little shadows. It seems as if the scene isn’t affected by time and light. I think the viewer is invited to stand back and take in the whole image. Once should try to understand the narrative of the whole piece and how it interacts with the other pieces of the exhibition. Once that had been done I think the viewer can also take a step forward and look at the individual parts at work in the piece. I think this piece can elicit a couple different reactions. As I’ve mentioned this piece is a part of a larger exhibition on the current climate of America. With that in mind, when I first saw the title of this piece my mind was immediately taken to the one of the most prosperous points in African American history in which the Black Wall Street was flourishing. African Americans had created entrepreneurial opportunities for themselves that included banks, hotels, etc.

Like most riots in the early 90’s, it all started when a young white woman accused a young black man of sexual assault; the mobs invaded the unsuspecting community not too long after. About 300 African Americans lost their life during the riot. The rioters looted and burned to the ground around 40 blocks of African American homes and businesses. Nine thousand African Americans were left homeless and lived on the street into the winter.

Aside from the title of the work, there are things that would lead the viewer to see this as snapshot from just after the riot that destroyed Black Wall Street. As I mentioned, the dark sky in the background can be interpreted as smoke coming from the fires set by the looters. The two figures laying on the ground could be one of the 300 people that lost their lives that night. The piece is set on the grounds of some sort of establishment. I have been calling it a funeral home but, in reality, it could be a school, a bank, a church or any of another number of things that the black community had built for themselves at the time.

Another thing that I noticed in this piece is the red birds in the white cages which immediately made me think of the highly acclaimed autobiography of Maya Angelou,


historically one of the most influential people in the black community, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. “

The book follows Angelou from ages three to seventeen and cornicles the struggles she faced growing up. The story tells of Angelou’s abandonment, rape, child homelessness and teenage pregnancy. However, the theme that I think is the most relevant to the piece in the exhibition is racism. Throughout the novel Angelou and her brother Bailey must face the overt racism in the community of Stamps, Alabama. Angelou and her family had to endure harassment from the local white children and from the Klu Klux Klan. Angelou uses the bird struggling to escape from its cage as a metaphor for her confinement due to racism and oppression.

This point relates to our countries past, the present, and possibly the future. In post segregation America minorities were still being oppressed, laws were just created to make that oppression more covert. Things were getting better, but minority communities still haven’t reached full equality just yet. I’m not sure where our country is headed socially right now. Minority communities are still fighting to be treated equal but there are people in this country that are fighting against that. Speaking more specifically, there have been many movements within the black community in which they try to create things for themselves and try to form a sense of community, but those dreams have been dashed by non-black people claiming racism and sending those organizations hate mail until they shut their doors.

I think this piece is calling the viewer to think about what could happen if history repeats itself. As this is a part of an exhibition about the current climate the viewer is asked to put themselves in the shoes of those depicted here. I think that is why most of the face in this piece are obstructed. If the viewer can imagine themselves in a position of disenfranchisement and oppression, that can create a sense of empathy for those experiencing that in today’s society.

Once that sense of empathy has been established, that may move more people the trying to find equality for all people even if they are not members of the oppressed community. In my opinion, this is the goal of the first two sections of this exhibition. The last section is dedicated to the work of “Teenie” Harris who is known taking pictures of everyday life in the black community which was not, and still is not, portrayed in mainstream media very often. Combining the all three of the sections gives the viewer a look at the past and asks them to reflect on the things that caused some of the atrocities that have plagued our country and after that, I believe, the viewer is asked to thing about how these things relate to the present and what steps need to be taken in order to keep our country from making the same mistakes, to keep history from repeating itself.

Documents

K-pop: The Music Phenomenon on The Rise · who have broken records by being the first Korean pop group to win a Billboard award and perform at the American Music Awards, but this