Erhu charms local teen

In this issue
Red Tails:
Airmen as
action heroes
p. 8
Entertainment
Humor
Lifestyle
News
On the Street
Soapbox
Sports
6–9
11
5
1–4
12
2
10
YDC defies
winter at U.S.
Botanic Garden
p. 12
Volume 21 issue 5 Winter 2012 Please display through St. Patrick’s Day
Erhu charms local teen
Emily Yang
Young D.C.
Instruments are seen and heard daily,
whether as common as the piano or as uncommon as the bassoon. Anqi Chen, a junior
at Walt Whitman HS in Bethesda, Md., plays
one that’s not so common called the erhu.
“Erhu” sounds like a toy or food, but for
Chen, it is a way for “more people to know
about Chinese culture. I want to spread Chinese culture through performing the erhu.”
YDC went to Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg, Md., Jan. 29 to see various performances by people of all ages and ethnicities
during the celebration of lunar new year. In
Asian calendars, the new year is a 15-day celebration – lunar year 4079 kicked off Jan. 23.
At Lakeforest, YDC met Chen and heard her
play the erhu. She says, “I have been playing
erhu for about ten years, starting at first grade
in elementary school… Surprisingly, I wasn’t
nervous [performing] at all.”
The erhu is a two-stringed instrument
that is vertically propped on the player’s
lap,and bowed in a similar fashion as a cello.
The sound of the instrument gives off a traditional vibe for people with a Chinese heritage. Chen played two well-known songs that
anyone who grew up in China would immediately recognize.
Influenced by rising competition in China’s education system, Chen says that children are “encouraged to play musical instrument in order to survive from the competition
among all the students. In other words, the
student who plays a musical instrument has a
larger chance to get into better schools.” She
played the piano for a month when she was
younger, but says it didn’t really suit her. She
switched to playing the erhu, which intrigued
her. She says her father believes “erhu is not
only a Chinese traditional musical instrument, but also easy to carry around.”
YDC asked why she wanted to participate at this particular event. Anqi says, “I personally enjoyed performing in cultural events.
I was introduced by Mrs. Mao, an ESOL
teacher at Walt Whitman. She found it would
be good if I could perform in this event. I really appreciated this opportunity.”
Photo by Emily Yang
Anqi Chen plays a traditional Chinese song on the erhu at Lakeforest Mall on
Jan. 29.
Emily Yang, 15, is a sophomore at Winston Churchill HS in Potomac, Md.
Study links diabetes to dropping out, lower income
Christina Lee
Young D.C.
One out of every 400 children and
adolescents in the United States is diabetic. A 14-year-long study by researchers at Yale University suggests that the
influence of the diabetes is way beyond
known physical problems.
“Having diabetes absolutely
sucks,” Aelia Naqvi, 16, of Paint Branch
HS in Burtonsville, Md., says. “I have to
check my blood sugar five times a day.
Depending on its amount, I have to get
insulin injected or eat a sugar pack.”
Monitoring is important because diabe-
tes can lead to serious health consequences such as blindness, heart disease
and stroke.
Teens with diabetes, the study
from Yale University reveals, are six
percent more likely to drop out of high
school. They may earn up to $160,000
less as adults than those without the disease. The study of 15,000 young people
followed from middle or high school
into adulthood says the diabetics are
prone to lose motivation, thus remaining in lower-paying jobs to avoid losing
health insurance or suffer restrictions if
they transition to other jobs.
Teens and their parents face the
challenge of dealing with the disease
while dealing with lost opportunities to
build teamwork and widen horizons
through sports and other extracurricular
activities. Naqvi and her parents face
the risk of insulin reactions. This prevents her from participating in school
related activities. She says, “I can’t play
school sports because they’re too vigorous and it’s possible that I can pass out.
“My parents don’t let me go on
trips without someone looking after me
[who] knows my condition well. Having
diabetes really keeps me from doing a
lot of things. It’s almost not fair. I also
have appointments for insulin replacement therapy and I have to go through
these for life. It takes a lot of time out
from being able to be a normal teen.”
After talking to Naqvi, YDC
sought out a young adult who balances
both the disease and a highly active lifestyle. Just because teens are diagnosed
with diabetes doesn’t mean they cannot
live successful lives—they just need
coping strategies. YDC asked diabetic
David Levitt, a fourth year medical student at the University of Maryland
See Diabetes, Page Four
Soapbox
News t Young D.C. t Winter 2012
Winter 2012 t Young D.C. t News
Parkmont Poetry Festival
It’s award show season! With the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys nominees rocking the red carpet, Soapbox asks local teens
Are you a fan of awards shows?
What do you think of them?
Compiled by Christina Lee
Young D.C.-
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF STUDENT POETRY
Young D.C. is an independent newspaper written by and
about metropolitan area teens.
Address correspondence to:
Young D.C.
1904 18th Street, NW Unit B
Washington, D.C. 20009-1707
tel: 202.232.5300
fax: 202.232.5306
www.youngdc.org
Christina Lee, 17, is a senior at Oakton HS in Vienna, Va.
Copyright. All rights reserved.
Managing Editor: Christina Lee Oakton HS (Va.)
News Editor: Dana Harrison, Wootton HS (Md.)
Lifestyle Editor: Lisa Hu, Wootton HS (Md.)
Yes. I think they are
entertaining and an opportunity to showcase talented
artists in our country.
- Mayura Iyer is a
freshman at the University of
Virginia in Charlottesville,
Va.
Although I’m not too
informed about the careers of
Hollywood stars, I still watch
award shows to expose myself
to the fashion aspect…I enjoy
watching iconic actresses model
their latest expensive designer
dresses.
I watch award shows if they
happen to be on while I’m
watching TV but that’s pretty
rare. I’m not entirely familiar
with the content but it’s cool to
see your favorite celebrity or
movie win for its accomplishments rather than their popularity.
