Out of the ashes of 2020 rose TikTok, a new type of social media paving the way in internet culture, education, and activism. TikTok is a video-based social media app with an unusual authenticity and growing cultural influence – presenting a rare chance for positive social impact through transformation of the social media space. TikTok … Read more
We pushed back with linked arms to free a space twenty feet across. A lone dancer rushed in, bringing the crowd to a standstill as we watched his drops and twirls. Another body took up the invitation and broke through and began to circle the other in playful competition. He pushed his feet off the … Read more
My parents’ marriage is straight out of a Bollywood movie. My father, who would skip school to watch art cinema and perform radical street theater, fell in love with my mother, a studious medical student who topped her university. A player and a know-it-all, a film buff and a talented artist, a Muslim and a … Read more
Not many changes to American food consumption patterns have been as prevalent and consistent as the rise of veganism over the past few decades. Once considered to be a fringe diet only followed by animal rights activists and health enthusiasts, the number of vegans in the United States has increased from 290,000 to 9.7 million … Read more
A recent lawsuit against Cisco from the State of California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing made headlines for its seemingly rare case of an employee who was part of the Dalit, or “untouchable,” caste being discriminated against by his Brahmin, or dominant caste, workplace superior. The argument against Cisco makes a claim for caste … Read more
The writer spoke to three friends about their love for the show “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” The following may require some previous knowledge of the show and contains spoilers. This is the first half of a two-part piece. In K.’s bedroom, jars of paint are scattered across the floor. Her paintings — many of East … Read more
The most damning question of our lives always approaches us in childhood: what do you want to be when you grow up? The answers are all too familiar: a nurse, a doctor, an astronaut (or, today, maybe a YouTuber). In our young imagination, anything is possible, and even if our career plans change as we … Read more
Growing up in Puerto Rico, faith has been a comforting constant throughout my life. The countless hours I spent in mass as a young boy, hearing about how Christians should aspire to lead a life of kindness and devotion, will forever shape how I act, and thus, how I vote. And I’m not alone; studies … Read more
Despite the fact that Latinx communities also suffer disproportionate levels of violence and arrests at the hands of the police, their silence and lack of staunch support for the Black Lives Matter movement is deafening. “And to all the racist Latinos: eso no se hace, eso no se hace, y yo no me voy a … Read more
My older brother is autistic. Having been exposed to and interested in issues regarding this disorder since early childhood, I considered myself highly knowledgeable and passionate about the subject. I have celebrated the TV representation of prominent individuals on the spectrum, such as in Atypical or Rain Man. However, my expertise took a hit when … Read more