Coming Of Age In The Era Of Oscar Grant And Trayvon Martin
I was the same age as Trayvon Martin when he was killed. It was the first shooting case that got national attention where I felt connected — like I could relate.
Juvenile Justice
Your source for youth perspectives on juvenile justice issues and trends.
A “Piece” Of Mind
There were times when my main focus was to get a gun just so I could have a twisted version of peace of mind.
Growing up in West Oakland, I’ve witnessed things like people getting beat up for snitching to the authorities, and being paid to commit murders. I’ve even been there when my cousins loaded their guns before going to the grocery store.
I used to feel as if a gun was essential in my everyday life.
Grant Station: A Killing And The Aftermath
As the nation debates the verdict in the Trayvon Martin killing, young people in Oakland, California are reminded of the…
The Link Between Suspension And Dropout
I remember the first student I ever suspended. He was 13 years old. It started off as a minimal disruption. He was stealing pencils from other students at his table. That turned into breaking pencils. Then, stealing homework.
I’ve been out of the classroom for three years now, and for the past year, I’ve been following teachers, students and school districts, trying to understand the latest research on school suspension and its effects down the line.
Fruitvale The Movie: Will The World Feel It Like We Do In Oakland?
OAKLAND, Calif. — The crowd let out a monstrous applause just before the private screening of Fruitvale Station began inside Oakland’s Grand Lake Theatre. The majority of the audience then turned away from the screen, toward the back left corner of the room to honor Oscar Grant’s mother. I saw her acknowledge the crowd with a wave of her hand.
Oscar Grant: Eyewitness Karina Vargas
The shooting of 22-year-old Oscar Grant by former Bay Area Rapid Transit officer Johannes Mehserle on New Year’s Day of 2009…
Rethinking Fast Fashion After Bangladesh
On a tour of Dhaka, I visited a factory that was making clothes for some of my favorite brands. I saw hundreds of workers crowded around sewing machines and work-tables. The sound of whooshing looms and the chemical smell of dye filled the air. But it was watching a young girl, who was maybe 10, sewing a pair of jeans that made me feel really sick. My host sister later told me that many of these workers, mostly women and children, were living on less than 2 dollars a day.
Wrap Up: The Trayvon Martin Trial So Far
Proceedings are underway for one of the most polarizing U.S. cases in the last few years; George Zimmerman, a volunteer neighborhood watchman, is standing trial for the murder of 17-year old Trayvon Martin. Here’s a rundown of the months leading up to the first day of court and a little background on the case.
Background
In February of 2012, George Zimmerman, a volunteer neighborhood watchman and Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old staying with his father in a gated community in Sanford, Florida, were involved in an altercation. Zimmerman, who is half-Hispanic, saw Martin, who was African-American as a suspicious character. Martin was returning home from buying snacks at a corner store. Zimmerman pursued the unarmed 17 year-old and after a physical altercation, Martin was shot and killed. Zimmerman sustained injuries to his face.
Visiting Incarcerated Dads On Father’s Day
For many family members with dads in prison, instead of filling out greeting cards on Father’s Day, they’re signing paperwork. They strategize how to make long and often expensive trips, not to hiking spots or sentimental locations, but to remote facilities hundreds of miles from their homes. And instead of spending the day showering their family members with gratitude, they have 45 minutes to an hour behind a plexiglass window.