Magazine Cover

I like colors.  I like the red because it's bright and makes the cover stand out.  I was going for a youthful look... probably because that's what my skill-set would allow. Either way, go dawgs.

Digging Deeper... A look at Desegregation for Biracial Students

Digging Deeper… A look at Desegregation for Biracial Students

Growing up in a biracial household Miaje Hubbard, Taylor Schlopy, and Dmitri Pelaez were anything but the self described “black kid.”

Miaje Hubbard, a freshman at Tennessee State University, a historically black college in Nashville, Tenn., talks about her eye-opening experiences as a biracial freshman student.  One of the hardest aspects of being a biracial student is that “people don’t believe you’re black because you look white and act white.” 

She said dressing a certain way affects the way the rest of the students see you.  “I dress ‘preppier’ than other girls at my school” and since “dressing a certain way is considered being black, therefore I’m not black.” 

Hubbard said at least once a day someone will tell her she’s not black. 

“It’s hard because even things that I can’t help: like the darkness of my skin, or the softness of my hair affect the way the rest of the students see me.”

Dmitri Peleaz a junior transfer student at UGA spoke of his first two years as a three-sport athlete and Kappa Alpha Psi member at Tuskegee University.  He said “it’s harder to fit in (at Tuskegee) because people see me and automatically notice I’m not full black.” 

Taylor Schlopy, a senior softball star for UGA’s top-ranked program said “most people don’t believe that I’m black, which is a little discouraging because I have to defend my ethnicity.” 

Hubbard said most people don’t do it intentionally.  It’s a subconscious act, a slight second where they judge you based on your appearance.  I think social and economic standing also has a lot to do with what group you get categorized in, she said. 

“Sadly most people assume if you’re white you have more money, therefore; it’s not just a racial division but also an economic division.”

A native of California, Schlopy said her time at Georgia has been interesting because being from California she never ran into people who were racist or didn’t like the idea of inter-racial couples.  “It’s heartbreaking to see that the world is still like that,” she said.   

In order to further the success of desegregation at home and in public, Schlopy said, “In all honesty it comes down to how we’re raising our children and that needs to change across the entire world.”

Another California baby, Hubbard agreed that you see more issues with racism in the South, but that ultimately it comes down to parenting. 

“If you put these ideas in your kids’ heads they will trickle down into the next generations,” Hubbard said.    

Peleaz said the issue goes even further.  People in church act differently toward races contrary to the accustomed race for that church, and he wishes “that people would be more open to different cultures.” 

Regarding the institutional realm, Peleaz exposed a deeper issue with HBCU colleges as a whole.  He said, although it’s neat to see other blacks achieving, “finding a white, Asian, or Hispanic student on campus is like finding a four-leaf clover.” 

“This gives you a false vision of the world because you live, work and study with nothing but one race.  But when you graduate and go into the real world you will be working with everybody.”

This factor makes it hard for HBCU colleges to prepare students for the real world.  Compared to UGA, students have classes with all different people and get an assortment of backgrounds and viewpoints. 

Peleaz said segregating yourself to one race creates “an illusion of the world.” 

Hubbard, Schlopy and Peleaz each expressed their own thoughts on how to better create a more desegregated campus and lifestyle. 

The answer lied in two words: cultural sensitivity.

Based on their personal experiences, each gave their own definition of what those two words meant to them. 

“Cultural sensitivity is seeing beyond what the eyes can see.  It’s important because we must learn to look at what’s not in front of us.  In order to do this we must accept other people’s cultures and not be judgmental based on where they come from or their economic standing,” said Hubbard. 

“Cultural sensitivity is not putting your own culture on others because every culture is different, and no culture is better than another.  We can become more culturally sensitive by getting to know people before we pre-determine their personality.  Don’t let the media decide someone’s personal traits before you even talk to them,” said Peleaz.

“Cultural sensitivity is respecting everyone’s individual culture.  There shouldn’t be a set definition on what someone’s culture is.  Who’s to say what I’m supposed to believe or act?  We should let the world be.  It’s a process of learning and trying not to judge,” said Schlopy. 

Celebrating the 50^th  anniversary of desegregation at the University of Georgia represents half a century of dedication to equality amongst its student body.  Just as the university changed its policy 50 years ago, the world is changing daily as well.  The world is no longer divided by black and white.  The biracial world is emerging.   

“I love that I am from two ethnicities,” said Schlopy.  “It is special to stand for something that a lot of people still don’t believe in the United States.  Biracial people are making it and I want to give hope to younger generations.  I want to show people who don’t believe that different races should come together that biracial people are beautiful and have so much to give to the world.” 