- Wendy Xue is a fresh- Stacy Ham is a senior at
man at the Virginia Polytechnic Oakton HS in Vienna, Va.
Institute in Blacksburg, Va.
If I know it’s happening
I’ll try to watch it but I mainly
go for the fashion and actor/
actress aesthetics. I don’t get
as invested in the actual
works unless I really liked it
which then obviously I want
it to win.
Well, I don’t really know
anything about [award shows]
because I never have time to
watch TV anymore.
- Natalia Sanchez is a
senior at Gaston Day in
Gastonia, NC.
Board of Directors: Nate Beeler, George Curry (chairman),
Tom Donlan, Rich Foster, Mary Hanley, Judy Hines, Cynthia
Farrell Johnson, Kathleen Reilly Mannix (ex officio), Sarah
Menke-Fish, Bob Neuman, Reginald Ragland, David R. Rapp,
Phillip Reid, Samara Sit
Advisory Board (Emeritus Directors): Hector Ericksen-Mendoza, Sean Jensen, Rosamond King, Carol Lange
- Bianca Kim is a
freshman at Yale University
in New Haven, Ct.
No picture available
I feel like the Oscars
and Emmys aren’t as popular
anymore partly because
people don’t watch as much
TV or they watch shows
online…Honestly for me, I
just look at all the pretty
dresses on magazines or
online AFTER it’s over.
- Olivia Choi is a senior
at Flint Hill School in
Oakton, Va.
I watch for the witty jokes from
people like Ricky Gervais, who seems to
be one of the few people in the awards
ceremony with some sense...But considering the expectation of a bloodbath of
scorching wit and meanness, with no
sainted star deemed untouchable, I was
somewhat disappointed [in this year’s
Golden Globes].
Nonetheless, to think that some watch
it because there is nothing better–or even
worse–for the fashion aspect of it...irk!
- Thomaz Tavares is a senior at the
Graded School of Sao Paulo in Sao Paulo,
Brazil
I’m not an avid fan of the awards
shows, but I do try and watch at least
segments whenever they’re on. I think that
the hosts and the jokes that [they] make are
forced and actually make the awards shows
lesser in quality, but I always watch
anyways because I love rooting for my
favorite celebrities...For me, the quarter
minute speeches that celebrities make when
winning their awards makes the whole
show. I feel this odd need to cheer my
favorite performers on, like most people
might do with football.
- Michelle Chu is a freshman at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Va.
Reporters: Cuyler Deegan, The Lab School of Washington
(D.C.); Mohammad Diallo, Syracuse University (NY); Alex
Greenhill, Brehm School (Ill.); Eyen Zame Johnson, homeschooled, (D.C.); Abigail Melick, Woodrow Wilson HS (D.C.);
Matt Nguyen, Lafayette College (Pa.); Olivia Patch, The Lab
School of Washington (D.C.); Nick Pope, Ellington School for
the Arts (D.C); Cassidy Riley, Des Moines North H.S. (Iowa);
Abby Seitz, Fauquier HS (Va.); Emily Yang, Churchill HS
(Md.), Kathy Zhang, Paint Branch HS (Md.)
Photographers: Kelly Fisher, The Lab School of Washington
(D.C.); Chidiki Jones Whitley, The Lab School of Washington
(D.C.)
I love watching award
shows because I enjoy seeing all
of the dresses and how much
thought and work must go into
the gowns. They’re either
beautiful or hideous- there’s no
middle ground, and it’s all
everyone talks about on twitter
that night too. It’s certainly
entertaining.”
-Natalie Soule, 15, Warrenton HS in Fauquier County, Va.
Young D.C. is supported by BNA, The Children’s Charities Foundation, The Herb Block Foundation and sponsors of Cartoons &
Cocktails 2011, an auction of editorial art held Oct. 20 at the
Newseum’s Knight Conference Center which also benefited the
Cartoonists Rights Network International. Sponsors included
BNA, C-SPAN, Lynn Edwards of US News & World Report, Foxhall Gallery, The Freedom Forum and The Newseum, Andrew J.
Hagan and Linda T. Smith, Stephen C. and Cynthia Farrell Johnson, Jim and Kerry Joseph, Lipman Hearne, Mike McCurry, Joe
and Anne Murphy, The Obscure Organization, Politico, Rosalind
G. Stark, The Washington Examiner and members of the YDC
Board.
Letters to the Editor are welcome and sometimes published.
Letters are subject to editing. Readers writing to the editors
should include contact information: name, age, telephone
number.
Corrections
Young D.C. publishes corrections of matters of substance.
Thank you for bringing them to the attention of the editors by telephone (202.232.5300), e-mail (newsroom@
youngdc.org) or snail mail.
Calling all Poets, grades 6 - 12
Enter your poems
* Open to students attending public or private schools in the District of Columbia
* Limit is t wo entries per student: each entry must include a submission form*
* Festival will be held at Parkmont School on May 5, 2012 at 2:00 p.m.
* 40 finalists will receive a $40 gift certificate, tee-shirt
and publication in the Festival Anthology. Deadline for entries: March 12, 2012
Mail poems with submission forms to
Parkmont Poetry Festival c/o Parkmont School
4842 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20011
OR E-mail to: poetry@parkmont.org
For more information, call 202-726-0740 x306
*Visit www.parkmontpoetryfestival.org to download the form
Endorsement kerfuffle precedes
odd caucus vote count in Iowa
Cassidy Riley
Young D.C.
Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, Iowa-based conservative group The Family Leader told the
press that it would not be backing a GOP candidate in the Iowa Caucus. Local news outlets
reported that after a year of discussion and debate, TFL board members could not focus on
one of the Republicans running for president
for an official TFL endorsement.
