Top Stories
Stories in The Swamp that you’ll love, handpicked by our team.
Why Are We Still Talking About Racism In 2020?
In this modern day cultural atmosphere of straining race relations, political corruption, and flagrant social injustices, there are more examples police brutality, institutionalized racism, and domestic terrorism against black people in this country then I have fingers and toes to count. Law enforcement all across this country, not to mention the world, have been systemically abusing, terrorizing, and murdering unarmed and compliant black men, women, and children for decades, if not centuries and for the most part, white folks have stood by and watched silently. Some even refuse to watch in favor of ignoring these atrocities and sweeping them under the rug as it is their normal cultural habit. I must admit that we have had a few allies here and there throughout our struggles and protests over the years and decades, but the bulk of advocates, protesters, demonstrators, and spokespeople have all been black. And after the tragic murders of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And Malik Al Shabazz (Malcolm X), the number of visible and vocal allies have significantly decreased over the years. And in the same space and time, the number of racist bigots and domestic terrorists have remained nearly the same. Some have chosen to go into hiding and not be as proactive and vocal about their unjustified and senseless hatred of black people, but they maintain their beliefs and attitudes as well as their continued traditions of passing those beliefs and attitudes down to their children. Parallel to that, you have another group of white people who believe in their innocence of racism. They will proudly and loudly proclaim that they “don't see color”, that they have plenty of “good black friends”, and that they have never treated a black badly. Yet these are the same people who remain absolutely silent when atrocities like Rodney King, Amadou Diallo, Abner Louima, Ayana Stanley, Tamar Rice, Trayvon Martin, Tamika Wilson, Michael Brown, Walter Scott, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, and Breonna Taylor happen. In fact white people have been disturbingly silent about racism and absent from the aspect of the Civil Rights movement that deals with racial discrimination and bigotry. On the flip side, they seem to have hijacked the civil Rights movement, replaced black people and have been and continue to be very vocal and passionate about feminist and LGBT issues. What's so ironic about that is that there is an overwhelming abundance of black people who also support those issues.
Monsoor AliPublished about a year ago in The Swamp
Say His Name
High off of our pain that we continue to be belittled as if our lives don’t matter. To march for our lives to be visibly as equal as the lives of those whose skin looks just like yours. There are whites protesting with us peacefully as there are white people tagging buildings and looting, but some are not even doing it in the name of George Floyd. To walk among roads to shout an innocent mans life that was taken, because he was seen as a threat, feeling the need to silence us when we have been silent for too long. When we live in a world that is unjust and bite our tongues as if it is okay, as if it is safer to be quiet but we still can die by your hands even when we are quiet. To hear my brothers and sisters crying out in pain because, us turning our backs and walking away was not enough for you. To see the media focus our story on people that allow you to believe we are vicious animals needing to be tamed. To feel the need to put extra force on black people because the color of our skin alone is threatening to you even as we lie on our backs to be detained. To hear them cry out “ I can’t breathe” and not be showed mercy.
UNpretentiousPublished about a year ago in The SwampGeorge Floyd's Death is More Than Just a Race Issue.
Within the past few days, the death of George Floyd has taken over our nation by storm. Protests have erupted across the nation, and many have taken to social media to express their outrage.
Juan FaragherPublished about a year ago in The Swamp
Us vs. Them.
I have been trying to find the right words to express everything going on right now. I'm at a loss for how much at a time like this where all lives should matter, the life of my people is still undervalued. For years, we have only seen police brutality on a surface level, but looking back at history, what we’re seeing at this moment in time is the suffering and trauma of decades of unjust treatment from the people who swore to protect us. Now when I say us, I’m talking about those who look in the mirror every day and see our ancestors. Our ancestors who were brought into this country shackled, muzzled, and sold to the highest bidder to work the 40 acres from dawn till dusk. Our ancestors who were devalued with the term “N*gger” that to this day follow us everywhere we go. Now if you can’t look at yourself in the mirror and see what we see, then it shouldn't be that hard to understand exactly why buildings are being burned and rage fills the streets. If you don’t come from a lineage who was beaten and mistreated while building the homes and buildings you occupy with your privileged lives, then you should understand why we are running up in stores to take what belongs to us. If you can look in the mirror and see that you come from a lineage that enslaved, and traumatized our people, then put your privilege to the side, open your eyes to what’s happening in front of you, and listen to the cries beyond our rage.
