Alice Vol. 6 No. 1

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[Cover Photographer] Hannah Saad
[Photographer] Hannah Saad

Volume 6 Issue 1
Volume 6 Issue 1
Volume 6 Issue 1
[Photographer] Hannah Saad
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[Photographer] Hannah Saad

[Photographer] Alexis Blue
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EDITORIAL STAFF
editor in chief
Annie Hollon
managing editor
Alexander Plant
creative
Creative Director A’Neshia Turner
Design Editor Sarah Lumpkin
Assistant Design Editor Autumn Williams
photo
Photo Editor Alexis Blue
Assistant Photo Editor Keely Brewer
writing
Beauty Editor Christine Thompson
Fashion Editor Gabby Gervais
Lifestyle Editor Jennafer Bowman
Entertainment Editor Hannah Taylor
Food and Health Editor Lindsey Wilkinson
Market Editor Evan Edwards
digital
Digital Director Ansley Segal
Social Media Editor Kendall Frisbee
Online Editor Brynna Mitcher
Youtube Editor Mae Frey
contributors
Kelsey Bridgeforth, Kaila Pouncy, Kaitlyn Gabaldon, Hailey Wilson, Farrah
Sanders, Sophia, Surrett, Jennafer Bowman, Olivia Bowman, Christine
Thompson, A’Neshia Turner, Sarah Hartsell, Jeffrey Kelly, Hannah Taylor,
Hannah Saad, Jonathan Knox, Kalei Burgess
models
Eboni Rollins, Kai O’Neill, Jacob Gorbis, Kaylin Flam, Gavin Hayes, Mia
Karle, Sarah Nelson, Alex Holliman, Sophy Mangana, Kristen Sentell,
Christian Thomas, Tamera Foster
faculty
Editorial Adviser Mark Mayfield
Advertising Julie Salter
Interim Director Traci Mitchell
copyright
Editorial and Advertising offices for Alice Magazine are located at 414 Campus Drive East,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. The mailing address is P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.
Phone: (205) 348-7257. Alice is published by the Office of Student Media at The University of
Alabama. All content and design are produced by students in consultation with professional
staff advisers. All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise,
is copyrighted © 2020 by Alice magazine. Material herein may not be reprinted without the
expressed, written permission of Alice magazine.
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W
hen I first
began writing
for Alice in 2018, I never
pictured myself in this role or in the world we
are currently in. I certainly never envisioned writing
my first “Letter From The Editor” from my childhood
bedroom and collaborating with the Alice team via
Zoom call either. However, I see this as an opportunity
rather than a hindrance for us to grow beyond the
Tuscaloosa city limits and reach out to college women
across the country, which we’ve already begun with this
issue.
Since our inception in 2015, we’ve worked diligently
to represent and tell the stories of college women and
have grown significantly since. Yet as we look back and
celebrate everything we have achieved, we have had to
take a good look at where we have failed our readers
and team. Alice has for a long time claimed to represent
all college women while our content showed otherwise.
We only represented a certain kind of woman then,
and as a magazine built by and for dynamic and
incredible women, that lack of representation changes
with the digital launch of Volume 6.
Our cover word is an apt representation of how I aim
to lead and encourage our contributors and readers. As
a publication, we will work even harder to find stories to
resonate with women from all walks of life, from BIPOC
individuals to members of the LGBTQ+ community
and beyond. Some of our contributors lent their own
life experiences and
beliefs to their wellresearched
articles, marked
with an Alice Opinion disclaimer, to allow their
voices to be a part of the stories they share. With the
launch of our advice and opinion columns “Ask Alice”
and “Alice Asks,” we encourage you all to make your
voices heard and be open to discussing life’s difficult
questions so we can grow and learn together. We will
reach out to journalists and students from every corner
of the country to do what we can to represent every
view possible and tell stories that extend beyond the
Southeast and UA’s campus. We’re going to get real and
honest with the content we produce and share, and I
hope you’ll be honest and real with us, too.
Change starts with us all and hopefully these steps are
only the beginning of what we accomplish in the name of
celebrating womanhood and the college experience. I’m
honored to serve as the Editor in Chief of this magazine
for the mystery that is this upcoming school year and
hope we can all change for the better and for good.
Annie Hollon
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9
15
19
23
27
31
35
Change is Coming
Bursting my Bubble Town
Yays and Nays: LGBTQ+ Representation in Media
Black Mental Health
The Dismantling Period
On The Frontlines
Ask Alice/Alice Asks
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37
43
45
47
49
51
55
Pandemic Passion Projects
Intersectionality and the Resilience of Womxn
She Well Read
I Exist
Use My Pronouns
Black Lives Matter Through a Lens
If You Like This, Try This
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On May 26, 2020, George Floyd, a Black
man who was unarmed and pinned to
the ground by four police officers was
murdered. Derek Chauvin held his knee on Floyd’s
neck for eight minutes and forty-six seconds.
Before Floyd’s final breath, he cried “please I can’t
breathe.”
Being Black is difficult in America and will be a
challenge for those to come. Young Black Americans
are tired of being treated as “animals” and “thugs.”
In order for them to fight, they use their words.
Black protestors speak from brokenness, strength and
experience. The words they speak on the front line are
true and are rooted by their ancestors. “Black Lives
Matter,” “I Can’t Breathe” and “No Justice No Peace”
have been the chants for years and we are still saying them
today just with another black person’s name attached to it.
Though the cry for “Black Lives Matter” was already
present, the death of George Floyd amplified the movement.
Individuals from San Francisco to Atlanta created protests
for thousands of other people to come out and voice their
hatred of systematic racism and unlawful kills of African
American men and women in America.
It is not easy going to a protest knowing there are people out
there that do not want to hear what the Black people have to
say. Some people are willing to put African Americans in harm
just for uttering their truth. This generation is bold, unshakeable
and persistent. They urge others to speak out about the injustice
acts and tell the nation that silence is too an issue. Like the ones
before, this era is tired, and it’s demanding change on the frontlines
of every protest.
“As a Black woman, it is important to me that my voice is heard
and the voices of people like me are heard,” said Love Lundy, a
freshman majoring in political science at Spelman College and one
of many young Black activists. “Not just as a Black woman, but as a
queer woman and a disabled woman.”
She participated in the protests in Huntsville, Alabama, and Leonia,
New Jersey and is known for her determination to reflect her opinions.
When it’s time to be the voice of the movement, she does not back down.
[Photographer] Hannah Saad
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[Photographers] Alexis Blue and Hannah Saad
“I have been an activist all my life,” she said, “I know
that a lot of the time when I am at a protest or a rally, I
feel called to say something. If I have the opportunity I
will do that.”
Lundy organized, advertised and promoted the
marches in Huntsville and New Jersey for other likeminded
individuals to become known and speak on the
gripes happening in America. When she spoke at her
first protest in Huntsville someone yelled out “bomb.”
They managed to set up a Bluetooth speaker in the area
of the protest and play a recording of a bomb ticking.
This interruption caused panic and dispersion. Lundy
fled before the police tear-gassed the protestors in
attendance.
“I do not know what it is, but police most definitely
become more aggressive at night and when there
is a large group of people,” said Elana Daniels, a
sophomore at The University of Alabama. “It’s like they
are intimidated. It should not be a normalized thing
to protest for black lives. You see people joke about it.
People you thought you knew are backing the police and
the media is exploiting the situation.”
On May 31st, she and 2,000 other people marched
on Kelley Avenue and NE 36th Street with their signs
and flyers in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The protest she
attended was not only for the murder of George Floyd
but also for the murder of Isaiah Lewis, a 17 year old
mentally ill black man gunned by the police. During the
day children attended, the community sang songs and
State Rep. Ajay Pittman said encouraging statements to
the crowd of peaceful protestors.
The protest was overwhelming to Daniels, who was
“on edge” for the entirety of the march. She watched as
officers patrolled the area and became more aggressive
as night fell. Around 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., she feared that
something was going to happen to her. There were two
groups of protestors. While Daniels was a part of the
group protesting in front of city hall, the other group
was on the highway. Oklahoma issued a 10 p.m. curfew.
As people were attempting to leave, the group from the
highway converged with her group of protestors.
Police proceeded to use rubber bullets and tear gas to
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disperse the wide group of protestors.
This country has been in the crisis of protesting
for Black human rights for centuries, however, this
generation has not. This era is not settling for the bare
minimum anymore nor are they letting people take
action for things that they can fix.
“There is nothing more powerful and nothing more
efficient than doing the physical groundwork,” said
Lauren Perry, a freshman at Syracuse University.
Perry attended the protest in Atlanta, Georgia, and
demanded the application of physical pressure. There
is more to do than just sign petitions and ballots.
“Protest brings about more immediate change,”
she said. “There are people who do not care and are
compliant, people who do not want to put themselves
out there or be an activist.”
This is a call to action. If we do not go out there and
voice our acrimony then no one will. We are building
society in a positive direction once we take physical,
meaningful actions.
“We are past awareness,” she said.
Silence does not help the movement or Black
existences progress. Speak up and out about the issues
that are present in America. Stand and fight systematic
oppression. Bringing more attention to crucial problems
will cause those in power to have a change in heart and
to create a pavement of equality for African Americans.
“The Black Lives Matter movement as a whole is
about the visibility of all Black lives,” Perry said. “This
time around compared to the civil rights movement we
are making sure Black women and the Black LGBTQ+
members are not being left behind. It’s not taking away
from the Black Lives Matter movement, it’s making
sure that in the modern movement everyone has their
seat at the table.”
Understand, that if this was not a real issue then people
would not protest. Black men and women are being
killed by police officers every day. The only difference in
these cases is that they were recorded. What about the
killings that were not recorded? What happens to those
officers? What justice do those families get? Protesting
will give us those answers.
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[Photographer] Alexis Blue