Within hours, TFL President Bob Vander
Plaats became the center of allegations that the
endorsement had been for sale. When no group
endorsement emerged, Vander Plaats and TFL
Vice President Chuck Hurley personally endorsed former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum. Santorum told CNN, which was following up on a The Des Moines Register report that
Vander Plaats needed money to promote the endorsement.
Dec. 22, TFL clarified that, although every member individually supported Rick Santorum, it was more important for TFL to establish
itself as a standard bearer than a “kingmaker”
as some have called it.
In an interview Hurley told YDC, “[We’re]
more concerned with being consistent and raising a biblical standard in civics than we are in
anything else.”
He added there are many potential GOP
nominees who meet the standards of TFL and
the board did not want to alienate anyone who
may support another conservative candidate.
“It’s like deciding between an A+ or an A or an
A-,” Hurley says, adding that individual endorsements left TFL a neutral interest group,
solely concerned with holding up biblical standards in all of politics.
“No question that Bob’s endorsement has
helped Santorum,” he added. Vander Plaats has
a very loyal following in Iowa, plus thousands
of followers on Facebook and Twitter (not to
mention TFL itself) and there is no doubt that
Santorum’s surge in December polls was aided
by his endorsement. The important thing is, only
time and money of individuals connected with
TFL is being spent, rather than the time and
money of the organization. Hurley isn’t sure
where the confusion happened or why the media
reported allegations of bribery. “All I know is
when I started seeing the headlines come out I
thought, ‘What?’”
Hurley believes that one or two journalists
may have intentionally twisted the truth in order to get a provocative headline, which led
others to follow without checking the facts.
Hurley says that he has thick skin and is
used to people attempting to twist the truth.
“Lies and slander are very destructive,” said
Hurley. “It’s worth the effort to struggle to find
the truth.” The Des Moines Register stands by
its reporting and did not publish a retraction.
Cassidy Riley, 17, is a senior at Des Moines
North HS in Des Moines, Ia.
About the caucus results: Jan. 3, voters in
Iowa met in caucuses around the state to
voice their choice for Repbulican and Democratic candidates for president. Voters
chose which caucus to attend–not necessarily a caucus of the party in which they are
registered to vote. Among Democrats, approximately 25,000 voters caucused and
chose 54 delegates committed to President
Obama. Over 120,000 people voted in the
Republican “nonbinding presidential preference” race. The night of the caucuses, Mitt
Romney was declared the winner, but Jan.
21 the party certified Rick Santorum the winner by 34 votes. Iowa’s actual 25 Republican
National Convention delegates will be chosen in steps: twelve at congressional district
meetings and 18 at a state convention June
11. They are free to vote any way they choose
at the national convention.
Diabetes challenges teens
Diabetes, from page one
School of Medicine, to share how he overcame
the statistics by navigating his life through diabetes.
“As a teenager, I was under the impression
that my friends and family did not understand
what I was going through,” Levitt said. “Although they would attempt to console me, I still
felt like they didn’t get it.”
Once he met with several peers diagnosed
with diabetes, Levitt knew he could propel himself forward. “I no longer felt alone, and subsequently became a little more responsible,” said
Levitt. “Moreover, the strong rapport between
[me] and my physician empowered me to take
control of my health. My endocrinologist inspired me to check my blood sugar frequently
and watch my diet, leading to improved laboratory values.”
The Yale findings were published Jan. 11
in the professional journal Health Affairs. It
provides hard science to support programs that
promote fitness and fight obesity like First Lady
Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative. The
study and the fitness initiatives address concerns addressed if parents ask schools for plans
to guide their teens diagnosed with diabetes.
Education plans based on Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 give students with
disabilities equal opportunities. On the other
hand, individualized education plans (IEPs),
rooted in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, stresses the importance of providing
educational services in the least restrictive setting. IEPs are created by school teams and aim
to meet students’ needs for services to successfully manage disabilities in school. All school
staff members are supposed to receive training
to establish a basic understanding of the disability and to recognize problems that may arise.
According to Children with Diabetes, an
online community for parents, high school and
junior high students with diabetes can get special accommodations when taking standardized
tests like PSAT, SAT and ACT. It says, “These
accommodations typically include ‘stop the
clock’ breaks for blood glucose testing, bathroom visits, or taking emergency glucose to
treat low blood sugars. Diabetes is typically not
a reason for additional time in taking a test,
however. Testing organizations may require
that students have a 504 plan on file before providing the accommodations. Parents and students are strongly encouraged to discuss this
with guidance counselors at the beginning of
each school year.”
However, the IEPs and 504 plans can only
go so far. Each arises from federal laws that
guarantee the rights of students with disabilities. A teen diabetic may not be qualified if he or
she has no way to document that the disease impairs his or her education. Although recent research suggests that diabetes can have a harm-
ful effect on the student’s educational progress,
this link alone is not enough for an immediate
extension of the federal safeguards.
District of Columbia Councilmember David Catania chairs the Council Committee on
Health, and has an answer to this problem. For
students who don’t have IEPs, legislation he introduced will make it possible for DCPS and
health providers to use the Yale research in a
holistic way to support diabetic teens.
Catania’s pending legislation, The South
Capitol Street Tragedy Memorial Act, addresses
“social problems like high dropout rates and
corresponding low graduation rates [which]
cannot be viewed as merely problems that exist
in and result from our schools,” he says. “To
improve people’s lives and ensure more positive outcomes, the totality of their experience
must be analyzed and understood.” If this becomes law, students in D.C. with diabetes could
benefit without starting the IEP or 504 process.
YDC also asked several school counselors
on how much they know about the health of students. “It depends on the health issue,” said
Danielle Coniglio, a counselor at Oakton HS in
Vienna, Va. “Sometimes we know about it and
sometimes not. Much depends on how parents
and students want to handle the issue – privately or share it with the school. I know any information shared by parents or on a ‘red flag list’
from the school nurse.”
