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Racism still an issue in sports

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By Alexander Douglas |Community & News Editor|

Racism within sports has always been an issue and although progress has been made, it is still prevalent in today’s society.

During the early years of sports in America, players were predominantly considered “white.”

This was also during a time of segregation so that there were bathrooms and other such instances where they were separated from “whites.”

In 1947, before the Civil Rights Movement occurred, Jackie Robinson broke the Major League Baseball color barrier by playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Some of his teammates didn’t approve of the Dodgers decision and preferred to sit on the bench than play in the same game as Robinson. Along with his teammates, members of other teams threatened not to play in games against the Dodgers if he did.

Opposing players, coaches and fans made a point of yelling racial slurs at him, with one taking things as far as cutting open Robinson’s leg with the spikes on his shoes.

Although sports are more inclusive, there are still many problems that see today.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder, Adam Jones heard Boston Red Sox fans yelling racial slurs at him, including the “n” word and one fan was even reported to have thrown peanuts at him, on May 2.

Since the incident, the fan has been identified and received a lifetime ban from Fenway Park, the home of the Sox.

Other less recent examples highlight that racism in sports is still a problem, despite the barriers that other players had broken.

NFL Giants player Nikita Whitlock had his house robbed and vandalized with swastikas, “Go back to Africa,” and “KKK” all written in graffiti.

Golden State Warriors forward, Draymond Green has also cited multiple examples of fans calling him racist names.

With this said, there are more people in the industry that are trying to stand up to these prejudices.

Football free agent quarterback, Colin Kaepernick for instance, knelt during the national anthem in protest of police brutality against people of color.

Kaepernick’s actions inspired several players from other teams and sports to follow suit and raise awareness of their cause.

Cleveland Cavalier forward, LeBron James, among other basketball players also spoke up against police violence against people of color at the ESPYS.

Colleges are also taking an active role in preventing or fighting against racism.

Members of the wrestling team at Columbia University were suspended in 2016 for sending racist and sexist text messages.

Schools such as ours require students to take courses that talk about racism and sexism during the beginning of school to help prevent these events.

Although these things may seem small, it’s a step in the right direction to prevent racism from spreading.

While some of these people and schools are taking a more active approach, there can be a lot more done to help prevent these racist incidents.

More programs need to be implemented to our nation if we are to truly be a “land of the free” both in professional sports and in our daily lives.

Jane Elliot and the state of racism

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By Saeed Villanueva |Staff Writer|

Hundreds were in attendance May 2 to watch Jane Elliot, creator of the famous blue eyes/brown eyes experiment, speak about the current state of racism in our country.

The event took place inside the SMSU Event Center and was the third annual event at CSUSB featuring Elliot.

The event was a huge success with approximately 700 people attending, of which an estimated 500 being students and faculty, and 200 were community members.

The event was headed by the Institute for Child Development and Family Relations (ICDFR) by professors Mark D. Agars and Kelly Campbell, director and associate director of ICDFR.

The ICDFR tries to have Elliot come to the college and speak at least once a school year.

“It raises awareness about how we think and treat each other. It challenges our assumptions we have about race,” said Agars.

Elliot first conducted her blue eyes/brown eyes experiment the day after Martin Luther King Jr. died in 1968.

Since then, she has become a prominent anti-racism activist, speaking to people all over the country.

Elliot first opened her speech with her thoughts on our recently elected President Donald Trump.

She expressed her unapologetic feelings about Trump and her concerns about the direction of the country with him in office.

“Do not allow him to ruin our future,” she said.

She understood that what she was saying was going to rub some people the wrong way, but she did not care about what people think of her.

“It used to bother me, but now I don’t care what people think of me. I’ve been called bitch so many times, but you know what I say bitch stands for now? Being in total control, honey,” exclaimed Elliot.

Elliot entertained the crowd throughout the entire event. 

She conducted a survey with the crowd, asking participants to stand up when she mentioned a certain race in which they identify themselves with.

After everyone was stood, she told the crowd to sit down if they associate themselves with the human race and everybody in the room took a seat.

“We are all part of the human race, we’re all cousins,” said Elliot. 

She then spoke about her thoughts on abortion, stating that she herself would never get one, but she believes everyone should be free to make decisions about their body.

Elliot conducted an experiment onstage in which she compared a young, tall Caucasian male to an average height African-American, middle-aged woman and asked each of them a series of questions.