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I
was 18 the first time I was called an activist. This
was a big deal to me because, in my own little world,
it has always been one of my biggest dreams to be
part of something so powerful, so influential and
earn that title from others. To be considered an activist
always seemed considerably distant from my reach. In
my mind, it struck me as an exclusive, card-carrying
social club where only the most diligent of the socially
active would be allowed in and accepted. Thinking of
myself as an activist seemed remarkably unconvincing
until it simply wasn’t anymore.
Growing up, I spent the majority of my childhood and
adolescence in two small Georgia towns: Fayetteville
and Peachtree City. I, a young Black woman, roamed
in predominantly white spaces, driving around towns
of small, family-owned, decorated shops and dodging
trails paved for golf carts driven by white, upper-class
families. Although my experience was not significantly
diverse until I entered high school, I’ve always seen and
recognized the importance and the value of differences
in others from all backgrounds, and it was easy to see and
accept the contrast in them whenever I left my bubble.
Throughout my youth, I knew holding these values
close to my heart were extremely important in order to
simply be a kind person, but I never knew exactly how
much they would affect me growing into the young adult
that I am today. I am no stranger to empathy, as it is
something I have possessed an overwhelming amount
of since I was a child. My family can attest that I was
always rescuing stray neighborhood cats and creating a
positive kind of trouble at school by speaking my mind
for what was right for myself and others.
When Trayvon Martin was unjustly murdered, I was
ten years old. As a young child, I couldn’t process why
the world had gone up in flames. At ten years old, I had
to learn why I couldn’t stay out after the streetlights
came on, walk to the neighborhood convenience store
and why the “But Mom, my other friends’ parents let
them do it!” argument was no longer effective. At ten
years old, I had to learn that carelessly strolling in
the wrong areas could get me killed. At 12 years old,
I witnessed the world harbor a similar rage with the
death of Michael Brown, and at 12 years old, I had to
learn this was going to keep happening.
As I grew physically and intellectually, I acquired a
strong passion for social justice, and that passion grew
stronger with each passing day. Between then and now,
I have watched the lives of people who look just like me
come and go with a temporary public eruption of anger
to follow. Each outrage, each speech, each protest and
chant being more intense than the last without proper
consequences given to the murderer to match. I’ve seen
this on television, the internet, and in books for years.
Looking in the mirror, I often wondered where society
fit me in and exactly how much I was truly valued in
these white spaces I called home. Additionally, it
became apparent to me how the murders of the very
Black women I resemble never get the same attention
in the media. Black women carry a very similar burden
to our Black men, yet still fight to be included and
protected by a cause that is supposed to embody us
conjointly when we proclaim “Black Lives Matter.” This
creates an extremely heavy weight to be carried, but a
weight often carried with such grace by Black women
everywhere. Alas, I digress. Watching people of any and
all causes organize spaces for their voices to be heard
in big cities across the nation was never foreign to the
American people. It’s so common and such a crucial
part of our history that it’s something we all learned
about as early as elementary school. Revolution is, and
always will be, in our blood. When you think about it,
Americans have obtained almost all the rights we have
today by protesting. We, the people, have watched this
happen many times throughout history, whether it be
our fellow workers, our strong women, our beautiful
LGBTQ+ community, and our people of color. The
only difference is that Black and Brown people are still
fighting an ancient problem in a modern world.
I never thought I’d live through something quite as
massive as what transpired after the tragic murder of
George Perry Floyd Jr. I always imagined protests being
reserved for people of giant cities; modern people who
work in big buildings and finally decide to abandon
them in order to storm the wide, shiny streets and
walkways leading to state buildings to fight federal laws
and injustice. Living in my tiny bubble town, I never
expected to see something like this in my city. Even
though I longed to be part of something so powerful,
I had never attended a protest until the death of
George Floyd. The week following the sad day of May
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25, 2020, I remained glued to social media, watching
every city across the country, and eventually the world,
explode one by one in protest. I couldn’t sit still or
sleep. I watched people spewing hate at those who were
simply pleading to be protected. I watched all of this
happening through every screen in my household. My
heart broke day in and day out. When my electronic
screens transformed into watching through my own car
windows, I realized that people in my town were just
as outraged as I was. It became all too real for me. My
bubble town had finally burst.
Up until this point, I had acted from the safety of my
room. I had signed petitions, shared resources, donated
money, written letters, yet nothing felt like I was doing
enough. I felt scared, angry and sad wondering if I
should be out there with my fellow citizens experiencing
the same pain and fighting the same fight. As a firstgeneration
pre-law college student, I was terrified
about how my current actions, or lack thereof, would
affect my future. What if some person out there holding
potential future authority over me doesn’t see things
the same way I do when I speak my mind? What if I say
the wrong thing? What if my lack of action hurts me,
too? After much deliberation about the potential risks,
I decided that I owed it to my ancestors, the deceased,
my little Black brother, and myself to stand in unity
with others and raise my voice. Besides, I came to the
conclusion that I don’t belong in any place of business
where my existence is not safe or valued. I watched
my small, predominantly white town transform into a
beacon of diverse unity, something I never thought I’d
ever see in my life. When I arrived to join the peaceful
protest organized by local residents, I had no idea what
to expect to see, but I do know that I didn’t expect what
I saw. I saw people of all skin tones, identities, and
backgrounds raising their voice in support of Black and
Brown lives in the courtyard of our tiny city hall. People
with colorful signs, loud voices, and passionate souls.
I soon became one of a countless number of people
circled around individuals giving speeches, sharing
their pain one by one as onlookers both observed and
supported. As I moved closer to the center, I realized
I was witnessing various people of color sharing their
experiences with discrimination, informing the public
on important topics ranging from voter registration to
recognizing white privilege and sharing resources for
anybody hurting or struggling. As I inched even closer
to the center, brimming with bravery and feeling warm
with support, I felt compelled to speak, share some
thoughts of mine, and contribute to the conversation.
I held a bullhorn in my hand and informed my
community about the importance of holding one
another accountable.
Black lives matter. All of them. My education, social
status, place of residency, interests or the people I hang
out with are not what gives my life worth. My life matters
simply because I am a living, breathing human being
who walks this earth. I am Black and my life matters
just as much as my white counterparts. As a friend, I am
holding my non-Black friends accountable for proudly
proclaiming this fact. In order for you to be a friend,
you must believe wholeheartedly that my life matters
the way I believe that yours does. As students, we
must hold our places of education and fellow students
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accountable for standing up for our Black peers to help
everyone who desires an education to safely achieve it.
As employees or consumers, we must apply pressure to
our places of business to value their Black employees
and consumers. It is not enough to simply not be racist,
we must actively be anti-racist. We must hold our non-
Black friends accountable to act on behalf of those who
are being condemned by hatred right now. We must do
our individual parts to make the world a better, more
just place for all. None of us will truly have justice until
all of us have justice.
The first time somebody called me an activist was
right after my speech. The person who casually awarded
me this title was a girl from high school who I had met
in passing and didn’t know much about me, but she
recognized my passion which made it a significant
moment to me. I proved to myself I was able to put my
comfort aside to better my community for others and
stand up for myself. The moment I truly grasped how
much my actions of courage affect and inspire others to
speak up and do the same encouraged me to keep going.
Becoming aware of that was what truly made me feel
like the activist I had been dubbed.
My first protest redefined what it meant to be an
activist for me. To be an activist and to achieve a mindset
of activism means to always be open to and participating
in ways to make this world a better place. It means to
wake up every day and be the change you want to see
in this world and encourage others to do the same, no
matter how big or small your reach is. Furthermore,
this experience gave me hope in our communities to
come together during hard, painful times like this.
Watching as people became physically willing to step
out of their comfort zones and potentially risk their
safety to walk in support of BIPOC individuals, most
of whom they’ve never even met before, became one of
the most motivating things I have ever seen. It simply
reminded me that there are so many people standing in
the corner of love fighting against hate and I will not be
standing alone. My first experience protesting was lucky
considering it didn’t include tear gas, arrests, damage or
injuries, but I will acknowledge the protestors putting
themselves on the frontlines and I will stand with them.
My experience has been safe, but it hasn’t been easy.
It hasn’t been easy to watch my Twitter timeline turn
into an obituary. It hasn’t been easy worrying if the
name of somebody I love, or even my own, will become
the next trending hashtag or headline. The fight has
never been easy for anyone, but it will always be worth
it. If you are able, I highly encourage you to stand and
walk in support of your peers. Donate money to local
nonprofits. Sign and share petitions boosting justice
for those who have been harmed or murdered unjustly.
Register to vote and write letters to your local legislators
encouraging them to act. Whatever it may be, use your
voice and platform to encourage others to do the same
and make your stand.
That day, I left the bulk of the crowd and sat on the
edge of a water fountain outside of city hall. Soaking
in the moment, I felt the warmth of the sun sparkling
across my shoulders and felt content with myself, the
color of my skin and my ability to help change the world.
I repeated to myself, “I am a young Black woman, and
there is nothing in this world that I cannot do.”
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[ 19 ]
[Photographer] Kalei Burgess

