Mug shot

The invention of photography has, and continues to play a vital role in the field of forensic sciences. Earlier when photography was invented, it was mostly known for its artistic use. Throughout the years however, it also became one of the most powerful tools for the police. What makes photographs so useful is the fact that they are able to provide an accurate interpretation of people and events that cannot be altered. Prior to the year 1854 when the camera was first used in forensics, science…

Every new driver wonders when and how he or she will get his or her first traffic violation. I always contemplated different scenarios in my mind while driving. Would I run a stop sign? Would I be caught zooming past a police officer? Where and when would I get mine? I finally got all my questions answered Easter weekend of 2015. I remember the day as if it was yesterday, and the memory will be etched into my mind for the rest of my life. Traveling down highway 370, I was singing and just…

soda to Starbucks, the consumption of caffeine has been a daily part of my life. Most days I roll out of bed and sit down for a steaming cup of coffee with vanilla creamer, honey, and brown sugar. My buddy Mike sits across from me drinking a large mug almost black. Before I walk out the door I shove four, maybe five, Dr.Peppers in my bag and walk out the door. After I finish my first class I stop at the local coffee shop for a Chai tea latte. I drink a few cans of soda at work before heading…

Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African American was fatally shot by George Zimmerman, a Hispanic neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, Florida on February 26th of 2012. If this statement doesn’t recollect a memory of national outrage and controversy then you probably never turned on a news channel, read a newspaper, or went on social media between the dates of March 2012 and March 2015 or even today. The case sparked a national frenzy on several issues including race, gun control, “stand your…

Define Beautiful. To some people, the way they look on the outside determines their beauty, while to others inner beauty is what counts the most. According to Merriam Webster beauty, means being physically attractive or the qualities in a person or a thing that give pleasure to the senses or the mind. In our world today, to be beautiful you need to be at society’s standard of what is considered “beautiful.” All around, there are ads, magazines, commercials, posters, etc., on what to do to have…

The United States public educational system is built on inequality. Minority students or students of a lower class status receive an inferior education relative to students who live in areas with well-funded public schools or whose parents can afford private school education. “The wealthiest 10 percent of school districts in the United States spend nearly ten times more than the poorest 10 percent, and spending ratios of three to one are common within states. Poor and minority students are…

Disability is the only minority group in which any person can join at any given time temporarily or permanently. People with disabilities are defined by a combination of cognitive, developmental, emotional, mental, physical, and sensory impairments. Cultural critic, Georgina Kleege, examines blindness and visual culture from a critical disabilities perspective and renowned scholar, Kelly Fritsch, evaluates the visual implications of marking the wheelchair as the International Symbol for Access…

Race is undoubtedly a significant force in defining and shaping a young man’s masculine identity. It impacts how a young man is treated as they grow up which greatly affects how they see themselves, their future, and how they conduct themselves in the world. Just as dominant social ideas place masculinity as the privileged gender and better than femininity, white has historically been the privileged race. Hegemonic constructs take this notion and normalizes white male violence in mainstream…

my eyes as the next fatal shot thundered. And I watched, frozen in my place underneath the dresser, as their blood shone in the light, scarlet against the ground. From these series of nightmares,…

Race, Police, and the Media Introduction and definitions: “#BlackLivesMatter is an online forum intended to build connections between Black people and our allies to fight anti-Black racism, to speak dialogue among Black people, and to facilitate the types of connections necessary to encourage social action and engagement” (1Garza). According to their official website, BLM is a chapter-based national organization working for the validity of Black life; working to rebuild the Black liberation…