She asked them if they feel like their skin color, height, gender, and age gives them power.

The answers from both individuals were very different. The young Caucasian male said that he believes all these things give him power. On the other hand, the African-American woman said she felt like none of these factors do.

Elliot then explained how those factors are out of their control, yet society treats these people very different from one another.

We cannot choose the height, gender and skin color of ourselves. Yet in society, people treat each other very differently based on these things.

“If you believe the more or less melanin you have makes you more valuable, then you have a problem with ignorance,” Elliot said.

Elliot suggested several books the audience should read that discuss the history of race.

She shared with the crowd how the history books in school hide significant facts from us.

Elliot explained to the crowd that the real first African-American President was not Barack Obama, it was Abraham Lincoln; and how Jesus Christ was not the blonde hair blue eyed depiction people often see him as because there were no light-skinned people during that time.

At the conclusion of the speech, Elliot complimented the crowd by saying she never had a group as patient and polite as CSUSB.

Dear Red White and Blue People

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By Maylyne Togafau |Staff Writer|

If you genuinely believe that you live in an America where all men (and women) are created equal, this article is not for you.

As a person of color (POC) in America’s climate today, talking openly and effectively about racial issues is arguably as hard as covertly enduring them.

Netflix’s Dear White People presents a satirical show that, in contrast to its title, has more to do with interracial relations than it does the race in which the title is addressed.

The 10-episode series touches countless issues plaguing a college campus: gender and sexuality, domestic/dating violence, financial insecurity, privacy concerns/hacking, drugs and alcohol, self-identity, and most important—race and racism.

Most those issues are non-discriminant; plenty of students have struggled financially, most are still trying to figure out who they are, everyone waits to do their homework until its due; but not all people have experienced living in a nation whose declaration of independence claims self-evident truths of equality for all men. Except the ones with different shaded skin.

The show purposefully addresses several heavy topics, admittedly shallow, because it demands that the viewer return, uncover, and proactively discuss the truth under the satire. So, to not be misunderstood, I can only focus on one scene in the first episode.

Sam White, our half-white and half-black protagonist—plagued by the prejudices of her dark roots and privileged by her lighter shaded skin—acts as our eyes through the boasted post-racial Ivy League Winchester University.

Gabe is Sam’s progressive but white “Summer Bae” who she’s too ashamed to reveal to her black friends likely in fear that it would discredit her blackness.

Reggie is the black alpha male, who Sam is drawn too because of his passion for their shared cause in advocating for the black plight

However, to move forward with Gabe, she invites him to the exclusive weekly screening of Defamation, a hilarious Scandal parody, in the all black dormitory.

Gabe attempts to engage by asking if Reggie is speaking of the Black Face party that was held by the Ivy League’s independent newspaper, claiming that he too was in outrage and disbelief that in 2017 incidences of racism still occur.

Reggie’s responds, “really? Because I can; it’s almost as if we attend two different schools.”

As progressive as Gabe appears to be, when Reggie leans forward to ask him what he is doing here, Gabe retorts with the question, “what, are you going to hit me?”

He wasn’t going to hit him. But did you believe he would? Why? Gabe was uncomfortable for an hour or so, but until the blatant black face party, he didn’t even think that racism was still possible.

Reggie knows that racism existed before the party, during the party, and sadly will continue after.

But it doesn’t have to. It shouldn’t have to. I hope one day that it won’t.

Deconstructing the Types

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By Sierra Marrero | Assistant Community Editor

Stereotypes—a method to categorize people, can not only used to diminish an individuals self worth but also causes a division from ones own culture.

Whether it’s subconsciously or consciously, sociology research shows that we all use stereotypes. Stereotypes are not limited to just race, but are made within the contexts of gender, religion, class, sexuality, etc.

As cliché as some people may think stereotypes are when discussing its relevance in society, many underestimate the power it truly holds on people.

One riddle included in research conducted by Mikaela Wapman (CAS’14) and Deborah Belle, asked participants to solve this riddle: “A father and son are in a horrible car crash that kills the dad. The son is rushed to the hospital; just as he’s about to go under the knife, the surgeon says, “I can’t operate—that boy is my son!”- How was that possible?”

Well, the results showed that over 75 percent of the participants did not assume the surgeon to be the boy’s mothers and the biggest assumption was that the surgeon was gay, and the boy’s second father.