LGBTQ+ REPRESENTATION IN MEDIA
BY KAITLYN GABALDON
uring Pride Month in June, you probably noticed
an increase in LGBTQ+ representation in the media
ranging from social media campaigns to magazine
covers. With Pride having to be different this year
because of the COVID-19 pandemic cancelling many celebrations,
it’s more important than ever that TV, film and other media outlets
bring the stories, experiences and talent of LGBTQ+ individuals to
the forefront. Mainstream media showcases LGBTQ+ talent and
characters more prominently than ever before, but is it always done
in the best way possible?
Take a series like Pose on FX, for example. Pose is revolutionary
in how it authentically shares LGBTQ+ stories that are important
to the community’s history while being the first show to feature
transgender women of color in prominent roles on television.
The praise for Pose is well deserved, as it brings the vibrancy of
80’s underground Ball culture and delves into the struggles of the
LGBTQ+ individuals in the show in an authentic way that many
other series struggle to do. While Pose is an example of what
LGBTQ+ representation in the media should be, many miss the
mark.
During Pride Month, and throughout the rest of the year, we
need to be more aware and critical of how LGBTQ+ individuals are
portrayed and treated in the shows we watch and the campaigns we
see. While there’s still a lot more work to be done to accurately and
genuinely share their stories and experiences in the media, here are
some of the yays and nays of current LGBTQ+ representation in the
media to think about.
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Give LGBTQ+ characters
equal screen time as their
straight counterparts.
Oftentimes, LGBTQ+ characters serve as a plot driver for their straight, main
counterparts. They’re the best friend, part of the friend group or in some cases, the onetime
possible love interest (think Lucas from To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.) They
help the main character solve their problems or bring out their true selves, but they’re
only shown from time to time.
Toni Topaz, played by Vanessa Morgan on Riverdale, is a good example of a Black
LGBTQ+ character whose main plot function is as a side character who drives the
development of others. Her time on-screen increases around the second season, but
as time goes on, we don’t see plots that center around her, nor does she have the same
amount of screen time as her co-stars despite being upgraded to a season regular. With
a greater need for Black LGBTQ+ representation to be more visible on television, we
hope to see more of her in the upcoming season.
Giving equal screen time to Black and LGBTQ+ characters is something that all
shows and films should strive for in order to increase LGBTQ+visibility and make it
commonplace in everyday TV and film. LGBTQ+ characters shouldn’t be stuck on the
sidelines as plot drivers. They’re multi-dimensional, and many people can relate to them
and their storylines. If you’re interested in shows with great LGBTQ+ representation,
check out Sex Education on Netflix and Vida on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and Starz.
Only showing LGBTQ+
representation during
Pride Month.
[Photographer] Kalei Burgess
Pride Month is an exciting time to celebrate the
LQBTQ+ community, but that doesn’t mean that
representation ends on the last day of the month.
Some brands will only include LGBTQ+ talent or have
collaborations with them for the duration of month,
but their commitments to the LGBTQ+ community
should extend beyond Pride Month as well. Having
LGBTQ+ visibility year-round is important for the
community and should be incorporated into the
media that these brands put out throughout the year.
It’s not enough to just have it during Pride Month,
and there’s no shortage of LGBTQ+ talent that these
brands can help spotlight.
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Brands paying LGBTQ+
individuals in “exposure” to
create content for them.
Brands often have large budgets of money when working with influencers to create
content. During Pride Month, many brands reach out to LGBTQ+influencers to create
content for social media with the goal of highlighting campaigns and products created
specifically for Pride Month. While influencer collaborations are not new, what isn’t
often known is that LGBTQ+ influencers, especially those who are Black, are often
pitched collaborations in exchange for “exposure” on a brand’s social media. Lydia
Okello (@styleisstyle), a queer Black creator, was recently asked by Anthropologie to
take part in its #sliceofhappy campaign for Pride in exchange for a free outfit. Okello
shared their typical rates for working with brands only to be told by Anthropologie
that they didn’t have the budget for an influencer of their level.
Exposure doesn’t pay the bills, and for large brands like Anthropologie, there’s no
excuse to not pay LGBTQ+ influencers for their work especially during a month that
is meant to highlight and celebrate them. Be mindful of how brands treat LGBTQ+
influencers, and if you want to stay informed about this and other issues in the
fashion and beauty industry, follow accounts like @diet_prada and @esteelaundry
on Instagram.
Hiring LGBTQ+ directors, talent,
production staff, and writers to
tell LGBTQ+ stories.
There’s a plethora of LGBTQ+ talent in the industry waiting to make their mark
on the screen and in the media. One of Hollywood’s biggest debates is having actors
and production staff who are not members of this community telling the stories of
LGBTQ+ characters. Out of the 25 actors who have been nominated for an Oscar for
playing an LGBTQ+ character, none are openly LGBTQ+. The film and television
industry is divided on the issue, with some actors like Darren Criss vowing to turn
down future LGBTQ+ roles, while others like Ben Whishaw, who is gay himself, don’t
see the issue with non-LGBTQ+ actors playing LGBTQ+ characters.
While the debate continues, Hollywood should provide more opportunities for
LGBTQ+ individuals to bring their talents to the industry in all aspects, especially
when it comes to telling LGBTQ+ stories. People like screenwriter Steven Canals
(Pose), director and writer Dee Rees (Empire, Pariah, Space Force), and actor
Keiynan Lonsdale (Love Simon, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow) are paving the
way for other LGBTQ+ individuals in the industry. Including their voices and talents
in Hollywood makes it exciting to see what’s to come for the industry in the upcoming
years.
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[ 23 ]

I
know
it’s hard right now. Rules have been enforced
telling us to stay home to protect us and our loved
ones, high school students have missed out on major
life experiences such as prom and graduation, recent
college graduates are wondering what their next step is,
health care workers are risking their lives fighting for
us daily. Those are only just a few examples of what we
have been going through during the pandemic. If that
is not enough to make your head spin, well, we are in
another epidemic: a fight for racial justice and a call to
action that has swept the world.
Racial injustice is not a new issue to Black people and
the effects of it is not either. Black Lives Matter and so
does Black Mental Health. If you have found yourself
not feeling like yourself, or the repeated incidents of
police brutality have gotten you down, I want to help
you. Here are some tips and resources to assist you with
getting through this tough time.
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PRACTICE MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness is the practice of being in the present moment, right
here, right now and accepting it without judgment. While constant
worries and thoughts of what is to come can keep you up at night,
practicing mindfulness may come to your rescue. When done
correctly, stress and anxiety can be managed dramatically
better. Do not think about the past, and don’t try to have
the future all planned out either. Let yourself be and go
with the flow as life comes to you. It is ok to have an
idea of what direction you want to go in within your
life, but do not dwell on it too much. The most
popular mindfulness practice is mediation.
“I practice meditation myself and I highly
recommend it to my clients,” Dr. Tamika
Anderson, a private practicing psychologist
said. “You won’t master it your first try, but
each practice takes you a step closer to a
healthier thought process.”
If you want to try this technique,
Headspace and Calm are two great apps
to start with.
UNPLUG
To start, take a break from wherever you are getting
your news, whether that is social media, Apple News
notifications or the traditional local and national
television coverage. I know that this can be a tough one for
people to do, and can hear some people now, “Removing
myself from social media during a pandemic?” I know.
The main thing people are wanting and are being told
to do is to stay connected. Which for a lot of people
staying connected happens via social media. Start with
taking one day off. Don’t watch the news, turn off your
notifications and delete your apps. If this step is too
drastic, put a time resection on your apps through
your phone’s settings. While you are on your break,
do something you enjoy. Watch your favorite Netflix
series, tackle that thing you’ve been wanting to do or
simply do nothing. The point of this is to give your
mind a break from all of the information you are
absorbing on a daily basis. In the meantime, stay
connected and call your friends and family on the
phone. Talk to them and check in with how they
are doing. You never know, this could be just
what you needed.
[ 25 ]
[Photographer] Alexis Blue