Teachers learn information based on the
level of the health issue. When asked how much
feedback teachers get in order to encourage
someone when grades and participation are
slumping, Coniglio said, “If there is something
going on that the families wish for me to share,
I do pass it on to the teacher, especially something like mono which can affect the student
even when he/she is back at school.”
Teachers “would definitely share information about health issues,” says another counselor who spoke to YDC but wished to remain
anonymous. “Just telling [teachers] that there is
a ‘health issue’ is generally not enough information.” As understanding as teachers can be
towards students, they do not give ones with
health issues a free pass in class. “In my experience, teachers are very compassionate and helpful to students with health issues…both physical and mental,” the unnamed counselor says.
“However, if a mental issue continues with no
effort on the part of the student to do better…
their patience wears thin. They are lenient, but
conscious that there are standards and that everyone gets a grade.”
Christina Lee, 17, is a senior at Oakton HS
in Vienna, Va.
News t Young D.C. t Winter 2012
LifeStyle
Winter 2012 t Young D.C.
Wolfboro: camping out with summer school
Kelly Fisher
Young D.C.
Catania
DC Councilmember
on a quest for best
health status for all
Thanks to Councilmember David Catania’s efforts, D.C. holds
the lowest rate of uninsured children in the U.S. and the second
lowest uninsured rate for all individuals. Along with health insurance, Catania has also ensured a nurse in every school and fought
to expand access to safe and affordable prescription drugs and
many more safeguards. In an interview with YDC, Catania addressed the diabetes-related dropout risks in a region like D.C. that
has a high number of diabetics, “The Yale study further evidences
the importance of understanding the connection between physical
wellness and the quality of one’s life in other areas. Understanding
the impact and interconnectedness of individual’s access to quality
health care, health education, nutritious food, safe and decent housing, quality schools, and a healthy home environment is critical to
gaining a better understanding of the challenges that face all people, both young and old.”
It’s for that reason that Councilmember Catania introduced
legislation that focuses on the impact of unmet behavioral health
needs on truancy and the juvenile justice system, The South Capitol Street Tragedy Memorial Act. He says that social problems like
high dropout rates and corresponding low graduation rates cannot
be viewed as merely problems that exist in and result from our
schools. To improve people’s lives and ensure more positive outcomes, the totality of their experience must be analyzed and understood. Visit www.SouthCapitolAct.com to learn more about provisions of this legislation and its progress through the D.C. Council.
–C.L.
may need to succeed in specific academics that you may be struggling with.
The school is not all about work. After your classes you have the rest of the
day to do what you signed up for. There are sports that you can do, such as, lacrosse, soccer, basketball, tennis, volleyball, and much more. You could sign up
for lifeguarding or a CPR class and get certified. Or you can just sit in the sun or
go for a swim.
On weekends, the staff always plans activities.
On Saturday, there is usually a big day trip, like going
to an amusement park, going to see a movie, or even
going to a baseball game. On Sunday there is one activity for part of the day and then at night there is study
hall.
The cost of Wolfeboro Camp School for the
boarding student tuition is about $12,500. Application
fee is $3,000.
Wolfeboro Camp School is located in New Hampshire and it is right on Rust
Pond, which is a beautiful swimming area. Student ages range from 11 to 18. Students must take courses and can earn academic credits for them. Each student may
take three to four courses. A summer session is six weeks long. This is no Hogwarts. Students sleep in tents and are outdoors most of the day.
Wolfeboro really is a boarding
school, designed to provide full academic
work and help you on your organization,
study skills, self-confidences, and independence. The capacity of students is
about 200 and there are about 80 staff
members. Wolfeboro is a great chance to
be on your own and have a feel of how to
Kelly Fisher, 16, is a junior at the Lab School of
be more independent academically. The
Washington in the District of Columbia. She atcourses include math, Spanish, SAT prep,
Photo courtesy of http://www.wolfeboro.org/
reading, writing, literature, and many Wolfboro Summer Boarding School started in 1910 when leaders from The tended Wolfboro in 2011.
School in Pennsylvania purchased land from the Rust family to start a
more. This boarding school is to help you Hill
summer academic program.
with specific goals and skills that you
Cyberian Tyger
CyTy checks out the mellow vibes of vinyl
Nick Pope
Young D.C.
Zunes, iPods and Mp3 players. That is what our
generation is use to. We love the new technology and
look for ways to improve things, make themsmaller,
or even faster. But what about the old
stuff? What happened to old record players and CD players? I
believe the “new generation”
has completely banned them.
Vinyl players (also
known as record players) are
the old players I’m guessing
your
parents/grandparents
once used to listen to music.
The records looks like big flat
tires. Surprise! They are actually better than iPods and CD
players combined. Record
players have that old effect. The effect isn’t like
it’s comming through
a old radio, but that
it has depth. Record players make
it seem like it has a
lot of warmth that
makes you go deeper into
the music. It isn’t digitally edited to create the crispness you’ll hear on iPods
but it just has it and it has a lot of it.
You can buy contemporary songs and
albums so you don’t just have to listen
to old songs your parents use to. The
only con is that if you scratch it
your out of luck. The needle will
send the fuzzy sound of the scratch
to the speakers. Worse than that, a
deep scratch can trap the needle
into repeating endlessly.
Compare vinyl to any other
music source, your gonna hear a dramatic difference.
Nick Pope, 18, is a senior at Duke Ellington
School for the Arts in the District of Columbia
YDC is looking for more Cyberian Tygers. YDC welcomes both
teens with strong interests in technology and teen technoskeptics.
Write–with CyTy in the subject line–to the lifestyle editor:
newsroom@youngdc.org
Entertainment
Young D.C. t Winter 2012
Red Tails soars to the big screen
Winter 2012 t Young D.C.