The studies showed one aspect of gender bias against women in the notion that a surgeon isn’t typically found to be a women. Although the riddle results may seem silly to some, it only reinforces the idea that Stereotyping is the groundwork that can lead into discrimination.

To see what some stereotypes CSUSB students receive, they were asked to explain their ethnicity, where they are from, what stereotypes they have received and how those stereotypes or “barriers” could be broken down for people who make those judgments.

The first student interviewed was Christina Taylor,  mixed  with African American and Caucasian, whom always received stereotypes because of her mixed ethnicity.

Taylor stated, “I consider myself to be black and white, I really don’t care for the term African American […] people assume I have more money because I’m not dark and don’t speak ‘ghetto like most black girls’ […].” Taylor continued, “ The black community has usually considered me like a white girl. In the white community they consider me a black girl. Pretty much rejection from both ends.”

Taylor said that she found most stereotypes to be wrong, but doesn’t think that they will ever be nonexistent.

“I believe it’s hard to break barriers down because many people are stuck in a certain mindset.” stated Taylor.

Next, student Matthew Jenkins, who is African American, shared his accounts of stereotypes.

“I have often been viewed by those outside [of my ethnicity] as the “athletic one” based off the color of my skin, but when it came to my character and how I presented myself I was often viewed as the “white-black boy.” Jenkins continued, “I have always hated being called that, to me it’s like saying that being white is the prime example of a proper and civilized character and everything else is the example of uncivilized.”

Jenkins feels that they encourage the notion that being black entails the “slag talking, pants-sagging, sports oriented persona given to society by white nationalists.”

Jenkins further adds, “These barriers, through my experience, often stem from our ethnical group discouraging one from being themselves and are often teased and bullied until the individual gives in and changes their character to how their peers portray themselves. If we teach our young to embrace their originality and tell them that it is ok to be themselves there would be less people having identity crisis in their later years.”

Richard Gonzales, who identified himself as Mexican, said that he always receives stereotypes from non-Mexicans with references to him liking things considered to be part of the Hispanic culture.

“People assume that I have to like Chile cause I’m Hispanic or that I only like tacos, I only drink tequila since I’m Hispanic”, says Gonzalez.” I don’t think they hold any truth because these stereotypes are very general.

Half White half Mexican student, Sean Egle, has faced stereotypes because of his white decent as well as from his political party preference.

“I receive stereotypes being both white and Hispanic. I’m too much of one for the other (too white to be naturally associated with Hispanics and too Hispanic for the whites) everyone thinks I’m “privileged” but don’t account for all the hard work I put in for my own success.” Egle continued, “I’m a white republican male, society tells everyone that I’m the enemy just for existing.”

Egle believes stereotyping originates from how people are raised and by exploring other cultures it can be reduced.

Lastly, half Egyptian and half Mexican student Saaed Villanueva, said he’s faced Muslim stereotypes his whole life.

“I’m not even Muslim…Growing up I always heard terrorist 9/11 jokes towards me, saying I have bombs, but it’s never bothered me,” stated Villanueva .

Villanueva expresses how he isn’t sure if people genuinely stereotyped him or if they just general assume his culture, based off of his race.

“I feel the people that stereotype me often are the people that are Islamaphobic and avoid someone like me because they’re scared. The one question I do get asked by everyone is ’where are you from ?’ Then when I tell them they ask do you know Arabic? And I’m like no,” said Villanueva.

One student Brandon O’Connor, believes that stereotypes can be deconstructed through education.

“Exposure to other cultures without an ethnocentric point of view is the best way to break stereotypes […] a first-hand educational experience […] for example, taking a class that offers an aspect of cultural awareness,” says O’Connor.

Although stereotypes may offer a quick way for us to sort information about people into categories, it allows us to falsely make generalizations of all people within of a group that may not be true.

Sociologist, according to Boundless website, claim that “by dividing the world into discrete categories by stereotyping, one is able to foster an us versus them mentality”.

To deconstruct this type of view, many of the students suggest more education on the subject in order for communities to work towards achieving cultural awareness and break down societal stereotypes.

 

 

Jorge Ramos

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http://time.com/4463366/jorge-ramos-donald-trump/
Photo courtesy of Time Magazine.

By Gladys Oliva |Staff Writer| 

Well known anchor and journalist Jorge Ramos and actor Wilmer Valderrama are standing up to speak about discrimination during the current Presidential election.