LET IT OUT
If you are feeling angry, sad or even alone, you have every right to
feel that way. The last thing that you want to do is ignore whatever
emotion you are feeling. Write down that emotion as soon as
you can. Journaling is a practice that is widely used to help
with emotional release and has been proven to help with
anxiety and stress.
“Journaling helps me analyze exactly where my
thoughts are coming from since I can see them on
paper,” said Ariel Sanders, a senior at The University
of Alabama.
You can use the notes in your phone or a
journal. Grab some paper and something to
write with and let it all out. There is no right or
wrong way to do this. After you feel like you
have gotten everything out, read it aloud.
THERAPY
If you want to take the previous suggestion a step further,
try therapy.
“If you are comfortable talking to someone please do,”
Makya Jenkins, a senior at UA said. “I know there is a
stigma in the Black community in regard to therapy.
Please know you are not broken by asking for help.”
If you are new to the world of therapy, it can appear
intimidating. Finding a therapist related to your
particular needs can be hard. Don’t be discouraged
because there are organizations catered to helping you
with this process. Therapy for Black Girls, founded by
Joy Harden Bradford compiled a useful directory of
therapists who actually “get it.” The organization also
produces a podcast, publishes a weekly newsletter,
and hosts free support groups on Thursday nights.
Inclusive therapists are equipped in racial trauma
training to ensure that health care providers look
critically at mental health. The organization has
a database of professionals, many of whom offer
reduced-price virtual sessions. These resources
can be extremely helpful to find someone for
your specific needs.
We currently face difficult times, and it
can be hard and even confusing to seek
help for yourself. However, prioritize
your wellbeing and take care of yourself.
Remember that there are people
advocating for a better and unified
world for us all.
[ 26 ]

[ 27 ]

[Photographer] Hannah Saad
T
he quickly growing mass uprising against
racial inequality is uncovering long-ignored
issues of systemic discrimination in the
United States. By way of traffic-stopping
protests, widespread social media use and overdue
conversations about race, a new era of understanding is
fastly approaching. This is causing us to take a serious
look at how we as a nation are holding onto the past.
Protestors and movement leaders nationwide quickly
identified confederate monuments and memorials as
the first artifacts to fall in what historians are calling
the dismantling period.
These monuments have been subject to nationwide
debate. It appears that every area of this country is
being directly affected by this movement, including
Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The University of Alabama is no
stranger to this argument. Students, faculty and staff
have historically led the discussion on the removal of
monuments and the renaming of buildings dedicated
to those with racist pasts. Hilary N. Green, associate
professor of history and the Department of Gender and
Race Studies, has centered her research around African
American remembrances.
“African Americans have rejected these monuments
and the racial geographies implemented from the very
beginning,” Green said. “Due to threats of violence, they
had resorted to developing safe spaces and advancing
clear counter memories to this ‘Lost Cause’ landscape.”
The monuments that Green referred to are in
various places on campus, gifted to the University
as early as 1914. Given by the United Daughters of
the Confederacy, a large boulder was dedicated to
Confederate soldiers that were also given an honorary
diploma. Since moving to its second location, the center
of the Quad, this memorial has been the center of the
removal controversy. Standing 10 feet in length, 10 feet
in width and not far from the Little Round House that
housed enslaved drummer boys during the Civil War,
this mammoth of a rock served as a constant reminder
of a dark past and the University’s persistent silence.
As tension around the country grew, so did the pressure
for change. On June 8, the UA System Board of Trustees
authorized the removal of three confederate plaques
on campus. A small council of trustees was created
to review the current names of buildings and report
recommended name changes. This announcement
came as a surprise to the UA community, especially
those who have actively fought for change.
Teryn Shipman, university alumna and founder of
For Black Girls Who Have A Lot to Say, feels bittersweet
towards this moment but believes that these matters
and more should be met with a lot of deliberation
and reflection.
“I believe that UA, it’s administration and it’s Board
[ 28 ]

of Trustees must honor the lives of those who were
enslaved on UA’s campus, specifically when we are
talking about renaming buildings,” Shipman said.
She recalls one of the reasons that she decided to
attend the University was because of “its racist past and
present.”
“I felt I was called to help create real institutional
change from policies to practices and even traditions,”
Shipman said. “While there, I’ve gotten to work
alongside many freedom fighters...I believe that this
is just the beginning of truly creating a country that
represents the people. Shoutout to my ancestors and
fellow freedom fighters.”
For decades, students, faculty and staff have found
their own ways to contribute to awareness and progress.
Shipman organized movements such as Bama Sits, Wake
Up Bama and We are Done. A coalition of students and
faculty, We are Done released a list of demands to be
met by University administration in 2015. Their second
demand called for the removal of the names of white
supremacists, Klan members, Confederate generals and
Eugenicists. The demands of the coalition can be found
with a quick Google search. Shipman sees the demands
as “still unmet or met but with the bare minimum.”
Liz Foshe, a graduate student and teaching assistant
of Gender & Race Studies, felt like now was a good time
to push for change at UA again.
“Essentially, there were two petitions circulating: one
to change the racist building names at UA, and one to
remove the confederate monuments from campus,”
Foshe said.“Petitions like these have been going around
for years since before I came to UA, but with everything
going on with the Black Lives Matter protests all over
the world, now seemed like the right time to really put
pressure on UA to make change.”
Foshe met with a fellow student, Anna Beth Peters,
and together they created an email campaign. This
consisted of creating a pre-written email that could
The University of
Alabama System
Board of Trustees
voted unanimously
on August 5 to
rename Nott Hall
to Honors Hall.
[Photographer] Hannah Saad
[ 29 ]

[Photographer] Hannah Saad
be accessed through a shared URL. Participants could
enter their names and send the prepared statement to
various members of the administration as well as the
Board of Trustees.
To gain support, they reached out to various campus
leaders and groups on campus, especially those who
appeared to be in support of renaming buildings and
removing memorials. Foshe recalls feeling disappointed
that Student Government Association leadership
responded in an email by saying they would like to
support but there are “some aspects that the University
cannot change.”
[ 30 ]

ON THE
FRONT LINES
BY SOPHIA SURRETT
[ 31 ]
[Photographer] Keely Brewer

At the beginning of the COVID-19
pandemic, the country had started
establishing lockdowns in place and
spreading the word of the outbreak.
Putting their doubts and concerns aside, the
workers that kept our country afloat accepted the
job. Throughout the ever-changing new “normal”
that the virus demanded, essential workers have
stayed consistent in their fight against COVID-19.
Essential workers have taken on the roles of
heroes amidst the pandemic and have placed
themselves on the front lines. Many people who
have come into contact with these workers have
shown their gratitude for the sacrifices made by
the employee.
“Customers are a lot more patient and thankful
with us as well as our employer,” Brandon
Crittenden, a University of Alabama student and
Publix employee said. “They give us extra cash to
go buy groceries with due to our cut hours and we
practically always receive positivity from all of our
customers because they know how risky it is at a
time like this to be working.”
Several grocery stores and supermarkets across
the country have been putting more cleaning
methods into place as the Stay at Home Orders lift
and people return to “normal” life.
“The measures that we have had to take varied
at the beginning, but as the circumstances
changed, the safety policy did as well,” Crittenden
said.“Where I work, they issued out face masks
and have designated people to sanitize shopping
carts and wipe down door handles.
Due to the Stay at Home Orders across the
country, COVID-19 brought the world together
online in a way that has never happened before.
Crucial employees have been able to communicate
internationally and share their day to day life in
their place of work. The risks and dangers that
have been reported can only describe what the
essential workers are exposing themselves to.
“So much has changed since the Coronavirus
outbreak,” Amy Brewer, a flight attendant with
Delta Air Lines said. “As a company, we have cut
back immensely. We decreased our fleet, retired
certain aircrafts, let go of contract workers, offered
unpaid leaves to employees, reduced salaries, as
well as stopped all services on flights. To me, the
biggest change has been the reduction of flights
and hours for my job. I used to work about 16 days
a month and now I am working significantly less
because we have stopped so many flights.”
Among the beginnings of the outbreak, flight
attendants were some of the first people to be
exposed to the virus due to constant international
and national travel. Many were still forced to be
out in the field, even if hours were reduced after
the virus started to spread. Due to the high risk of
spreading at airports, many airlines have adopted
numerous new sanitation and cleansing steps to
ensure safety.
“Delta’s number one priority is to keep
employees and customers safe,” Brewer said.
“We take extreme precautions from the moment
people get to the gate to the second they deplane
the aircraft. We use high-grade disinfectant before
every single flight, make sure all customers are
employees are wearing a mask, and everyone is
social distancing. We ensure this by boarding back
to front and reducing capacity to 60%.”
Healthcare workers have been on the frontlines
constantly throughout this pandemic. Nurses have
Essential workers have taken
on the roles of heroes amidst
the pandemic and have placed
themselves on the front lines.
[ 32 ]

