Category Archives: Featured Authors

How Facebook can help you on Election Day.

November 3, 2016 Mizell 2 Comments

Over the past years many users have gravitated away from the ancient social media platform, Facebook. The social media mega site has lost users due to easier and more direct interactions from Twitter and Instagram two sites that basically cut the fat off of what Facebook was allowing, one that only updates status (twitter), and one that only uploads pictures or videos (Instagram).

The one thing these two sites don’t have that the Facebook mega site has is a larger space for news and more add-ons for more real time updates. Facebook is the most informative social media site because of the recent add-ons like the one that lets you know if your loved ones are safe in an area of natural disasters. With recent hurricanes hitting the coast of the United States and surrounding islands people with families in those areas are typically in the dark with how their loved ones are doing. Facebook has a check in app that lets the user record their safety in the area so the people not directly affected can know their family is safe and secure.

Facebook also streamed every political debate via their site so folks without access to television could still watch the debate and stay up to date with the current election. And if that wasn’t enough Facebook has just rolled out a new add-on that will allow you to see the candidates on the ballet for the election on Nov. 8. The add-on gives you all candidates locally and nationally and gives you inside information on what their campaigns stand for, giving users all the tolls they need to elect the right people to run the country.

Facebook is making strides on making the life of its users socially easier by putting everything you need to stay current is right in your pocket. Regardless of who you vote for check out the new Facebook add-on and check out the candidates that will represent your locals area as well as the country. Don’t be blind going into the polls only knowing if you are going to vote for Clinton or Trump, be educated before you get there.

Click here for the Facebook add-on.

-Mizell

Culture, Featured Authors, Politics

Lil Wayne on BLM

November 2, 2016 Mizell 3 Comments

“If it ain’t got nothing to do with me, I’m not connecting to it.” These words angered a lot of black people in regards to Lil’ Wayne’s response about the group Black Lives Matter. What society has to realize is that athletes and entertainers don’t sign up to be role models. They live their life the way they are able to. So when Wayne or Cam Newton make a comment that you don’t agree with, don’t take it to heart.

Wayne has been a successful rapper for many years and has been a celebrity since his young teenage years. The privileged rapper has admitted to never experiencing racism in his life on multiple aired interviews. Why is this coming off as a surprise to people for his actions? He is rich and has been for majority of his life. He has also admitted that he believes a part of the reason he hasn’t experienced racism is because he is a celebrity. That is perfectly fine. The issue that most BLM supporters should be upset with is 1. How Lil’ Wayne made it seem like he never heard of BLM. And 2. How the reporter poorly explained what BLM was “supposed” to mean as she chuckled.

Every cookie crumbles differently, although we are all human we don’t all go through the same situations. Lil’ Wayne is not a politician and should not have to answer political questions if it does not concern him. He acknowledges that wrongful things have happened to unarmed individuals but, Wayne has not been effected directly by racism. That is just simply the world that he lives in, which is a blessing. Who are we to expose him to the negative world when his only concern is keeping his family out of the harm of the world.

Understand that there is also no real reason to have Lil’ Wayne on television at the moment no album (unfortunately), book, or movie coming out. This could very well be a distraction from what really matters, the election that is in 6 days. Go vote!

Sidenote: If you didn’t laugh a little when he said, “My life matters, especially to my bitches” you have no sense of humor.

-Mizell

Culture, Featured Authors

“Sole”Searching at the High

August 16, 2016 JannahB Leave a comment

By: Kyndell Mizell

I experienced a small part of sneaker heaven last Sunday at the High Museum in Atlanta, Georgia. It was the closing day of the sole-full exhibit “The Rise of the Sneaker Culture.” The only thing that made the exhibit that much better was that it was free! (Due to one of many free promotions the High Museum runs each month.) Lines filled the room while sneaker-heads of mixed races and genders looked in awe at over a thousand different sneakers. Every shoe was neatly placed in a protective glass case with a small description of the shoe.

There were many other iconic models and tons of brands including Puma, Reebok, KangaRoos, Saucony, PONY, Vans, PF Flyers, Supra, even high end fashion shoes like Gucci and Christian Louboutin. One of the most popular sections of course was the Jordan portion. There was a complete set of the retro Jordan’s in complete order showing some of the best colorways for each style.

The first shoe that caught my eye was a shoe that was shown to the public back in 2015 by Adidas. It is made out of recycled ocean waste to complete the upper and the new iconic boost technology also seen in the ultraboost model and the Yeezyboost collection. This shoe was also my favorite pair and most unexpected pair to see.

There were some models that were hideous like the Nike x Tom Sachs NikeCraft Lunar Underboot Aeroply Experimentation Research Boot which was a prototype created on a white blank boot canvas and designed with a black sharpie. [Photo Courtesy American Federation of Arts] Or, like one of my all-time most hated silhouette the Ewings which are just big and bulky.

The descriptions for each shoe told a significant story and the reason why the shoe was ultimately on display. We were able to learn things like how Adidas got its name from the creator’s actual name Adolf “Adi” Dassler, and what PONY stood for Product of New York, and the fines that Michael Jordan received for his controversial first signature shoe, we even saw the iconic ASICS that Bruce Lee made popular.

One of the funniest models that I saw was the was the Thomas Dutton and Thorowgood running shoe which was popular from 1860-1865 which looked like a loafer with a half inch heel with cleat-like metal spikes. [Photo: Greg Washington Courtesy American Federation of Arts/Bata Shoe Museum]

The exhibit although limited to only 2 rooms and a projector video was perfect. It was amazing overhearing and engaging in the stories with the older sneaker-lovers talking to their kids just reminiscing on the times when they went crazy for the latest trend. Some of the stories weren’t even related to the shoes but referred to the collaborated designers and their sex lives. Watching some of the ladies stare at the Reebok Lifestyle Freestyle Hi sneakers thinking about their days in loud bright workout gear or looking at the old free spirited grandfather explain to his grandchild the significance of the waffle sole on the Vans slip-on was my favorite part of the exhibit.

There were rare shoes not just on display but as well as the many guest in attendance. There were so many smiles and happy people experiencing a snap shot of a pivotal culture together as one. It wasn’t a black or white or thing. The exhibit brought many cultures together to witness the history of one of the fastest growing cultures ever.

If you weren’t in Atlanta to witness the exhibit with The Bold Opinion Show on closing day, you have two more locations to experience the great rise of the sneaker culture. Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Kentucky from September 9^th through November 27^th and Oakland Museum of California from December 22^nd to April 2^nd 2017.