Saint WillPublished about a year ago in The Swamp
The American Spring
In the spring of 2010 the Middle East reached a tipping point. It was called the Arab spring. A decade later, we are in the midst of the American Spring. We are the country whose fuse is lit and ready to explode. With the stock market making COVID-era highs, the disconnect between reality on the street and the illusion created by printing money, lending at 0% interest rates and outright lies by the federal government, has now seeped into the psyche of the American people. The illusion that 40 million unemployed can be fooled by a check in the mail and bringing back sports is finally being shattered and the glass will cut deep across the political divide.
Jeremy FrommerPublished about a year ago in The Swamp
Lana Del Rey and White Clumsiness
I will start by saying that I absolutely love Lana. Discovering her discography in high school truly felt like an enlightenment, and her album Ultraviolence is, to this day, one of my favorite albums of all time. However, miss Lana dropped the ball a few days ago, severely. In an attempt to confront her critics and haters, she, in the eyes of many people, shaded a handful of female artists who are either Black, part Black, part of an ethnic minority or… Ariana Grande. While I don’t think her intention was to be racially insensitive, there were several missteps in her rant, and we will take a look at them in this piece.
Lonely Allie .Published about a year ago in The Swamp
The Future of the United States Depends on the Immediate Adoption of UBI
This article has been translated into Italian and Spanish. Flatten the curve... We’ve heard that phrase repeatedly as a result of the novel coronavirus in regards to the healthcare system. There are only so many healthcare workers, only so many hospitals with a limited number of rooms and beds, only so many ventilators and PPE. Because of these limits, we have to avoid surpassing them by stretching out the number of coronavirus infections over a longer amount of time.
Scott SantensPublished about a year ago in The Swamp
COVID Pandemic Exposes the Ugly Secrets Hidden in America’s Healthcare System:
Picture courtesy of Lenore Stutznegger and Norman Rainock (Norman Rainock Art Ca.) COVID, the hallways are eerily empty because of you. At night, where there normally exists an air of calmness as patients sleep, the hospital walls that surround me instead convey a sense of uncertainty. It is palpable. It is heavy. It is unlike anything I have ever encountered as a physician. Perhaps this is because deep down in places where fear and dread reside, we know you are there watching and studying our patterns of behavior. All the while, you silently spread yourself at exponential rates, knowing that our testing capabilities, while ever-growing, still fail to keep up with you. For this, you mock us. You are learning the truth about the American healthcare system as it stands. On the outside we are strong, with sophisticated buildings, fancy technology, and state-of-the-art equipment. To nearly any onlooker we appear to be thriving, at the top of our game. Yet you aren’t fooled by this; no, not at all because you have already penetrated these walls, exposing the hidden prison behind the shiny facade of our healthcare system.
Dr. Megan BabbPublished about a year ago in The Swamp
Who Is Joe Biden?
Joe Biden has made a primary comeback that is nothing short of extraordinary. With his chances of becoming the Democratic nominee stronger than ever I wanted to know more about the former Vice President. So, I partnered up with KnowYourVote to help put together this mini tip sheet.
Nathalia RamosPublished about a year ago in The Swamp
An Open Letter to Trump On The Environment
President Trump, I fail to understand the reasoning behind your disregard for preserving the continued habitability of our planet. As a father, I would assume you are possessed of the basic paternal inclination to ensure the security of your own progeny. Yet, you disregard all subjects of environmental concern with a casual and disinterested contempt which can only be called lazy, arrogant, and entitled.
Walter RheinPublished about a year ago in The Swamp
2020 Presidential Candidates Tip Sheet
Election season can be really confusing. I wanted to learn who some of the top candidates are so we can all be better informed when placing our votes. So, I partnered up with Know Your Vote for an extra special episode of my IGTV Series, "Who The F*** Are The Candidates". Know Your Vote is a platform that aggregates publicly available candidate data, so you don't have to go looking for it. They helped me put together this tip sheet of --simple, non partisan facts about some of the top candidates and some of their top policies. I compiled their notes into this easy to read tip sheet , but I recommend you go check out their website for more information and to see where each candidate stands on the issues that are most important to you.
Nathalia RamosPublished about a year ago in The Swamp
The Controversies From Shakira and J-LO
During the fifty fourth Super Bowl this year in 2020, the Half-Time show was a performance put on by Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. The show caused quite the controversy in the media. While everybody is entitled to their opinion, some things are simply facts. Facts and humanity are what we are here to discuss today.