Scenes from the small screen
Dueling opinions of Jane by Design
Cuyler Deegan and Chidiki Jones Whitley
Young D.C.
Why I watch
©Lucasfilm Ltd. and TM. All rights reserved
Above, Joe “Lightning” Little (David Oyelowo), Andrew “Smokey” Salem (Ne-Yo), Leon “Neon” Edwards (Kevin Phillips), Samuel “Joker” George (Elijah Kelley), Maurice Wilson
(Michael B. Jordan), Marty “Easy” Julian (Nate Parker) visit an Italian town between sorties in their red-tailed planes. Characters are not biographical and the Italian scenes were
actually shot in Croatia.
Below, “Smokey” Salem (Ne-Yo) adjusts to Ramitelli Air Base.
Photo by Jiri Hanzl ©Lucasfilm Ltd. and TM. All rights reserved
Nick Pope
Young D.C.
Red Tails is extraordinary. After 23 years persevering, executive producer George Lucas brings the
struggle and heroics of African Americans in the World
War II Tuskegee Airmen aerial combat unit to the big
screen.
The movie takes you through an emotional roller
coaster ride aided by a great cast, including Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, David
Oyelowo, Ne-Yo and Nate Parker. Overall it is a great
movie. They play characters inspired by the real airmen
rather than biographies of any of the orginals. Although
a few people, including Washington Post columnist
Courtland Milloy, don’t appreciate the less-historicalside, Red Tails co-writer Aaron McGruder says, “It has
a comic book-feel that only he [Lucas] could bring to a
film. Before this, we didn’t have our John Wayne, but
we now have that kind of larger-than-life treatment, and
the Tuskegee Airmen deserve it.” Fans of McGruder’s
Boondocks may remember that his character Robert
Freeman (Grandad) was a Tuskeegee Airman.
Everyone should see this movie because of its historical significance, as well as the eye-popping action.
It has love, pain, sadness and tons of action. “This is an
adventure movie and not a civil rights movie,” says Dr.
Roscoe Brown, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen
who consulted on the film. “It is about us overcoming
the obstacle of racism with excellence and friendship,
camaraderie and discipline. Those are the eternal lessons that affect anybody.”
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
President and Mrs. Obama host Tuskeegee Airmen vets
for a Red Tails screening at the White House Jan. 13.
Star Wars creator George Lucas had to fight Hollywood to produce a movie like this because executives
doubted its appeal to young audiences. The best thing is
that this movie appeals to anyone and everyone. YDC
rates this movie as a MUST-SEE. You will laugh, cry,
and cheer by the end of the movie.
The Woman in Black
The Woman in Black is terrifying. It had a great
plot as well as great actors. Daniel Radcliffe was amazing. You may recognize him from his Harry Potter films,
but in this movie he is no wizard. Radcliffe plays Arthur
Kipps, a lawyer assigned to a case that takes him to this
creepy town in a remote and marshy part of England.
Kipps has no choice. His wife died in childbirth
and he must provide for his son. Whether its mourning
or debt, he has reasons to ignore warnings about his assignment to settle the affairs of a recently deceased reclusive widow.
The camera–thus the audience–sees things Kipps
either doesn’t see or chooses not to notice. The tension
builds. And builds. The Woman in the title is vindictive
and you can almost sympathize with her as her tale unfolds. And as it unfolds, Kipps tries and tries to do what
is right. Is there any satisfying her? When will the tension be released?
It will give you goosebumps and chills from beginning to end. If you want to be scared completely,
The Woman in Black is movie is for you.
Nick Pope, 18, is a senior at Duke Ellington School
for the Arts in the District of Columbia
Jane Quimby (Erica Dasher) has to learn to balance her two lives. She is an outgoing and sophisticated career girl on one hand and a high school geek
on the other. While attending high school, she disguises herself as an adult to work at a fashion design company. The company pays her a lot of money to be the
secretary of the company’s best designer, the very arrogant Gray Chandler Murray (Andie MacDowell).
You have a recipe for a great new comedy that feels
like real teen life—or at least every teen’s dream life.
Add in the ingredient that Jane and her brother are on
their own.
At school, Jane is loyal to her friends and constantly tortured by classic mean girl Lulu. At work, she
faces a similar situation with fellow employee, India, a
rival who tries to undermine Jane’s relationship with
Gray. Jane is attuned to teenage tastes, a skill which
Gray recognizes as an important aspect of the fashion
industry. But despite her amazing designing skills,
Jane is not very confident. This is her first job. Jane
takes this job, not only for herself but also to pay the
mortgage when her brother can’t find a job in this current economy.
Jane by Design is awesome because it has great
exposition. It shares especially good life lessons. It
teaches viewers more about the fashion industry such
as learning to cope with the daily stress and drama.
Photo by Eric McCandless – © 2010 Disney Enterprises, Inc.
All rights reserved
On the job at school, Jane Quinby (Erica Dasher) is chic-ish.
Jane’s interaction with her friends will also make you
laugh, no matter whom you are watching it with. Although most of the characters are stereotypical, at the
end of the day, you can’t help but relate to their lives.
–C.D.
Why I won’t watch again
One of the newest TV shows on ABC Family,
Jane by Design follows the kooky adventures of a girl
named Jane Quimby. She is a creative and shy girl
who has big dreams of working in the fashion world,
and through a crazy mix-up, lands her dream job at a
famous “hip” fashion design office. Now she works
for one of the most prestigious fashion designers.
Viewers will be bored to tears by the shifty characters,
lackluster humor and pitiful story line. The characters
are just terrible. Instead of acting like normal people
dealing with the usual challenges of life, the characters
have no interest in improving their ways. Take Jane for
instance; when her boss asks her to pick up a package
at her house, she spends the time trying on all of her
boss’ clothes and continues to wear the most expensive one for the rest of the day. When Jane is late to
school, she decides that it’s perfectly OK to borrow
her boss’ car without permission.