Ramos held a private screening of his new documentary “Hate Rising” on Oct. 16., which focused on hate groups that feel empowered by presidential candidates Donald Trump.

Ramos was inspired to make the documentary after being kicked out of a Trump conference, and told racist remarks like “Go back to Univision!”

“Hate Rising” reveals how quickly America went from a country full of acceptance to being full of discrimination by showing how Muslim families, Hispanic families and young kids that are all suffering from the heightened racism that has occurred over the past months.

In the film, Ramos takes a seat with various white supremacist and hate groups who share their thought on why they are superior to minorities.

He provided statistics on the increasing number of Ku Klux Klan members which went from 72 to 190 in a span of one year.

Perhaps the supremacist feel they finally have a voice and a leader that proposes a plan to make the white race a majority in America.

The journalist is not only working in film, he is also the co-host of the “RiseUp As One” music festival where Ramos explained how he refuses to be part of a country where racism is acceptable.

Ramos is not alone when it comes to taking a stand against discrimination, many Hispanic celebrities from Becky G, Juanes and Julieta Venegas also stood up for the cause by performing their hit singles on stage.

Wilmer Valderrama attended the “RiseUp As One” concert, where he said, “To be an immigrant is the biggest gift this country and any country can have in the world.”

Both legal and illegal immigrants have received hateful comments but Valderrama speaks on how we should not be ashamed because at the end of the day immigrants are just as American and just as human as everyone else.

Celebrities are pleading the nation to rise together and vote, by sending the message through social media and on stage.

With Bernie Sanders no longer being in the run for presidency, a portion of the millennial generation is refusing to vote urging artists to speak up and advising Americans to hit the polls on Election day.

“I personally don’t want Trump to be our President so if Hilary helps then I’m still going to Participate. I think what celebrities say in the election matters a lot! Solely because they play a huge role in advertisement because to some people their a big influence,” said third year student Alexandrea Baytion.

With the most diverse group of voters and celebrities from different kinds of backgrounds speaking up, we may be able to see a good amount of voters hit the polls this upcoming month.

Make sure you vote for our future president on Nov. 8 go to http://registertovote.ca.gov to become a registered voter.

Donald Trump no different than Hitler

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By Erendy Torres |Staff Writer|

“Make America great again,” is the slogan Donald Trump is utilizing in his presidency campaign.

Interestingly enough, Adolf Hitler’s slogan was “Make Germany great.”

What does Trump mean by, “Make America great again”?

Does this mean taking away peoples’ lands and forcing them to move to a segregated area? Or does this mean putting the country through an economic slump for an entire decade?

America was not “great” when these events took place, just as Germany was not “great” during Hitler’s sovereignty.

“Whatever time era you point out in our country’s almost 300-year history was emblazoned with propaganda,” stated Liana Maitland in the article, “Why America Was Never Great.“

“Our history books are published in a conservative state that likes to paint and gloss over the chipped parts in our history. The entire time, there were impoverished, beaten down people, there were back deals and smuggling, blackmailing and cursing and terrible treatment of others,” continued Maitland.

Some people might argue that comparing Trump to Hitler is a bit over-the-top.

Some people might even say that Trump is a joke.

Hitler was also taken as a joke. He is now considered to be the reason behind one of the most atrocious genocides in history.

Though Trump’s actions may not be comparable to Hitler’s, there are several similarities between the two.

Trump is using racism to rise to power as Hitler did back in the 1930s.

Early in his political campaign, Trump accused Mexicans of “bringing crime, bringing drugs, and being rapists.”

Hitler accused the Jews of “polluting” the German race.

“If Donald Trump becomes the next President of the United States, it would be a complete disaster,” stated Eva Schloss, stepsister of Anne Frank, in an essay for the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

“I think he is acting like another Hitler by inciting racism,” continued Schloss.

Hitler was an anti-Jew fascist, who made Jews wear the Star of David pinned to their clothes as a symbol of identification.

Trump did not rule out the idea of Muslims wearing a special identification noting their faith.

“Certain things will be done that we never thought would happen in this country, in terms of information and learning about the enemy,” said Trump in an interview with Yahoo News.

“We’re going to have to look at a lot of things very closely. We’re going to have to look at the mosques. We’re going to have to look very, very carefully,” said Trump.

