Hello!

Welcome to Accessible Activism part two!

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by Faith Andrews-O'Neal, Opinion Editor

Welcome to volume two of Accessible Activism! Since we’ve last gathered, a lot (and I mean a lot) has happened. We started a new school year! Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed as a supreme court justice, thus placing totalitarian control in the hands of conservatives who have little regard for my rights as a woman of color! I went to a Drake concert! Kanye West, one of the greatest musical minds of the 21st century denounced slavery as a choice, is using fake Harriet Tubman quotes, and is now arguing that black people have fallen prey to liberal, thus conformist thought! Flint, Michigan still doesn’t have clean water! Did I mention the Drake concert?

There is so much happening in the world around us, and I created this blog to work to unpack as many as possible. The world is a confusing and messy place, and teens are often invalidated and/or belittled for trying to figure it out for ourselves. Accessible Activism is a tool to refute that sentiment. As a seventeen-year-old, there isn’t much I can do. I can’t vote (for which I blame the government). I can’t drive (for which I blame my laziness). I can’t run for office (which is honestly fair). I can, however, use whatever reach I have to speak up and speak out against the social issues I see impacting the world around me. This blog is to help me achieve that and to encourage others to get informed so they can use their voices as well.

Last year, we tackled a variety of issues, from tokenism to gun control to net neutrality. While most of us here at St. Teresa’s do not have the democratic power to change legislature, being informed is the first step to creating a voting population that is educated on the policies they are influencing. Next year, I’ll be able to vote for the first time. However, I know personally, I wouldn’t feel comfortable having a vote without being knowledgeable on the subjects at hand. While this blog will not cover every issue in the world, it is (in my professional, unbiased opinion) an excellent starting point for those who are interested in social issues but have no idea where to start.

There is so much in the world I don’t have the platform to change yet. My sphere of influence is pretty limited. While that will hopefully change as I get older, all I can do is focus on my actions today. Accessible Activism is a manifestation of that very idea. So, stay tuned for a new topic every week, so we can work together to create change.