PinnedQAnons Extreme Appeal and Social Media Pipeline ExplainedHow can millions of Americans involve themselves in a modern-day cult such as QAnon, unite themselves with white nationalists, militia, and neo-nazis to stage a coup on the United States Capitol as they did on Jan 6? The mainstream reports have been murky at best, making Q enthusiasts sound like…Qanon8 min read
Oct 13, 2021Black Panther Alumni are Training Future Revolutionary Social ScientistsProtest, march, demand rights, post demands on social media, agree with like-minded individuals, fundraise without seeing the benefit of funds. Rinse and repeat. The cycle can only go so far before a movement burns out without achieving its goals. …Education5 min read
Aug 3, 2020Restauranteur: Vandalism Undermines Black Lives Matter MessageWearing a t-shirt, jeans, and a baseball cap that says Oakland California, Chris Pastena’s appearance looks like he could be part of any protest like the one that passed the restaurant he operates. When he tried to stop a white woman from taking a bat to the restaurant’s door during…Anarchy5 min read
Jun 7, 2020Art Blooms in OaklandIf silence is violence, the residents of Oakland have an answer for that; art. Throughout Saturday artists of all ages and ethnicities took their paint, paintbrushes and spray paint to claim boarded windows in Downtown Oakland as forms of beautiful expression.Protest3 min read
May 19, 2020Opinion — No One is Immune to Online Manipulation. It’s Time we Take it SeriouslyIt would appear as if certain people are more acceptable to misinformation and propaganda. That friend of yours on Facebook claiming COVID-19 came from 5G towers because they saw a YouTube video that “broke it down.” The Twitter rants against Bill Gates claiming he created the COVID-19 virus and is…Social Media6 min read
Feb 28, 2020A Twisted True Story — Unbreakable SpiritWhen I was growing up my mom wanted to kill my spirit. She did not want me to leave her side, she wanted me to stay with her for life and take care of her. Either that or marry a rich man who would take care of us both. She…Child Abuse4 min read
Apr 5, 2018Shadows of Liberty Applied to Social MediaShadows of Liberty Applied to Social Media (Written for Social Media for Journalism Class) Documentary “Shadows of Liberty” is like an owner’s manual guide in understanding the problems with media today. …Politics3 min read
Apr 1, 2018Social Media, Memetics & the Propaganda CycleOriginally published in Dope Era Magazine Spring 2018 print issue. Call it fake news, biased opinion, alternative facts or straight up lies; there is a real problem in this country that most people are not paying attention too. A propaganda cycle that lies deeply embedded in our Social Media habits…Politics6 min read
Jan 22, 2018Women’s March Will Matter More Than We RealizeI’ve now been to two Women’s March. The first one was in Oakland, CA and the second in San Francisco, CA. To be honest, I was not as enthusiastic about going to the second one. The first march was jam-packed in the Oakland streets, we were like sardines. The energy…Politics5 min read
Aug 31, 2017Battling with Graves Disease — How I Took Control of My Health(Originally published in Fiterazzi.com in August 2014 before being purchased & renamed) 14 years ago I was diagnosed with Graves Disease at the age of 22 years old. My twin daughters were just 3 months old and my focus was on working hard to take care of them. I was…Health9 min read