Miaje Hubbard is Black and White

Dmitri Peleaz is Colombian, Moroccan, and Black

Taylor Schlopy is Black and White

what makes a college desegregated?

Digging Deeper… A look at Desegregation for Biracial Students

Growing up in a biracial household Miaje Hubbard, Taylor Schlopy, and Dmitri Pelaez are anything but the self described “black kid.”

Miaje Hubbard, a freshman at Tennessee State University a historically black college in Nashville, Tenn. talks about her eye- opening experiences as a freshman biracial student.  One of the hardest aspects of being a biracial student is that “people don’t believe you’re black because you look white and act white.”  She said dressing a certain way affects the way the rest of the students see you.  “I dress ‘preppier’ than other girls at my school” and since “dressing a certain way is considered being black therefore I’m not black.” 

Hubbard said at least once a day someone will tell her she’s not black. 

“It’s hard because even things that I can’t help: like the darkness of my skin, or the softness of my hair affect the way the rest of the students see me.”

Dmitri Peleaz a junior transfer student at UGA talked of his first two years as a 3 sport athlete and Kappa Sai member at Tuskegee University.  He said “it’s harder to fit in (at Tuskegee) because people see me and automatically notice I’m not full black.” 

Taylor Schlopy, a senior softball star for UGA’s top ranked program said “most people don’t believe that I’m Black which is a little discouraging because I have to defend my ethnicity.” 

Hubbard said most people don’t do it intentionally.  It’s a subconscious act, a slight second where they judge you based on your appearance.  I think social and economic standing also has a lot to do with what group you get categorized in, she said. 

“Sadly most people assume if you’re white you have more money, therefore; it’s not just a racial division but also an economic division.”

A native of California, Schlopy said her time at Georgia has been interesting because being from Ca she never ran into people who were racist or didn’t like the idea of inter-racial couples and that “it’s heartbreaking to see that the world is still like that.” 

In order to further the success of desegregation at home and in public Schlopy said, “In all honesty it comes down to how we’re raising our children and that needs to change across the entire world.”

In agreement with that statement, another California baby- Hubbard said, you see more issues with racism in the South but that ultimately it comes down to parenting.  “If you put these ideas in your kids’ heads they will trickle down into the next generations.” 

Peleaz said the issue goes as far to people in church.  Races contrary to the accustomed race for that church are looked at differently, and he wishes “that people would be more open to different cultures.” 

Regarding the institutional realm, Peleaz exposed a deeper issue with HBCU colleges as a whole.  He said, although it’s neat to see other Blacks achieving, “finding a White, Asian, or Hespanic student on campus is like finding a four leaf clover.”  

“This gives you a false vision of the world because you live, work and study with nothing but one race.  But when you graduate and go into the real world you will be working with everybody.”

This factor makes it hard for HBCU colleges to prepare students for the real world.  Compared to UGA, students have class with all different people and get an assortment of backgrounds and viewpoints. 

Dmitri said segregating yourself to one race creates “an illusion of the world.” 

Hubbard, Schlopy and Peleaz each expressed their own thoughts on how to better create a more desegregated campus and lifestyle. 

The answer lied in two words: cultural sensitivity.

Based on their personal experiences, each gave their own definition of what those two words meant to them. 

“Cultural sensitivity is seeing beyond what the eyes can see.  It’s important because we must learn to look at what’s not in front of us.  In order to do this we must accept other people’s culture’s and not be judgmental based on where they come from or their economic standing,” said Hubbard. 

“Cultural sensitivity is not putting your own culture others them because every culture is different, and no culture is better than another.  We can become more culturally sensitive by getting to know people before we pre-determine their personality.  Don’t let the media decide someone’s personal traits before you even talk to them,” said Peleaz.

“Cultural sensitivity is respecting everyone’s individual culture.  There shouldn’t be a set definition on what someone’s culture is.  Who’s to say what I’m supposed to believe or act?  We should let the world be.  It’s a process of learning and trying not to judge,” said Schlopy. 

Celebrating the 50^th  anniversary of desegregation at the University of Georgia represents half a century of dedication to equality amongst its student body.  Just as the university changed its policy 50 years ago, the world is changing daily as well.  In order to further this successful desegregation campaign we must all fight for cultural sensitivity.  There world isn’t divided by black and white.  The grey area is no longer other.  But the biracial world is emerging and we must learn to accept it and further more embrace it.   

“I love that I am from two ethnicities.  It is special to stand for something that a lot of people still don’t believe in the United States.  Biracial people are making it and I want to give hope to younger generations and help show people who don’t believe that different races should come together that biracial people are beautiful and have so much to give to the world,” said Schlopy. 