[ 33 ]
to make sure patients are monitored constantly
due to the uncertainty of this virus, wear personal
protective equipment (PPE) to shield themselves
from exposure and try to keep the numbers of
deaths to a minimum. These healthcare heroes
have had to handle the idea of spreading the
virus not only to other patients but their families
as well. Broadcast through media coverage,
these actions have not gone unnoticed by
the public.
“I have definitely felt respected and loved
during the crisis,” Baylee Gilchrist, a nurse at
UAB hospital, said. “We have gotten free lunches
multiple times and have gotten cards and words
of encouragement from patient family members.”
With all the appreciation from patients and
recognition across the country, nurses like
Gilchrist have said it makes the risk worth it.
Hospitals have put measures into effect to ensure
maximum safety so that the presented risks can be
prevented.
“Before work, we would get “screened,”
meaning we would get our temperature taken,”
said Gilchrist. “We had the mask and the hospital
wasn’t allowing visitors. But with many nurses
being young and healthy, we could have had it
and never known, especially since our unit was
a COVID unit. The hospital never would test an
employee unless they were running a fever, been
exposed, and experiencing other symptoms.”
To help protect and show gratitude to
these essential workers, you can spread your
appreciation on social platforms and practice
social distancing. If you have friends or family
members that are helping fight against the
virus, show your support by making a card
for them or communicate to them that they
are appreciated.

[Photographer] Keely Brewer [ 34 ]

Ask Alice
Q
A:
What does it mean to “Defund the
Police”?
The statement “defund the police” does
not mean the complete elimination of the
police system as a whole. As explained in
a Cosmopolitan Opinion article by ACLU
Policing Policy Advisor Paige Fernandez, the
idea is to “cut the astronomical amount of
money that our governments spend on law
enforcement and give that money to more
helpful services like job training, counseling,
and violence-prevention programs.” Investing
in these resources and redirecting funding to
other vital elements such as education can
make a major impact on communities across
the country, and can be a stepping stone to
creating a more just system.
Alice Asks
[ 35 ]
Q
A:
A:
A:
How do you feel about how your university
plans to operate in the fall?
I feel operations will be disorganized and that
there will probably be an outbreak
Super nervous to be on UA’s campus in the
fall as an immunocompromised student!!!
I am happy that we get to return in the fall as
of now, but my hope is that we can continue
the college experience as it was last year
while keeping everyone healthy.

Q
Does systemic racism/police brutality only
affect black men?
Q
What are some things I can continue to do
to support the LGBTQ+ community and the
BLM movement?
Q
A:
Definitely not! Black women are also
unfortunate victims of systemic racism and
police brutality, such as Breonna Taylor,
Sandra Bland and many more. However,
their stories continue to slip under the radar
as opposed to Black male victims of the same
system. In fact, Taylor’s death wasn’t a major
news story until three months later when
the killing of George Floyd made national
headlines. The forgotten stories of these
women is why The African American Policy
Forum began #SayHerName in 2015 as a
way “to continue to call attention to violence
against Black women in the U.S.”
What’s the difference between “Systemic
Racism” and “Systematic Racism”?
A:
Q
Go beyond sharing cute Instagram graphics
and tweets. Protests have not stopped across
the country, and that means there are still
petitions to sign as well as GoFundMe
fundraisers to support victims of police
brutality and those arrested at protests.
Beyond donating and signing petitions,
supporting organizations and businesses
owned by Black and LGBTQ+ people is a great
way to show your support, especially in your
own communities. Holding your friends and
loved ones accountable for saying or sharing
racist or homophobic things is also a great
way to continue to show your support as an
ally. It is not the responsibility of people from
those communities to teach and correct those
who act that way.
How can I talk to my friends about how I may
have been a bad ally to them in the past?
A:
Q
Systematic racism is active discrimination
with a plan or method used to implement it.
This type of racism is not random or sporadic,
it takes place in a planned and organized
way. There are many cases of it that aren’t
well known,but several take place within
the workplace. Hiring, firing or refusing
to give promotions or raises on the basis of
race is a good example of systematic racism.
Systemic racism is a byproduct of a structural
system. Apart from systematic, systemic is
much more oppressive because it happens at
much higher rates and has a wider impact on
minority communities as a whole.
Do you think college football should be
canceled this fall?
A:
Q
Having those tricky conversations with your
friends is a great first step to become a better
ally. There’s no changing the past, so take
this not as an opportunity to feel bad about
yourself, but as an opportunity to do your
research and read up on how some things you
may have said or done were insensitive. As we
mentioned before, it shouldn’t be up to your
BIPOC and LGBTQ+ friends to correct and
teach you why you shouldn’t do or say certain
things. With a plethora of information out
there, taking the time to educate yourself will
not only start you on the right path to become
a better ally, but will also help you further
understand why certain words and actions
are so insensitive and cruel.
What have you done to keep yourself healthy
during the pandemic?
A:
A:
A:
Yes
Not canceled but they should probably not let
people watch in the stadium
Noooooo
A:
A:
Spending time in nature!
Workout videos - palema reif & chloe tings
[ 36 ]

PANDEMIC PASSION PROJECTS
By Jennafer Bowman
[Photographer] Jonathan Knox
[ 37 ]

R
emember when it felt like there wasn’t
enough time in the day? Between work, social
life, that pile of laundry that started to infest
more of the room, it felt like everything was
literally piling up. Throughout the country, the stress of
everyday life was becoming greater and greater. Some
felt that a weekend off would cure their woes. One
weekend turned into weeks, which turned into months,
that felt like years. After cleaning the bathroom for a
third time and watching what felt like all of Netflix’s
catalogue, boredom set in.
But, not for some.
In Cadiz, Ohio, some turned to the heat of the kitchen
for their passion projects.
“I started around mid-March,” Lexi Corder, a
sophomore majoring in dance and nutrition at The
University of Alabama said. “I was really bored with
all the extra time I had because of quarantine, and I’ve
always loved baking, so one day I decided I wanted to
learn how to make sugar cookies that were fancy like
the ones you buy in the store. I looked up a recipe and
went from there.”
Corder has since created all different kinds of themed
cookies, like beach themed and even personalized
batches. The unforeseen downside? Ironically, it’s time
management.
“I’m bad at time management,” Corder said. “When
you mix that with
being a perfectionist,
it’s the perfect storm.
I have had cookies
take me from six plus
hours to two days to
frost because of how
detailed they are!”
Corder began to sell
her cookies through
social media (Cookies
and Creations by
Lexi), which is the
icing on the cookie.
But, as states lift Stay
at Home Orders, life
is starting up again.
As quickly as these
passions start, they
might come to an end.
“Once school starts
back in the fall my free
time will be a lot more
limited, I’ll probably
still bake every once
in a while, but I’m not
sure I’ll continue to
[Photographer] Alexis Blue
sell them,” she said.
[ 38 ]

A sweet twist on an otherwise dull past couple of
months.
Down South in Mobile, Alabama, others turned
to a business approach to pass the time.
“I started investing with the stock market about
late May,” Preston Phillips, a sophomore majoring
in nursing at the University of Alabama said.
“I got into stocks because of my father. He’s a
businessman and has always talked about stocks
before but never really introduced me to them.
I decided to pick it up and see what the hype is
about. I downloaded the app Robinhood,” Phillips
continues to joke that he’s on his road to millions.
Robinhood is a free-trading app that lets investors
trade stocks, options and cryptocurrency without
paying commissions or fees. While investing is a
more costly approach to avoiding boredom, it can
become a great investment in the long run.
“I found this tiny penny stock at the lowest
point, that was only worth .33 cents,” Phillips said,
“I invested a lot of money into it and had a gut
feeling it would do me good. About a month and a
half later, that tiny penny stock turned to $2.20.”
He traded his stock quickly, making a profit of
over 300% from the total amount he bought them
for.
“As an extreme extrovert, I was craving human
interaction with friends during the quarantine. I
struggled with trying to find happiness in staying
home,” he said.
As the days seem to blend together and drag out,
it can become harder to wake up every morning
and get things done. While passion projects can
bring joy in such hard times, there can still be
setbacks.
“Stocks are very picky and you could be profiting
$100 one minute then lose every penny the next,”
Phillips explained. “The thing about stocks is, it’s
really an educated guess. No one knows the secret
behind which companies will boom overnight or
which ones will plummet.”
With stock trading being such a risky and
expensive activity, it can be intimidating. But with
all new things, thorough research and practice
make perfect.
“My biggest advice would be to do research
on potential stocks you are looking at,” Phillips
said.“Check their past record, especially how they
are dealing with the pandemic. There are tons of
videos on YouTube to help beginners. Anyone can
invest, but not everyone wants to put in the effort
to research before committing to something.”
Others have taken their passions outside.
Located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Ebonie Rollins,
a senior majoring in nursing at the University
[Photographer] Alexis Blue
[ 39 ]