The humor in this atrocious show is mostly sexual and not funny. In the first episode, an entire scene is
dedicated to trying to make the audience laugh at the
fact that a character does not like vegetarian pizza.
Not funny. When Jane is changing in the back seat of
her best guy friend’s car, he tries to sneak a peak at her
through the rear-view mirror. Gratuitous sex humor.
Most of the jokes are not well delivered, and leave the
audience with no desire to stay tuned.
Lastly, this story makes absolutely no sense at
all. The whole premise of the show is that Jane must
maintain a double life in which she weaves a web of
lies in order to keep her job. The show sends the message that if there is a mix-up, you should just go along
with what everyone says and try to get what you want
in the end.
–C.J.W.
Cuyler Deegan, 18, is a junior at The Lab School
of Washington in the District of Columbia.
Chidiki Jones Whitley, 18, is a junior at The Lab
School of Washington in the District of Columbia
Adele dominates long Grammy show
Nick Pope
Young D.C.
Adele swept the competition, winning all six Grammys she was nominated
for. Adele was and is still the one to look
out for. I agreed with most of the wins,
except the best new artist category. The
winner was indie folk group Bon Iver. I
think hip hop artists Nicki Minaj or J.
Cole should have won. Minaj and Cole
have stronger sales, airplay and #1 hits.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street
Band opened the show with new single
“We Take Care of Our Own.” The band’s
great tenor saxophone player Clarence
Clemons died of complications following a stroke last June, so an army of violinists created the big sound to launch the
music industry’s big night.
Emcee LL Cool J said a prayer for
Whitney Houston who died suddenly
Saturday afternoon. Hours into the show,
after the “In Memorium” video that acknowledged the deaths of Houston,
Clemons, Heavy D, Amy Winehouse and
others the music industry lost in 2011,
Jennifer Hudson sang Houston’s power
ballad “I Will Always Love You” in tribute, but imitation. The liveaudience reacted positively, but television viewers
may have wanted more. Hudson didn’t
attempt to clone the Houston performance, probably because the emotional
loss left her incapable of all the sustained
notes of the diva version.
The arguments continue about
Nicki Minaj’s performance of “Roman
Holiday,” her new single. Was it too
much or was it a great performance? I
think that her exorcism performance
was a huge risk, but it worked out in her
favor. Madonna sang “Like a Prayer”
and wove a crucifixion scene into her
2006 Confessions world tour. Lady
Gaga sang “Judas” on her Born This
Way album and created a video that sexualized Jesus. Minaj completely pulled
it off. The dancers were good, the effects
and the set were good. It was actually
nice to see her follow steps of the legendary Madonna. It was also great to
hear a new song from Minaj rather than
some song from her album Pink Friday,
which was released in 2010. And the Grammy went to
Album of the Year: 21, Adele
Record of the Year: “Rolling in the Deep,”
Adele
Song of the Year: “Rolling in the Deep,”
Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth
New Artist: Bon Iver Pop Solo Performance: “Someone Like
You,” Adele
Pop Performance by a Duo or Group: “Body
and Soul,” Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
Pop Vocal Album: “21,” Adele
Alternative Album: Bon Iver, Bon Iver
Rock Song: “Walk,” Foo Fighters
Rock Album: Wasting Light, Foo Fighters
Rock Performance: “Walk,” Foo Fighters
Hard Rock/Metal Performance: “White
Limo,” Foo Fighters
R&B Album: F.A.M.E., Chris Brown
R&B Song: “Fool For You,” Cee Lo Green,
Melanie Hallim & Jack Splash
R&B Performance: “Is This Love,” Corrine Bailey Rae
Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: “Fool
For You,” Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona
Rap Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted
Fantasy, Kanye West
Rap Performance: “Otis,” Jay-Z and
Kanye West
Rap Song: “All of the Lights,” Jeff Bhasker,
Stacy Ferguson, Malik Jones, Warren
Trotter & Kanye West
Rap/Sung Collaboration: “All of the
Lights,” Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi
& Fergie
Dance Recording: “Scary Monsters and
Nice Sprites,” Skrillex
Dance/Electronica Album: Scary Monsters
and Nice Sprites, Skrillex
Musical Theater Album: The Book of Mormon, Robert Lopez, Trey Parker & Matt
Stone
World Music Album: Tassili, Tinariwen
Nick Pope, 18, is a senior at Duke
Ellington School for the Arts in the
District of Columbia
Omnivorous Reader
OR pages through inspiration, tragedy
Prisceilla Ward, Alex Greenhill, Eyan Zame Johnson
Young D.C.
Hazel Scott from child prodigy to activist
This biography puts a spotlight on the unapologetic mark a pioneer made in the
world. Hazel Scott was the first at many feats. A pianist, vocalist, activist, actress,
poet and dancer, she fought for what she
believed. Although she appeared in several movies, jazz was her venue to challenge
racism and sexism as well as McCarthyism. The way author Karen Chilton tells
Scott’s story is captivating and uplifting.
She leaves nothing out
Scott was destined for greatness. Although her parents’ fifth child, she was the
only one to survive infancy. By age five,
Scott could improvise on the piano. At the
tender age of six, Scott’s mother took her
to audition at the famed Juilliard School.
Impressed by Scott’s ability, a teacher
agreed to foster her budding talent. In
1939, at the age of 19, she began playing
in New York’s first integrated nightclub,
Cafe Society.