Miaje Hubbard is Black and White

Dmitri Peleaz is Colombian, Moroccan, and Black

Taylor Schlopy is Black and White

Ethical Issue

For my JRLC 5080 class I have been given the task of keeping up with the S. Korean news on a weekly basis.  This has been really eye-opening for me because what I have found is a heavy slew for scandalous and sensational stories.  When posting on my other class blog about the S. Korean news this morning I could have picked anything from a "Bigger-Than- Belgium UFO Detected," "Taiwanese actress linked to Sex Scandal" or "Man gets 6 years in jail for Billboard Porn Stunt."
For the purpose of this class blog I picked the latter of them all.  My problem with this news story was that it wasn't very clear.  It explained that "a computer hacker, brought Moscow traffic to a standstill with a rush-hour porn stunt" and has been "sentenced to six years imprisonment."  But when it talked about Igor Blinnikov, the 41year-old hacker, went to court for this offense it said he appeared in court for charges of selling 13 grams of marijuana and was sentenced to five years of hard labor.  Then when it talked about his court appearance for the hacking itself they called a "six-year prison term."  They put more of an emphasis on his marijuana stunt than his billboard stunt.  The headline was a lot more enticing than the story itself.


Original Article found here

Loving the Dream

Mary Frances Early shares a Lesson of Love

Speaking on Valentine’s Day, Mary Frances Early used love as the focus of her speech to more than 400 people at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Breakfast celebrating the university’s 50^th anniversary of desegregation. 

Mary Frances Early, the first black student to earn a degree from the University of Georgia, spoke on the passion and courage of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life.   “Today we celebrate Valentine’s day… which is a day of sentimental or romantic love,” Early said.  “King’s life however, his entire life in words, were based on another type of love.” 

A love that was much more powerful.  This love called “Agape,” is a Greek word that means an unconditional or selfless love for others. 

Early was personally affected by the prominent preacher, teacher and man that Dr. King was.  While attending classes at UGA, she “went home as much as [she] could to hear Dr. King’s sermons.”

Mary Frances Early had to battle many tough situations while studying at UGA, but, “Dr. King’s preaching gave [her] reassurance, help and strength when [she] needed it most.” 

Martin Luther King’s philosophies of nonviolent protest “changed [Early’s] life and that of many others in this nation and around the world” Early said.  “Though Dr. King is no longer with us physically, his dream: the American dream… [will be] engraved forever on our consciousness.  His dream of justice, equality, tolerance and brotherhood for all should be our dream.  We have to complete the work that he so valiantly and courageously did.”

Early said Martin Luther King, Jr. lived his life as the ultimate example.  In the words of King his goal was to “transform the jangling discourse of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.” 

As a result, Early said, “We blacks, whites, Asians, Hispanics, Jews, Muslims, agnostics, atheists- all of us are the beneficiaries of his legacy.  And it is our… responsibility to make that dream become a complete reality.”

Early quoted Langston Hughes, a black American novelist, “What happens to a dream deferred?  Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun or does it explode?”

She saw to it that her dream would neither dry up nor explode, but that her dream would become a reality. 

While taking postgraduate courses at the University of Michigan, Early became fully aware of the escalating civil rights struggle and wanted desperately to participate in the struggle for equality.

A native of Atlanta, she saw the desegregation struggle that was taking Atlanta by storm.  She decided there was something she could do; she would transfer to UGA and support Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter.  They were the first black students at UGA, and had been enrolled for a year.  In Early’s first two years on campus, she earned a master of music education degree and became the first black student to graduate from the university in 1962.

After the inspiring passion and courage shown in Early’s life, one can only wonder what difference can be made now.  In the words of King, Early said, we must keep in mind that “life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?”

 Early encourages us to take action by extending love.  “That’s something we can do everyday” she said.  “If we don’t have financial resources to share we can express love through a genuine smile of acknowledgement, a pat on the back for encouragement, a hug for those who need it or a visit to one who is alone and lonely.”

In his last speech, King addressed how he’d like to be remembered.  He said, “I’d like someone to mention that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to give his life serving others.  I tried to love and serve humanity.  That we all can do, each and every day.”

Like the popular lyrics by Hal David and Burt Bacharach, Early said, “What the world needs now is love sweet love, it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.”

The power of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream remains strong among us now. 

“Though we as Americans have come a very long way, and here at the University of Georgia we have come a very long way since 1961, we are still not there,” Early said.  “Dr. King’s dream cannot be deferred or it will dry up, and we cannot let that happen.” 

Mary Frances Early closed with a very powerful statement. 