When asked if there was a difference between Muslim identification in the United States and Jews in Germany, Trump responded with a simple, “you tell me.”

However, surprisingly enough, Trump continues to have the most popularity between the candidates.

“We should elect Trump for president, because he knows what he wants, and he knows how to get there. He is self-funding his own campaign; he is a business man. He can benefit our economy,” said student Kyle Westwood.

“Not only that, but sending illegal immigrants back to their country will open up more job positions for us,” continued Westwood.

Whether for or against any candidate, it is critical to know and understand where each potential leader stands.

The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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IMG_7470By Maria de Lourdes Campos |Staff Writer|

As the first week of the winter quarter is underneath our belts, many of us might be surprised to know that we don’t have class on Monday in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, but great men warrant great observance.

The reason why we celebrate Dr. Marin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is to pay homage to a man who not only wrote the “I Have A Dream” speech to end racism, but who also taught us the values of courage, compassion, humility, and dignity in a time where our country was racially divided amongst the Anglo-sax and the “negros.”

King was more than just a great man who taught us humility. He was a man of God, who used his Baptist ministry as a means to teach the value of racial equality in a time where racial segregation was at an all time high.

He believed that it was God’s will for us to be together as a nation and not divided.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. modeled Mahatma Gandhi’s approach of peaceful protest and non-violence to bring awareness to the nation, who seemed oblivious as to what, when, and where acts of racial violence and separatism were taking place in the South.

This approach helped King to initiate the Montgomery Bus Boycott, to show the nation that in solidarity, we are all brothers and sisters who deserve to be treated and respected as who we are.

Today we celebrate him, but many fail to realize that what he did for this nation forever changed us as a people.

We are all now blessed to enjoy his vision, when not that long ago we weren’t considered each other’s equal.

At CSUSB, 57 percent of students are Hispanic, 15 percent are white, 6 percent are African-American, and Asian and foreign students account for 13 percent of the overall student body according to CSUSB’s Office of Institutional Research.

That makes this school a melting pot of different ethnic backgrounds all coming together as one, for the sole purpose of an education.

With the student body accounting for a wide range of different ethnic backgrounds, we’re a living testament of his vision.

Education was pivotal for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s doctrine, but how is his legacy represented within our educational system today?

Stephanie Thompson, a CSUSB student models what Dr. King once stated in his, “ I Have a Dream,” speech which states, “ I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

Thompson said Dr. King’s speech is her motto for life and that we see representations of him all the time.

“Just look at the student body, we are all different, come from diverse backgrounds, and get to experience diversity, which is what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for,” said Thompson. “For us to be equal.”

We remember him today with great respect and admiration, but we should never forget that he was a man of God who used his Baptist ministry to advocate nonviolence and peaceful protests as a means to fight for justice, peace, and equality that would forever change the world that we live in today.

 

The University and the Declining of Western Civilization

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By Daniel DeMarco |Copy Editor|

Photo courtesy of ajc.com
Photo courtesy of ajc.com

Critical thinking is a foundational element of academic education, and in providing that, our colleges are failing us.

College is supposed to be a place for the sharing of ideas and open discussion and debate in which any view is open for challenge or questioning.

If any place, it should be in our establishments of higher education that issues and various topics are encouraged to be talked about intelligently and without barriers of censorship or fear of trespassing upon what is deemed politically correct.

Do not mistake me, there is plenty of encouragement to partake in discussion and ask questions, but you better make sure they’re the “right” questions and discussions.

Do not dare to stagger away from the politically correct, or what may be considered insensitive to some group of people based on their gender, race, religion, and culture—this is the clear message that is established by the college community, authorities and colleagues alike.

This in no way resembles an environment which thrives on, let alone supports, critical thinking. Instead, our colleges have nurtured an environment of hypersensitivity, self-righteousness, and mob mentality.

It’s: “Shut up, I want to speak, and do not say anything I don’t agree with.”

Perhaps if our professors were able to attempt to enlighten us students and provide a strong education, there could be a way to avert this unfortunate fate—but no.

In my experience, most often professors are just as much a part of the problem. They preach the same rhetoric that confines so many minds onto a narrow mentality of thought.

The focus seems clearly to be teaching students what to think.

It’s not always intentional; some are just unwilling to rock the boat—usually for fear of the potential consequences and fear for their job.

It’s ridiculous that a college professor has to censor themselves for fear of repercussions at a university; priorities are so astray.