[ 40 ]

[ 41 ]
[Photographer] Alexis Blue

of Alabama, has taken to the blacktop and
brought back a groovy ‘70s trend.
“I began rollerskating to stay in shape
and become more in tune with nature and
spirituality,” Rollins said. “It’s easily become
a long lost hobby that is often the excitement
that makes my day.
Rollins was working in the Emergency
Department as a scribe, someone who
specializes in charting physician-patient
encounters, but she had to end her experience
early due to COVID-19. With extra time on
her hands, she found herself reliving old
memories and hobbies.
“Skating has always been an important
aspect in my community,” she said. “Growing
up, my younger siblings and I would go to allnight
skate on New Year’s Eve and skate all
night with friends. Even though it was for a
short moment, the memories last a lifetime.
It was a must to revive an old excitement
in my life and I must say, it has made my
spiritual journey easier.”
It seems that while in quarantine old habits
have started back up, both good and bad, but
thankfully for Rollins, roller skating helped
her become more adventurous.
“Skating is pure fun. It gives me the
opportunity to enjoy being outside again,”
she said. “I also find myself finding new
places to skate which adds to the curiosity of
the different settings.”
Even with being shut inside for nearly two
months, people still find a way to be negative
about others’ passions.
“At this moment the only set back I have
is definitely finding a good area to enjoy
without judgment,” Rollins said. “I find
myself getting both positive and negative
judgments because people are not as active
as before.”
Even with the negativity COVID-19
has caused, Rollins still remains positive,
encouraging others to join her, “I do offer
that people join me rather than judge and
step out on bravery again.”
With COVID-19 causing us to adapt to new
ways of life, the one thing that hasn’t changed
is the passion we have for things that make
us happy. During this time of uncertainty
and chaos, take it upon yourself to try that
new activity or hobby you’ve always thought
about. You finally have the time to do it.
[ 42 ]

WOMXN
AND THE RESILIENCE OF
INTERSECTIONALITY
BY OLIVIA BOWMAN
T
, oday I found myself watching Nanette, a comedy
special on Netflix by Hannah Gadsby. Gadsby is a
gay woman who grew up in Tasmania, Australia
in the ‘90s – when homosexuality was still considered
illegal. Gadsby tells her story in the form of a paradoxical
comedy routine guaranteed to make you laugh and cry.
This, however, is not about Gadsby’s show, this is about the
message that I heard in the last ten minutes of the special.
In the final minutes of the comedy routine, Gadsby
says, “I will not allow my story to be destroyed. What
I would have done to have heard a story like mine…
to feel less alone. I believe that we could paint a better
world if we learned to see it from all perspectives.”
The idea of seeing all perspectives or the understanding
of all perspectives brought to mind intersectionality,
particularly intersectionality as it stands for womxn.
Intersectionality, as defined by Merriam-Webster
dictionary, is “the complex, cumulative manner in which
the effects of different forms of discrimination combine,
overlap, or intersect.” Comparably, intersectional
feminism is the understanding that different forms
of gender discrimination differ for womxn of varying
intersectional identities.
[ 43 ]

Each one of us holds multiple identities that tie
us to who we are and how the world sees us. These
physical and social frameworks can bring communities
together, make people feel connected and allow us to be
celebrated.
Each and every one of us hold multiple identities that
tie us to who we are and how the world sees us. These
physical and social frameworks can bring communities
together, make people feel connected and allow us to be
celebrated.
Each one of us holds multiple identities that tie us to
who we are and how the world sees us. These physical
and social frameworks can bring communities together,
make people feel connected, and allow us to be
celebrated.
However, what happens when these identities cause
tension, anger or even guilt?
In New Jersey, Reginah Mako, a 22 year old Rutgers
graduate, first learned the term intersectionality in a
gender studies class. However, Mako has felt the effects
of intersectionality her entire life.
“I knew what [intersectionality] felt like,” Mako said.
“I just couldn’t articulate it.”
Mako identifies as a young person of color – both
biracial and Black – who recognizes her womxnhood
but knows that she does not necessarily fit into a gender
category.
“I want people to know that identity isn’t finite,”
Mako said. “It can be expanded and it’s okay to change
your identity.”
Mako is not the only person interviewed who
understands the importance of recognizing
intersectionality.
Jessica Savage is a 23 year old University of Vermont
graduate. Savage identifies as a gay, white womxn who
struggles with both anxiety and an eating disorder.
Savage wants to make it clear: she holds a tremendous
amount of privilege when it comes to intersectionality
and intersectional feminism.
“I experience comparably mild obstacles in my daily
life because of my mental illness, but my [disadvantaged]
identities are practically invisible,” she wrote. “That
means I can move through my daily life with ease from
the external world.”
Savage tries to think about her privilege in the context
of the events happening in the nation right now. She
recognizes how her white privilege is coming to light
after the recent killings of George Flloyd and Breonna
Taylor at the hands of police officers.
“I am living everyday thinking… how, in white rural
Vermont... I have some fear that I can be vulnerable out
in the middle of nowhere,” she said. “I am not deadafraid
that my life could end if a white homeowner sees
me in their yard. “
Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garze discussed
intersectionality and its importance in the BLM
movement with Ms. Magazine in 2017.
“I think there needs to be a deep dive into
intersectionality and relations of power.
Intersectionality has been around for a long time and
has resurged as a core principle of what movements
need to be effective,” Garze states.
When it comes to relations of power from a
healthcare perspective, Skye Allen, a New Jersey
native and 2020 graduate of Florida Gulf Coast
University understands all too well what it means to
be a womxn seeking care in a world dominated by
stereotypes.
Allen, who identifies as a straight, white, disabled
woman was diagnosed with major depressive
disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and seizures
at age 17. She has also faced a recent diagnosis
of both fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disease and
dysautonomia, which affects the body’s nerves.
Allen notes that the American Disabilities Act, a
civil rights law that prohibits the discrimination of
people with disabilities, was only recently established
in 1990.
“Unfortunately, the world doesn’t take too kindly
to those with disabilities,” she said. “There is a big
stigma around what a disabled person looks like.”
Allen wants people to understand the implications
of being a disabled womxn based on her experiences.
“As a woman, my healthcare journey has been more
difficult than if I were a man,” Allen said. “Oftentimes,
doctors disregard or invalidate women’s pain, simply
because we are women. On average, it takes women
years to get a diagnosis for a condition than if they
were a man.”
John Zambarano, a 22 year old queer, nonbinary,
spiritual nonreligious, white person, who uses they/
them pronouns, is no stranger to the importance of
inclusion in varying communities.
They urge people to approach others and their
communities rather than make assumptions about
their identities.
“My communities and other marginalized
communities are full of love,” they said. “We deserve
the same level of compassion, empathy and support
that we give.”
John’s words resonate closely with what Gadsby
relays in her special; that every community is worthy
of understanding.
“To be rendered powerless does not destroy your
humanity,” Gadsby said. “Your resilience is your
humanity.”
No matter how many times womxn and other
marginalized communities are stereotyped, attacked
or rendered powerless, we will be there to pick each
other back up. Despite our differences, we all share
one commonality:
Resilience.
[ 44 ]

With an infectious virus spreading quickly
in our country, and in a time of intense
political and social upheaval, uncertainty
permeates the atmosphere of the United
States. In these times, people – especially womxn –
desperately seek solace. In Birmingham, Alabama, and
from the comfort of their homes, two inspired young
womxn have created just that.
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) alumni
and best friends Samra Michael and Alana Bauman
co-founded the podcast SheWellRead in hopes of
“empowering womxn to invest in themselves and each
other.” Inspired by the Comedy Central sitcom Broad
City, Michael wanted the podcast to serve as a safe
space for “girls who want to stay more informed and
read more.” Though the podcast is by and for womxn,
the duo states that their platform is open to everybody
– including “men who want to learn.”
Each episode , such as “The One Where We Talk
About Friendships,” has a title that references popular
relics of girl culture: Friends, Mean Girls, etc. With
episodes ranging from 20 minutes to over an hour long,
they’re perfect for a quick car ride to the grocery store
or a lengthy study session. This episode in particular
features the first chapter of the autobiography Text Me
When You Get Home by Kayleen Schaefer – a homage
to the significant female friendships that shaped
Schaefer’s womanhood. Bauman and Michael share
their opinions about “mean girls,” the origin of the
concept of “friendship” and discuss how these themes
affect the dynamics of female friendships today.
“It’s like in Congress when all of these men are making
decisions about womxn’s bodies,” Michael stated, when
discussing a philosopher who believed womxn were not
“skilled enough” to maintain friendships.
With a quickly-growing platform, the duo does not
hesitate from expressing overtly political views.
“I’m personally not afraid to get political, because we
have facts and experiences to back up what we believe,”
Michael said.
This could be concluded based on their recent video
By Christine Thompson
[Photos provided by She Well Read]
[ 45 ]