“I ask you to celebrate Dr. King’s courage and rich legacy by serving and loving others.  In doing so we can all help to make America what it ought to be.  We can make America a better nation.  We can help to bring Dr. King’s dream to fruition because the power of the dream will give us the courage to do so.”   

Source: Attendee

Dream Big

So I know this is for Under Armour and I'm about to talk all about Nike, but if this doesn't get you pumped up then I don't know what WILL.  I mean yeah, I want to be one of the people on that add, but since I'm 21 and almost out of my prime, I might have to settle with creating or producing this or similar ads like this one.  
I have multiple dream ads.  I mean considering the fact that I play softball I would totally love to take my career to the next level and perhaps see how far it can get me.  I'll try and follow the footsteps of Andrea Duran and be on the Nike Website and share my story through awesome clips like this.   
I would love to work for Nike because I feel that it is a company always on the fore-front of the industry.  They are not afraid to try new things and push the boundaries of products.  I would love to help create and design products to also endorsing and marketing them.
The possibilities are endless... with Nike.
Just Do it!


I don't have facebook but I'd totally advise checking out their Nike Women page it's awesome and inspirational. 

Mary Frances Early Shares a Lesson of Love

Mary Frances Early shares a Lesson of Love

This Valentine’s Day there’s more than roses and boxed chocolates to celebrate, but the power of a dream: Martin Luther King’s dream. 

Mary Frances Early, the first black student to earn a degree from the University of Georgia, spoke at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Breakfast celebrating the university’s 50^th anniversary of desegregation. 

Ms. Early’s speech highlighted the passion and courage of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life. 

“Today we celebrate Valentine’s day,” Early said.  “We celebrate Valentine’s Day which is a day of sentimental or romantic love for our spouses, our significant others, our family and friends. Dr. King’s life however, his entire life in words, were based on another type of love called the Greek Word: Agape which means unconditional or selfless love for others.” 

Early was personally affected by the prominent preacher, teacher and man that Dr. King was.  While attending classes at UGA, she “went home as much as [she] could to hear Dr. King’s sermons.”

“Dr. King’s preaching gave me reassurance, and help and strength when I needed it most,” Early said.  “[His] philosophies and his example changed my life and that of many in this nation and around the world.  Though Dr. King is no longer with us physically, his dream: the American dream… [will be] engraved forever on our consciousness.”

“His dream of justice, equality, tolerance and brotherhood for all should be our dream,” she said.  “We have to complete the work that he so valiantly and courageously did.”

Ms. Early said Martin Luther King lived his life as the ultimate example.  In the words of Mr. King his goal was to “transform the jangling discourse of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.” 

As a result, Early said, “We blacks, Whites, Asians, Hispanics, Jews, Muslims, Agnostics, Atheists all of us are the beneficiaries of his legacy.  And it is our challenge, no our responsibility to make that dream become a complete reality.”

Langston Hughes, a black American novelist asked us, “What happens to a dream deferred?  Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun or does it explode?”

Mary Frances Early saw to it that her dream would neither dry up nor explode, but that her dream would become a reality. 

While taking postgraduate courses at the University of Michigan, Ms. Early became fully aware of the escalating civil rights struggle and wanted desperately to participate in the struggle for equality.

A native of Atlanta, she saw the desegregation struggle that was taking Atlanta by storm.  She decided there was something she could do; she would transfer to UGA and support Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter.  They were the first black students at UGA, and had enrolled the year prior.  In Ms. Early’s first two years on campus, she earned a Master of Music Education degree to become the first black student to graduate from the university in 1962.

Early understands that the biggest question for everyone is what can we do now?

In the words of Mr. King we must keep in mind, “life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?”

 Early answers this by encourages us to take action by extending love.  “That’s something we can do everyday” she said.  “If we don’t have financial resources to share we can express love through a genuine smile of acknowledgement, a pat on the back for encouragement, a hug for those who need it, a visit to one who is alone and lonely.”

Dr. King addressed how he’d like to be remembered in his last speech to the garbage workers in Memphis and he said this, “I’d like someone to mention that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to give his life serving others.  I tried to love and serve humanity.  That we all can do, each and every day.”

Like the popular lyrics by Hal David and Burt Bacharach, “What the world needs now is love sweet love, it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.  What the world needs now is love sweet love, no not just for some but for everyone.”    

    

The power of Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream stands strong among us now.  “Though we as Americans have come a very long way, and here at the University of Georgia we have come a very long way since 1961, we are still not there,” Early said.  “Dr. King’s dream cannot be deferred or it will dry up, and we cannot let that to happen.”  

Mary Frances Early closed with a very powerful statement.