That’s not to say that all professors are part of the problem, or that all are scared speechless, but it seems the remaining high quality professors are scarce.

I can count on one hand the number of professors I’ve had of whom I can honestly say challenged my ways of thought and truly encouraged critical thinking—I’ve attended CSUSB for five years.

It’s certainly no coincidence that my favorite professor is the same professor which I hope administration pays the least amount of attention to.

I do not mean to insinuate that I’ve learned little in college; I’ve learned a lot. There is a clear separation in the education we receive, though.

The way I see it, the majority of college education is making smart students. The smart student can feed you some theory and regurgitate facts that he (or she—because political correctness requires constant acknowledgement of both sexes) has learned in various classes ranging in all sorts of topics.

The goal of a college should instead be to produce intelligent students. These students have the same storage of facts and general academic learning within, but beyond that they have been taught how to think, rather than what to think.

Unfortunately, the imbalance only seems to be getting worse, even on the large scale of our society as a whole.

Society is moving more and more towards a state where political correctness reigns supreme and where safe speech is preferred to free speech.

It’s hard to say if it will tip back the other way, but until it does we can expect the same dish we’ve been getting force-fed these last few years—a constant state of “protecting” any and all minority groups, the rampant lazy online activism, and absolute multiculturalism where everyone makes their own truth and way of life.

This is what the college campus has become, dulling critical thinking and instead creating “safe spaces” where freedom of speech is forsaken for people’s sensitivities and close-mindedness, and honest discussion is averted by liberally using words like bigotry, racism, Islamophobia, and Transphobia, among others.

Now what we have is the moral dilemma of the month, such as October’s edition of the great moral debate of culturally insensitive Halloween costumes, or November’s with the strict protection of Islam from all questions, concerns, or criticisms, that has seeped over into December as well—how embarrassed my generation should be, and how embarrassed colleges should be for failing to properly educate us.

Anonymous hacktivists bring social enlightenment

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Joaquin Junco Jr. | Chronicle Illustration
Joaquin Junco Jr. | Chronicle Illustration

By Carlos Solis |Staff Writer|

Hide your kids and hide your wife because they’re hacking everybody out there.

 
“Hacker is a term used by some to mean ‘a clever programmer’ and by others, especially those in popular media, to mean ‘someone who tries to break into computer systems,’” according to techtarget.com.

 
I don’t think hacktivists are criminals. I believe they are doing a service to society by exposing the real criminals and spreading valuable information.

 
“Hacktivism is the act of hacking a website or computer network in an effort to convey a social or political message. The person who carries out the act of hacktivism is known as a hacktivist,” according to techopedia.com.

 
An international network of hackers and hacktivists known as “Anonymous” became famous for their digital attacks on governments and big corporations.

 
They are well known for using a Guy Fawkes mask, as seen in the movie V for Vendetta. Nowadays, the Guy Fawkes’ mask is a symbol of freedom through hacktivism.

 
Anonymous threatened to release information of 1,000 Ku Klux Klan members. They have already released 80 names to pastebin.com, according to Al Jazeera.

 
“The Ku Klux Klan was originally founded in the southern states after the Civil War to oppose social change and black emancipation by using violence and terrorism. Although disbanded twice, it re-emerged in the 1950s and 1960s and continues at a local level. Members disguise themselves in white robes and hoods and often use a burning cross as a symbol of their organization,” according to the Oxford Dictionary.

 
Last November, members of the KKK threatened to attack protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, after the death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, who was shot by Darren Wilson, a white police officer. Protests erupted when Wilson was not indicted by the Ferguson grand jury.

 
“For some time now, the police of St. Louis have been avoiding our questions concerning the death of 18 year old Mike Brown. It is time to change that,” stated on the Anonymous video “Operation KKK”.

 
Almost a year after the events in Ferguson unfolded, Anonymous is bringing up the incident again.
Anonymous revealed a list of names of KKK affiliated members. These names were on a list released by various Twitter accounts claiming affiliation with Anonymous.

 
The people who are a part of such a hateful organization might be the same people you voted for.

 
Jim Gray, the mayor of Lexington, Kentucky, who’s name appeared on the list, denied any ties.

 
“I have never had any relationship of any kind with the KKK. I am opposed to everything it stands for. I have no idea where this information came from, but wherever it came from, it is wrong,” Gray told USA Today.