posted to SheWellRead’s IGTV. “Question for The
Culture” is the first episode of the SheWellRead IGTV
series addressing the current state of the country. The
ten minute virtual discussion with Lacey Woodroof,
founder of basic.clothing company where Michael
works, tackles white supremacy, the Black Lives Matter
movement and sustaining small businesses during
COVID-19.
“That was me kind of bringing that [the series] to
the table, and Lana was like ‘I think we need a second
opinion’ and that was good we have a balance,” Michael
stated.
This balanced dynamic is apparent early in the
interview. If opposites attract, then these two are
magnets. Bauman, who majored in accounting at UAB,
credits their success to this partnership.
“Samra is very much the creative, stylistic person …
I’m a very structured person, like, ‘let’s have a plan, let’s
map this out … our chemistry really works,” Bauman
stated.
Michael also feels that, pragmatically, their polar
personalities make for an excellent team.
“I think the fact that she’s an accounting major and
I’m a marketing major … that’s really all you need to run
a business,” Michael said. “It worked out kinda well in
a weird way.”
The conversation shifts to our childhoods as we begin
to discuss the experiences that shaped us as young
womxn. Michael shared how her upbringing created a
unique set of struggles that the average Alabamian has,
most likely, never experienced.
“I am a first-generation American living this double
life where I didn’t feel comfortable being my real self for
a very long time,” Michael says. “I felt as though I had
to fit into the bubble … I mean, we all know how Black
womxn are perceived … It got really bad in middle and
high school, to the point where I didn’t have a will to
live anymore,” Michael said.“But getting to college and
meeting Black womxn who cared about me … and being
accepted for who I was, changed my whole perspective.
But I don’t think I would be the same person if I didn’t
go through those things.”
Michael’s experience isn’t uncommon among Black
girls and first-generation Americans. Feelings of
“otherness” due to the culture clash between white
America, and Blackness/foreign cultures of color can
lead to serious identity issues. However, surrounding
yourself with other Black womxn can make the journey
much easier. Bauman relates and shared how her
struggle with the mental health issues in her family led
her to Birmingham.
“My mom and I were super close growing up and when
it came to my senior year she had a [bipolar] episode…
I left the situation with my mom when I was seventeen
and moved in with my dad here in Alabama… I didn’t
have any friends coming into [UAB] or know anybody
from Birmingham…the [friends] became my family.”
Unbeknownst to many, Black female friendships are
the very lifeline of Black girls everywhere. In a world
where our existence meets at the intersection of two of
the most marginalized identities, oftentimes, we only
have each other.
“I also had this identity crisis issue,” Bauman said.
“I always felt like I was trying to conform. You lose
yourself for sure.”
Given the current state of the world, many might
think they feel this sense of uncertainty that Bauman
describes. However, for Black womxn, the search for
identity has always been our reality. Creative outlets,
friendships, and passion projects bring joy in times
riddled with strife and political tensions. Their place
in our society should not be underestimated. For
womxn everywhere (and men who “just want to learn”)
SheWellRead serves as a warm, funny, and dependable
place of comfort.
Every time you tune in, you will undoubtedly be
reminded of the unwavering resilience and vulnerability
of the young Black female voice. Their soft laughs, mild
disagreements and heartwarming stories will elicit
feelings of gratitude and empathy for the womxn in
your life, and the womxn to come.
[ 46 ]

[ 47 ]

[ 48 ]

USE MY PRONOUNS
BY SARAH HARTSELL
ALICE OPINION
s someone who is a cis woman and dresses
fairly feminine, I have never personally had
anyone misgender me, nor do I have the
right to say I understand what having my
gender misidentified feels like. People who are cis,
trans and nonbinary are misgendered quite often.
However, when a cis person who may dress more
androgenous is misgendered, it may not impact
them in the same way it would a trans person.
When people assume pronouns, and oftentimes the
gender associated with those pronouns, they risk
misidentifying someone’s gender, which can put that
person in an uncomfortable position. People who are
trans or nonbinary often struggle with accepting their
identity because of negative social interactions with
friends, family and strangers.
Merriam-Webster states that a pronoun is “any
of a small set of words in a language that are used
as substitutes for nouns or noun phrases and whose
referents are named or understood in the context.”
These substitutes are commonly attached to a specific
gender but can be harmful to someone if their
pronouns are assumed incorrectly.
With LGBTQ+ friends that act as supportive allies
for our trans and nonbinary friends, I have grown
up reminding myself to try to use correct pronouns
to avoid accidentally insulting someone or bringing
up past trauma. Even though I know sharing my
pronouns would help nonbinary and trans people be
more comfortable, my cis privilege often makes me
forget.
“When you assume pronouns, you are implying
that gender expression and gender identity
intertwine, and that’s not really it,” Ally Mia
Karle, a sophomore film major at New York
University said. “It’s just like you wouldn’t assume
someone’s name.”
When cis allies normalize identifying their own
pronouns and asking others for theirs, it can
make people who identify as trans or nonbinary
more comfortable. When pronouns are willingly
introduced, non-binary and trans people do not
have to initiate the conversation by asking that their
pronouns be used correctly.
Alex Holliman, a 19 year old from Birmingham,
Alabama, identifies himself as trans but also
nonbinary. Holliman explained that he identifies
as a man but not in an opposite-of-woman
way, because gender is a really personal thing
to him. He believes strongly in breaking any
rules people try to put on his gender identity
or presentation.
[ 49 ]
[Photographer] Sarah Hartsell

“People kind of forget trans people exist,” Holliman,
who is often misgendered, said. “When a cis person
sees an afab [assigned female at birth] person who
presents masculine they assume ‘lesbian’, and that’s
not me. It’s two aspects of my identity being mistaken
at once, my gender and sexuality.”
This kind of assumption can be degrading to
someone’s self-esteem. Sarah Nelson, a junior film
major at NYU, suggests that cis allies can help when
they make introducing their pronouns habitual
to make others feel included, rather than making
assumptions about others’ gender identity.
“We have to be active allies. If we stand to the side
and do nothing, we become bystanders,” Nelson said.
Many conservative platforms joke that in today’s
society, people continue to change their identity at the
drop of a hat or identify as genders that do not exist.
To combat these negative comments, it is critical for
cis allies to educate others as well as practice using
correct pronouns regularly. Listen when trans and
nonbinary friends say how to make them feel accepted
and comfortable in different settings. It is just as, if
not more important, that we do not assume what they
need for us to support them. In previous discussions
I’ve had with trans people, they’ve suggested that the
best way to go forward after incorrectly assuming
someone’s gender is to quickly correct yourself then
move on. If cis allies make a big deal out of correcting
themselves when they misspeak it makes the person
misidentified more uncomfortable. The next time a
cis ally uses a gender-specific pronoun when referring
to someone, make sure they use the correct pronoun
to reinforce they know how the trans or nonbinary
person identifies.
“That when a trans person has to correct someone
on their pronouns, that action leads to the trans
person outing themselves,” Nick Mueller, a junior at
Auburn University said. This not only puts the person
who is trans in an awkward situation, but
also a potentially dangerous one if someone
responds violently to this information.
It can be an uncertain time to be trans as
protections in place for this community are
at risk legally. If someone insists on using
a trans or nonbinary person’s pronouns
incorrectly on purpose, it is important as
allies to continue to use the correct pronouns
to reinforce that the trans/nonbinary
person’s gender identity is valid. Cis allies
have the power to continue fighting for trans
and nonbinary rights because if we stand to
the side, we become the problem.
[ 50 ]

THROUGH A
BLACK LIVES MATTER
ALICE
LENS
BY JEFFREY KELLY
VOLUME 6
[ 51 ]
[Photographers] Alexis Blue and Hannah Saad