   

“I ask you celebrate Dr. King’s courage and rich legacy by serving and loving others.  In doing so we can all help to make America what it ought to be.  We can make America a better nation.  We can help to bring Dr. King’s dream to fruition because the power of the dream will give us the courage to do so.”    

Absolutely

I love this photo of Emily and Megan because it was a completely awkward moment but it didn't come out that way at all.  

They both look great and look genuinely happy.  

I think the colors from their clothing and the plants around them add to the beauty of this picture.  

It gives brightness to their smile.  

I love pictures that are in-the-moment! 

Mis Favoritas Picturas

Photo Attribution: Summer Nelson

My friend Summer took all three of these photos in her backyard.  She has an amazing knack for capturing the simple beauty in nature.  Whether it's a wilting flower that gets overlooked everyday or a beautiful insect in its natural habitat I love the simple beauty of her pictures.  The first one is one of my favorites (it's actually my twitter background :P) because of the contrast in the color of the flowers with the gray background.  I know that on a gloomy day such as the ones we've been having lately, the last thing I would think to do is stop and look at the budding nature around me (which is what she did).  Now dragonfly's can beat their wings 28 beats per second, so to capture the wings at perfect extension is pretty cool.  And lastly, butterflies are like my favorite thing.  The power of transformation over their short life from something creepy and crawly to something elegant and graceful is quite beautiful.  That's why I love butterflies and especially this picture of one.   

Desegregation ideas- Brittney

1. "Two-four-six-eight! We don’t want to integrate!"  Take a survey and interview current students if they would have had the courage to stand up against the norm, and fight for equality.  
2.  Write a recap of the first days at school, the riot that happened on North campus, how the president sent the students back to Atlanta (for their safety), but then later after a petition by the faculty the students were brought back to school.  Write a recap of what happened but with a fresh twist and look on what happened.  (Kind of like a walk-through history lesson, just without the dryness)  
3.  Feature on the location: south-east.  Which schools had been integrated already in the US.  Cross compare it with international countries.  US--> innovative, and ahead of the rest of the world.  
4.  Inspiring feature to show how far we've come since then.  All of the technological advancements, and social improvements since then.
5.  Editorial on talent... in the Olympics.  Create a sense of unity.  See beyond outside color differences to the part where we all have something useful to offer.  An example would be all the athletes in the Olympics (of all different races).  I mean, we wouldn't be too good if it wasn't for some influential African American athletes.  
6.  An image or a color coded map that showed which states and schools had been desegregated by the late '60's.  
7.  Change is scary.  Remember the millennium.  People were so comfortable in the first thousand years that they thought the world was going to end.  A feature recapping how change is scary but not always bad.  
8.  A table showing diversity on population of UGA compared to 10, 20, 50 years ago.  
9.  A day in the life of: an African American professor (feelings on desegregation now, and any memories of growing up... stories from parents or anything) 
10.  A day in the life of: an African American fraternity and sorority
11. A day in the life of: an African American athlete
12. An editorial on biracial babies (students born with parents of different ethnic decent) 

They call me Hubbs

 

(I wanted to spare yall from having to look at my awful pix from class)

So, I heard this one time and thought that I might give fair warning before I begin.  

"I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a word of what I'm saying" 

...this happens a lot.

Okay well hello!  These biography things are always quite awkward for me because I mean how can you bundle someone up into a few sentences.  I know I for sure am quite too out of the box that it's kind of an impossible task.  So instead I'll introduce some random facts about me because that's pretty much the summary of who I am. rANdOm

I was born in Hollywood.  Which would make me seem like some make-up wearing, glamorous girl who knows all about celebrities and whatnot.  But lets be for real, that's like the exact opposite of me.  Just recently I had to write a fashion editorial for the up-and-coming 2011 spring fads for Southern Distinction, and it had to be the hardest thing I've ever done.  

I have a problem.  It's called "I can't listen to music without dancing" 

(I've been diagnosed)

It's caused quite some embarrassing stories in my time.  I mean who doesn't introduce themselves on national television as the girl who likes to 

"BUST A MOVE" 

(I'm gonna be honest, I didn't have much pre-thought in that decision)

Ha. Ya.  After that there's not much else for me to say.  
I like to write, I don't think I'm particularly good at it.  But figured I didn't want to be stuck doing something for the rest of my life that I would just tolerate.  My dream job is to travel the world, meet people of all different cultures, immerse myself in their life, share the beautiful word of God with them... and all-the-while take pictures and write about it for a magazine back in the states.  I think it's a pretty realistic dream.  Oh, and if I could have a superpower I would want to be able to speak all languages.

The end. 

However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all... 

You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy

 in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, 

but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. 

Ecclesiastes 11: 8-9