Scott rose to stardom in entertainment and political activism. At age 30, she
became the first woman of color with her own network television show. “The Hazel
Scott Show” only lasted from June to September of 1950, apparently because her
name was blacklisted by “Red Channels,” a booklet that claimed to report on communist influence in radio and television. Hundreds of artists’ names appeared in
“Red Channels” including folk singers-songwriters Josh White and Pete Seeger,
composers Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copeland, actors Burgess Meredith and
Ruth Gordon, mystery writer Dashiell Hammett and playwright Arthur Miller. Scott
opposed McCarthyism, sexism and segregation, and she was an advocate of democracy.
Scott had married the first black congressman from New York, U.S. Rep. Adam
Clayton Powell Jr., in 1945, the summer after the pastor-activist-editor was elected.
After her name appeared in “Red Channels” she asked to appear before the U.S.
House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities, the HUACin the
title. She testified that the publication never contacted her to verify its claims.
Scott’s mother, a musician, is credited for her success. She did not allow the
Harlem streets to determine her daughter’s future. Scott’s mother gave her music,
while the streets gave her a context for her fight for social justice. A national celebrity, Scott made a name for herself in New York and in Paris. If she went to a hotel
or restaurant while she was on tour and was not treated fairly, she canceled her engagement. She did not play in segregated venues.
Scott married Powell (a pastor, civil rights activist and editor as well as a congressman) when she was “the darling of Cafe Society.” They had one child. However, there was no a fairly tale ending. She divorced Powell, suffered from depression and economic instability, and was “written out of history” in the words of
Chilton. Hazel Scott died of pancreatic cancer Oct. 2, 1981.
Hazel Scott: The Pioneering Journey of a Jazz Pianist
from Café Society to Hollywood to HUAC
by Karen Chilton
University of Michigan Press
$29.95 or free at a library near you
Reprinted from Young D.C. volume 18, issue 6, March 2009 when Priscilla
Ward was 18 and homeschooled in the District of Columbia. Today she is a
junior at Temple University in Philadelphia.
Wes Moore: An achiever’s tale of meeting someone with the same name
The Other Wes Moore chronicles two boys growing into manhood–the similar
paths that they followed and what led them to choose completely different lifestyles.
YDC sees The Other Wes More as a modern Tale of Two Cities.
The two Wes Moores go through struggles, both were never close to their fathers and both had brushes with the law. The
thing that separated them was that each
chose another path.
The author Wes Moore received honors including a Rhodes scholarship, served a
tour of combat duty in Afghanistan and received a fellowship to work in a White
House program 2006-2007. As a White
House fellow he worked as a special assistant to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
at the State Department. He was named one
of Ebony magazine’s “Top 30 Leaders Under 30.”
The “other” Wes Moore strayed far into
a life of drugs and violence. Eventually arrested and convicted for robbery and the
murder of a Baltimore police officer, he will
“spend every day until his death behind bars
for an armed robbery that left an officer and
father of five dead.”
A major parallel is that both were about to be arrested as teens, but the author
Wes Moore was let go by sympathetic cops. The other Wes–despite his pleas–was
taken into custody. In troubled boyhood periods, the author shows each of them with
memories of the same exact things going through his head–fear, angst, torment. Both
expressed their feelings in these words:
“I was almost hyperventilating.”
“Who really cared if I was locked up?”
“My eyes watered as I sat in the back seat of the cruiser.”
Throughout the book, their journeys lead them from their hometowns through
several years and choices that imprinted failure and success upon each man.
Moore’s book is important to young black men of this generation and should
be read as a tale of redemption and damnation.
The Other Wes Moore:
by Wes Moore
Spiegel and Grau imprint of Random House
274 pages
$25 or free at a library near you
Reprinted from Young D.C. volume 19, issue 7, Summer 2010 when Eyen
Zame Johnson was 16 and homeschooled in the District of Columbia. He
continues to be homeschooled.
YDC explores book of great speeches and listens to accompanying CD
Say It Loud is an anthology of speeches chronicling the civil rights movement
full circle from Malcolm X to Barack Obama. The sequel to Say It Plain, it may exceed its predecessor for teen readers because it is more contemporary. It shows social
progress. The book collects speeches from all walks of life from a president, to award
winning playwrights to grass-roots activists. Each speech documents a different stage
of the middle of the civil rights movement brilliantly . The editors start chapters with
background information to give the reader information on the speakers. Also, the
book includes a CD containing clips from many of the original speeches.
Say it Loud is more of a reference book than anything else. The speeches
range from advocating conversion to Islam by Malcolm X and Bobby Seal’s
See OR reads Say It Loud, page 11
Great words for eye and ear from modern civil rights movement
OR reads Say It Loud, from page 10
threatening style to downright invigorating words
by Ella Baker and Michael Eric Dyson. Dyson’s
“Has the Black Middle Class Lost its Mind?” is
OR’s favorite.
Beyond the rhetoric of Martin Luther King Jr.
and Barack Obama, Michael Eric Dyson stood out
from the others because he challenges stereotypes. It
was moving, comedic and sent an important message
for all of us. Although he—like President Obama—is
too young to have been influential during the 60’s, his
speech echoes the leaders of the past. Although he is
a college professor today, he has great insight into
people who have experienced ridicule and prejudice
first hand. He was one of them in the 1970s as a gang
member and unwed teen father in Detroit.
Anyone with curiosity about the civil rights
movement should read Say It Loud! and learn about
some of the key players who helped make the movement a momentous part of our American culture.
Say It Loud!
Edited by Catherine Ellis and Stephen Drury
Smith
The New Press
304 pages
$35, comes with CD
Reprinted from Young D.C. volume 20, issue 2,
Winter 2010 when Alex Greenhill, 17, and a junior at The Lab school of Washington in the District of Columbia. Today he is a senior at the
Brehm School in Carbondale, Ill.
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The Herb Block Foundation
The staff of Young D.C.