 

 

“You should be careful what you get on the Internet or what you’re posting on the Internet. Everything has a way to come back to you. I don’t think it is right for your private information to get out, but at the same time it’s the KKK,” said student Mark Porraz.

 
I personally wouldn’t want my information or other personal details about my life to be released to the public.
I’m just a broke college student, and not many people would be interested in hacking my life; I agree that we all deserve privacy.

 
You need to be careful with what you do online and what you are involved in.

 
The issue here is that information has been revealed about politicians. When you’re a public figure, you run the risk of not having a private life anymore.

 
“We are not a person as people die, we are an idea and ideas are immortals. We are justice and justice can’t be silenced… We are the ones who do not beg for justice to take its course,” stated an Anonymous member in the video ‘Message to the Citizens of the World.’

 
There might be people that don’t agree with Anonymous as hacktivists.

 
People have called them criminals, cowards while hiding their faces, and radicals trying to change the system.

 
I don’t feel that way about them because it’s true that governments and corporations have been taking advantage of society.

 
Anonymous, or any other hacker groups, usually don’t search or reveal information about innocent citizens simply to be malicious.

 
It is likely that your information is already online, but as a common citizen, you are not likely to be targeted by this groups.

 
I believe groups of hackers like this are doing a service to the community by being the voice of the voiceless and bringing justice for those who can’t get it otherwise.

 
By exposing the ones who hide in the dark to harm society with their greed, hate and selfishness, Anonymous is breaking the chains of ignorance one leak at a time.

New Star Wars Trailer, Bring out the White Hoods?

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ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 16: Actor John Boyega attends Star Wars Celebration 2015 on April 16, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** John Boyega
ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 16: Actor John Boyega attends Star Wars Celebration 2015 on April 16, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** John Boyega

By Nicholas Whitt |Staff Writer|

John Boyega, actor in the upcoming film Star Wars: The Force Awakens, has been targeted for issues that may not pertain towards the actual film but for being black.

The release of the new trailer had people go straight to social media, trending #BoycottStarWars, with comments stating key words like “White genocide.”

“#BoycottStarWarsVII because I am sick of muds being casted in white parts. #StopAppropriatingWhiteCulture,” tweeted @DarklyEnlighten, who is notorious for posting racial slurs. The tweet may have been removed before print.

“#BoycottStarWarsVII because instead of using the force, they use affirmative action,” stated @Bjom_Blonde

It seems that people will turn heads on what they might love just because a black man is involved in it, even if it has to do with a fantasy genre or fictional characters.

“The fact that some people believe white genocide is possible by a fictional character playing in a science fictional film shows how fearful white people are when discussing race,” stated by Andre Thompson, Internal vice Chair of the Black Student Union from UCSD.

Thompson continued, “for the greater part of black history black people have found ways of relating to predominately white cast in movies and TV shows, so its rather strange that the same cant be reciprocated for a black actor. “

The ironic part is how Star Wars has always been a diverse galaxy filled with different classes, races, and extraterrestrial species.

The skin color of a Jedi should not be our priority; let’s worry more whether director J.J Abrams gave Jabba the Hutt light saber skills or something just as ridiculous.

Abrams stated he was excited to show the new trailer and that he doesn’t “care if you’re Black, White, Brown, Jawa, Wookiee, Jedi, or Sith. I just hope you like it.”

With many black individuals having an important role in the Star Wars universe, why would this cause an uproar?

“It’s also weird that Samuel L. Jackson was a prominent portion of the Star wars series as well as the voice of Darth Vader being a black man. Black genocide has been happening since the conception of this country but yet it’s easier to get a campaign going to boycott a movie about space ships then boycott racist police officers,” stated Thompson.

Despite the boycott, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is scheduled for release on December 18.

Tickets recently went on sale, selling $6.5 million worth of tickets and broke a record for IMAX ticket sales, which were six times more than the amount sold for Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Rises in the same time period, according to Ashley Jenkins of Rooster Teeth.

The ticket sale activity was so overwhelming that websites like Fandango crashed, added Jenkins.

With ticket sales breaking records and online forums spreading the word, there is no doubt that people will still lineup to see Star Wars; boycotting might not be successful because there’s no such thing as bad publicity.

Honestly though, the next thing people will complain about is how Jar Jar Binks isn’t in the new movie, #BringJarJarBack.