Alongside the protestors’ call for justice, the
violent noise of colliding bodies in the searing
heat, the hiss of tear gas and the crack of
rubber bullets from the barrel of a gun, few
noticed the stray clicks of a camera capturing history.
Those frozen frames of tangible anger soon covered
newspapers, magazines, websites and social media,
captivating thousands with images depicting the
nation’s unrest.
Yet for some photographers, taking these photos isn’t
about gaining notoriety.
“We’re not here to make beautiful images,” Taylor
Gerlach, a University of Georgia senior and photo editor
of UGA’s newspaper The Red & Black said. “We’re
here to tell a story that needs to be told and honor the
humanity of the people in that story.”
It is necessary to tell other people’s stories, Gerlach
said, pointing out how journalism is under attack for
occasions when the news was “skewed.”
“For me, [photos are] like a very accurate portrayal
of what is happening,” she said. “And I think photos
have a lot more power sometimes to show emotion,
connection and humanity.”
Angela Wang, a University of Texas senior and UT
Athletics student assistant, said protests must be
photographed so what is happening is not disregarded.
“People fifty years from now could say [protestors]
were throwing rocks at the police and that’s why they
were fired on by rubber bullets, [but] the photos will
overwhelmingly show that the police misconduct came
first,” Wang said.
Hannah Saad, a senior at The University of Alabama,
The Crimson White’s photo editor and a contributing
photographer at Alice Magazine, said it is easy for
people to ignore words, but not photography.
“When you can see mass crowds gathering for Black
Lives Matter that hits differently than someone tweeting
like ‘oh there’s a big group in front of the courthouse,’”
she said. “I can show you what’s going on through
photography better than someone can really type out
what’s going on.”
Saad said photographs better highlighted how many
protestors’ wanted to speak up during the Black Lives
Matter movement.
“People connect better with seeing human emotion
from people at these protests and seeing the hurt they’ve
been through,” she said.
Daniel Roth, the digital content producer in the
Tuscaloosa Mayor’s office of public information, agreed
with Saad’s sentiment, sighting how photography was
“an incredibly powerful tool.”
“We saw the power that the video of George Floyd had
and what that did to the hearts of our country,” he said.
“I think photography is in the same line and can be just
as powerful. [It] can get you outside of your own bubble
and [help you] see that things are happening outside
your world.”
Ian Hoppe, a managing producer of news video at
Alabama Media Group, summed the importance of
photographing protests up when he said, “It’s history,
man.”
Hoppe said when he first got into media, he learned
from a seasoned reporter that journalists “don’t [just]
Google [information] – you go out and get the story,
and you become part of the record.” He said it made
him realize sometimes the story doesn’t exist and
journalists have to pull the pieces together using photos
as punctuation to a story that becomes the record of an
event.
“It’s a difficult, important and rewarding role to have
in the world,” he said.
While getting the story, photographers have witnessed
and felt the effects of the protest.
“The best photo is the one [where] you’re closest to the
action,” Hoppe said. “That’s always been the case. The
best photographers, video journalists, photojournalists
... they’re not standing a block away. They’re in the
action, and sometimes that can be harrowing.”
Hoppe said he saw colleagues who were attacked at
protests. For him, the protest on June 3, in Huntsville,
Alabama, was particularly harrowing.
Hoppe said the protest took place in Big Spring Park
and was peaceful until it was shut down earlier than
expected. While still marching, the protestors and
Hoppe found themselves in a standoff against police
officers suited in riot gear armed with rubber bullets,
batons and tear gas launchers.
“I had never been tear gassed before then either, so
I was anticipating what that would be like. Turns out,
it’s pretty awful,” he said. “They unleashed a lot of tear
gas, and it was just absolute chaos. I saw kind of the
very intense power of a police department in the 21st
century unleashed on a group of citizens, which is a
pretty moving moment.”
Wang said she witnessed many unsettling moments
while at protests in Austin, Texas.
She recalled a protest where she saw a woman collapse
and be carried away by another protestor. A few days
later, she found out the extent of what happened to her.
According to KXAN Austin, the woman had been
sitting on the ground when officers shot her with rubber
bullets in the stomach, back and back of her head.
“There was absolutely no reason for that,” she said.
Yet, while there are harrowing moments, some
photographers experienced moments that were
impactful in other ways.
“I went to the first protest in Birmingham, and the
energy here is always very powerful,” Roth said. “So, it’s
[ 52 ]

always a powerful experience to be at any sort of rally
or protest in Birmingham knowing that you’re standing
on the ground that people fought very hard for civil and
human rights.”
Roth said while at the protest, the photograph he
liked the most was of two young men holding posters
and shouting.
“It’s an image of hope for me. It’s the next generation
participating in something that’s been going on since
the beginning of the United States,” he said.
John Watson, a freelance photographer and Spain
Park High School senior, recalled the morning after the
riot in Birmingham, Alabama. He’d gone out to take
photos downtown and saw a homeless man sitting near
the confederate monument picking up trash from the
night before.
Jasmine Kennedy, another Birmingham freelancer,
said her most memorable moment was during a protest
when a little girl held up a sign that said, “Stop killing
our dads.”
“It was definitely a gut punch,” she said. “To have
a feeling of fear of knowing there’s a possibility my
guardian will not return to me. It’s a feeling of trust on
the ends of law enforcement surrounding our future.”
From these moments that create lumps in throats
and butterflies in stomachs, photographers are left with
photos that linger long after the moment passes. More
importantly, they recognize each moment’s historical
implications.
According to USA Today, there have been more than
1,700 protests in the United States across all fifty states.
“Just seeing the scale of things has been really
different for me,” Wang said.
She said she had seen protests in Austin before, but
none with the momentum of the current movement. She
described how the protests occupied multiple locations
and somehow seemed to flow as one.
“I’ve been really amazed at how global it has become,”
Gerlach said.
She said she was working on an article for UGA’s
newspaper that compared images of the protests in
Athens, Georgia now to prior years: 2012, 2014 and
2016.
Gerlach said in prior years the protests seemed to
have a max of a hundred people who were primarily
Black. After looking at photos from last weekend’s
protest, she saw a diverse group of over 2,000 people.
“It’s been really cool to see how large the movement
has become and how widespread it is,” Gerlach said.
“It’s like so many more people are waking up to the
reality of the world we live in and [are] willing to fight
for something, which is cool.”
Hoppe expressed his amazement at the Black Lives
Matter protests emerging in places like Uganda, Kenya
and Bristol.
“I don’t remember a movement having this kind of
global impact,” he said. “The size of this movement has
reached a pitch that I never thought I would see.”
“Speaking of the context of history, we are walking in
it, you know. It’s a really cool moment to know that you
are in the middle of history; there’s nothing like that,”
Hoppe said.
Every day protestors call for justice, accountability
and change, creating historical moments to be captured
by photographers who wait on the front lines poised to
apprehend the truth and leave it bare for all citizens to
assess.
“It’s been really cool to be a part of telling the
history of this moment,” Gerlach said. “I can see how
transformative this moment in history is going to be, so
I’m really honored to be on the front lines and be able
to have people who will share their stories with me and
learn from the source.”
[ 53 ]

[Photographer] Alexis Blue
[ 54 ]

Stories across media
hold power, and with
that power comes the
ability to spark change.
Watching movies and miniseries
is not going to be the act that
transforms how racism is felt or
understood, but these resources
and works can alter people’s
perspectives by educating viewers
on the history of racism, police
brutality and inequality. Take
a look at our recommendations
for stories that can push people
past empathy and understanding
to action.
IF YOU LIKED 13TH,
TRY WHEN THEY
SEE US
Ava DuVernay’s powerful
storytelling abilities are on
full display in two of her most
thought-provoking works. A
haunting documentary, 13th
offers an in-depth analysis of
how the modern prison system
comes directly from slavery,
while the miniseries When
They See Us illustrates this
systematic racism in a portrayal
of the wrongful conviction of
the Central Park Five.
IF YOU LIKED
MOONLIGHT, TRY
IF BEALE STREET
COULD TALK
If you found yourself swept up
in Moonlight’s moving story
of a Black man’s struggle with
sexuality and identity, then
you’ll like If Beale Street Could
Talk, in which lovers Fonny
and Tish must prepare for the
birth of their first child while
Fonny is imprisoned for a
rape he did not commit. Both
are directed by Barry Jenkins,
who addresses social and
racial inequality with lyricism
and poignancy.
AVA DUVERNAY,
NETFLIX
BARRY JENKINS,
NETFLIX
[ 55 ]

IF YOU LIKED
FRUITVALE
STATION, TRY THE
HATE U GIVE
Two devastatingly relevant
depictions of police brutality,
Fruitvale Station tells the
true story of the last day of
Oscar Grant’s life before he is
shot in the back by the BART
police. The Hate U Give,
based on the novel by Angie
Thomas, details a young girl’s
fight against racial injustice
after her friend is gunned
down by a police officer.
IF YOU LIKED
BLACKKKLANSMAN,
TRY MALCOLM X
Experience Spike Lee’s diverse
directing abilities by following
the comedy BlacKkKlansman
with the drama Malcolm X. Lee
paints two different portraits
of two Black activists in these
gripping historical tales.
IF YOU LIKED
SELMA, TRY 12
YEARS A SLAVE
Those who appreciated the
close examination of Martin
Luther King Jr. and his
movement in Alabama won’t
be able to turn away from the
visceral, brutal look at what
life was really like for a slave
in 12 Years a Slave. Both
are based on true accounts
and received multiple Oscar
nominations, with 12 Years a
Slave winning Best Picture
in 2014.
RYAN COOGLER,
PRIME VIDEO
SPIKE LEE,
HBO
AVA DUVERNAY,
PRIME VIDEO
GEORGE TILLMAN JR.,
PRIME VIDEO
STEVE MCQUEEN,
PRIME VIDEO
[ 56 ]

INSIDE BACK COVER
[ 57 ]
[Photographer] Alexis Blue

[Back Cover Photographer] Hannah Saad [ 58 ]

BACK COVER