Volume 21
thanks
BNA
Children’s Charities Foundation
The Herb Block Foundation
and
the sponsors of
Cartoons & Cocktails 2011
for helping us raise our voice
in print and online
Sports
Young D.C. t Winter 2012
Warm winter doesn’t deter ice skaters
Winter 2012 t Young D.C.
Humor
Kelly Fisher and Christina Lee
Young D.C.
National Gallery of Arts Sculpture Garden Ice Rink
This winter has not been a good year for snow, which has a big effect for skiers. You can still have a fun winter if you go ice-skating. Going ice-skating is a lot
cheaper then skiing and there is public transportation to the ice-skating rinks. Iceskating is great for just getting out of the house and to have fun.
The National Gallery of Arts Sculpture Garden Ice Rink is open through midNovember until March all depending on the weather. Its located on the National Mall
at 7th Street and Constitution Avenue NW Washington DC. It’s a great place to bring
your children to skate around in the cool breeze, while having a beautiful view of the
sculptures. While you are enjoying skating they provide a state of the art sound system, so people can listen to music. They also provide lessons group or private for a
child who wants to learn to be a better skater. After your done skating they have a
pavilion where they serve food and still have a great view of the sculptures. Katie
Kaltenhueser, 17, a junior at the Lab School of Washington told YDC, “The rink is a
great place to go, has a great view of all of the sculptures, but a little pricey.”
Evening, when the Gallery and Sculpture Garden are closed to the public, access to the ice rink and Pavilion Café is restricted to the entrances at Constitution
Avenue and Madison Drive near 9th Street.
National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden
Ice Rink , National Mall at 7th Street and
Constitution Avenue, NW.
Admission:
Two-hour sessions, beginning on the hour:
$8.00 adults, $7.00 seniors (age 50 and
over)
$7.00 students (with school ID)
$7.00 children (age 12 and under)
Skate and Locker Rentals Skate rental:
Silver Spring: Veterans Plaza
$3.00 (ID required)
Locker rental: $0.50 ($5.00 deposit
required)
Visa, MasterCard and American Express
accepted.
Hours:
Monday–Thursday,10:00a.m.–9:00 p.m.
F
riday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
Sunday, 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
– K.F.
Thomas Selishev, a 10th grade student at The Nora School who worked for a
season at the Fenton Street arena in Silver Spring, thinks the open air rink is a great
place to skate. “While it may be a little expensive, it’s a really nice venue, and it
brings people to the downtown [Silver Spring] area. In that way, it benefits both the
skater and the community.”
Caution: Evening skating* may end at 7 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. if the rink is
rented for a private party.
Veterans Plaza
8523 Fenton Street
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Corner of Fenton Street and Ellsworth
Drive on Veterans Plaza
Admission: $8.00 adults, $7.00 seniors (55 & up)
$7.00 children (age 12 and under)
Hours: Sunday
10am - *10 p.m.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Noon - *10 p.m.
Friday
Noon - 11pm
Saturday
10am - 11pm
Reston Town Center Pavilion Ice Rink Review
Located in Reston, Va, this outdoor rink is a popular attraction among teens
and tweens, with its convenient location and affordable price range. Known to many
Northern Virginia goers as “RTC ice rink”, the Reston Town Center Pavilion Ice
Rink is open from mid-October to mid-March and offers weekly activities and skate
lessons.
Tara Shafiei, 18, is a senior at Oakton HS in Vienna, Va. told YDC, “Iceskating
at RTC is always a fun time with friends. It’s a great activity to do when its cold
outside, and there are great places to eat nearby too.”
Every Friday from 8 am to 10 pm, you can glide into the Rock ‘n’ Skate event
where you can play games and win prizes all while skating to a live DJ. On Saturdays, bring your younger siblings for the Cartoon Skate event from 11 am to 1 pm
and relive your childhood Saturday morning cartoons with Scooby-Doo, Tweety
Bird and more. With the Bow Tie movie theater right around the corner and multiple
restaurants to satisfy your hunger, the RTC Pavilion Ice Rink is a refreshing touch
to a family date or a night out with friends. Besides, what better way to burn off all
that holiday weight? Just don’t go overboard with the skate moves.
Reston Town Center Pavilion Ice Rink
1818 Discovery Street, Reston, VA 20190
Hours
Sunday – Tuesday: 11am to 7pm
Wednesday – Thursday: 11am to 10 pm
Friday – Saturday: 11am to 11pm
Admissions: Adults - $9.00
Children under 12 - $7.00
Skate rentals (figure & hockey) - $5.00
Skate Events:
Rock ‘n’ Skate, Fridays, 8 am - 10 pm
Cartoon Skate, Saturdays, 11 am - 1 pm
Ice-Skating Lessons for all ages and skill
levels:
Session 3: 2/4, 2/21, 2/18, 2/25 (9:30 am or
10:15 am)
$75 for 4 consecutive weeks (Practice
sessions and skate rentals included)
Private lessons are by appointment only
Contact 703-709-6300 or skating@
restontowncenter.com
www.
rtclearntoskate.com
–C.L.
Kelly Fisher, 16, is a junior at the Lab School of Washington in the District
of Columbia.
Christina Lee, 17, is a senior at Oakton HS in Vienna, Va.
Chidiki Jones Whitley 18 is a junior
at The Lab School of Washington
in the District of Columbia.
On the Street
All photos by Kelly Fisher
Botanic Garden offers
blooms in dreary winter
A world of flowers and green greets visitors to the US Botanic Garden after Jan. 20
snow storm.
Left top: Through this arch to the “Garden Primevil”
Bottom left: Bird of Paradise :
Top right: Amaryllis
Middle right: The outside view of the Botanic Garden conservatory
Bottom right: Fountain with azaleas in foreground
Kelly Fisher, 16, is a junior at the
Lab School of Washington in the
District of Columbia.