All posts filed under: Features

Meet BAL’s New Non-Fiction Writers!

Published by

Bronx Academy of Letters is kicking off another great year in writing! This semester we’ve got two Non-Fiction elective classes busting their bums to create some magic on the page. While our newspaper staff is still assembling, in the meantime, meet some of the writers you’ll be hearing from! Bronx Academy of Letters Non-Fiction Writers Profiles! RYAN J. GARY Bio: I guess I’m just a regular kid. It’s rare when I’m not hungry because for some reason my body sweats a lot of calories out. My father is Black and my mom is Puerto Rican. What is the story of your name? My name is commonly used in Ireland but is also quite known here. It means “Little King.” My parents chose the name Ryan because it was hard to find a name that matches with my last name. Also my sister actually chose my middle name and she got it from retired pro basketball player, Michael Jordan. What is your earliest memory? My earliest memory isn’t the best but more traumatic. I was four …

Special Portfolio: On Race & Media: Music

Published by

by Onajah Joseph Music is the vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion. In no way does that definition mention musical segregation by race. Today’s society has propelled the idea of racial segregation into music.  Through social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, people often state that certain music is for white people and certain music is for non-white people.

Special Portfolio: On Race & Media

Published by

We caught wind that Ms. Lauren Fardig-Diop is talking about some important stuff in her English classroom. Tasking students with exploring the relationship between race and media, students have produced some moving arguments about representation. At The Raven we felt this topic to be profoundly relevant at this juncture in our society, where police brutality is at an all-time high, specifically in relationship to black men. We are proud to present a special portfolio of their writings through The Raven. To read the articles as a series, click this link.

United Playaz: The Neighborhood Is Looking U.P.

Published by

By Kevin Parades My first moments in United Playaz (U.P.) were amazing. When I walked through the doors, I saw a bunch of students laughing and working. Many of these kids that I knew were in gangs, and I wouldn’t expect them to be their doing homework. Out of their mouths I heard, “Ms., can you help me with my homework, it’s due tomorrow?” It made me feel like anyone can be welcomed there without being judged.

What’s Up With Nike’s New Easter Sneaker Collection

Published by

By Janèe Soto  Inspired from the colors of a robin’s egg, this Kobe release is colored in a shade of Hot Lava across the seamless textile upper. Along with its predominantly pinkish base, vibrating colors of Teal match the tongue, lace and the sneaker’s new Zoom Air sole – which is equipped with dynamic traction and hybrid cushioning. This makes the sneaker light enough for a Easter Sunday dunking in the park. The shoes retail for $180 in men’s sizes. Kobe isn’t the only one having a Easter sneaker release. Kevin Durant, and Lebron James, and will also be making appearances this Easter. .

The Creative Process: A Chat With Aja-Monet

Published by

by Shania Russell After a very insightful performance at our school, The Bronx Academy Of Letters, I got the chance to sit down with Aja-Monet and ask a few questions about her creative process. During the performance, she spoke briefly about her personal connection to poetry and shared multiple pieces of her own work. With both her poetry and her speaking parts, I noticed a common theme – social justice. Naturally, this is where the interview begun.

At War With the Police: Please Say A Change Is Coming…

Published by

by Toni Henderson It’s as if MLK  marched for the the children of today just so we could be silenced and abused. Rosa Parks sat down and stood her ground just so we could get beaten with batons, and handcuffed while we all screamed, “I Can’t Breathe!” To the older generation, the events that are occurring today are nothing new, they’ve lived through the hatred and blatant disrespect American has to show towards African Americans.  In this country, cases like Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, and as of recently Eric Garner, are just clear signs that America is still evolving. Being that we are the new generation, this comes as a shock to us – and to me, especially being that I am an African American in today’s generation.